Brewer official explains
chronology of chlorine leak

We would like to clarify the facts regarding a chlorine leak at the Waiawa Correctional Facility, which was covered by your newspaper on Oct. 10. The article incorrectly stated that a driver of Brewer Environmental Industries (BEI) was working with an inmate when the leak occurred.

Our driver, who was loading an empty cylinder onto a truck during the chlorine release, realized what was happening and left immediately to notify the office and call his supervisor. He did not give instructions to the inmate to close the valve, and he was not in the building at the time of the leak.

The inmate, on his own, disconnected the system from the chlorine cylinder because he mistakenly thought it was empty. A BEI supervisor responded immediately upon receiving the call and was able to stop the leak and secure the tank.

BEI is a company committed to safety. Our employees are trained in the handling of chemicals and have assisted customers and the fire department in many emergency responses.

This is our business and we take it seriously.

Fred Kubota
Vice President
Brewer Environmental Industries Inc.

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WWII memorial is more
than homage to internment

The Washington D.C. memorial authorized by Congress "to honor Japanese-American patriotism in World War II" (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 11) has a much broader mission than the memorialization of the Japanese internment.

The memorial is intended to contribute to the collective memories of Americans of the present and the future, in that they may profit from the mistakes of their treatment of one of their minority populations.

It will serve as a reminder that Americans stem from immigrants from many different geographical locations and backgrounds, and must seek a more perfect union of people of diverse physical appearances and cultural backgrounds in order to secure their nation's strength and prosperity, and their individual well-being.

In a more perfect union, what is important is not the outward appearances of its constituents but what are contained in their minds and hearts.

Warren Haruki
Robert Katayama
Hideto Kono
Margaret Oda
Hawaii members, Board of Trustees
National Japanese American
Memorial Foundation

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Zero tolerance will
help save lives on the roads

As an emergency physician in Hawaii, I am saddened by the deaths in yet another Big Island head-on car crash.

We don't know if the person who allegedly caused the crash was driving under the influence. But if news reports are correct about this person's prior DUI convictions, common sense says this person should not have been driving. Our law states "permanent revocation of the person's license" if an offense occurs within five years of two or more prior convictions.

It's time to demand zero tolerance for driving under the influence of any mind-altering drug. That means NO alcohol beyond the 0.02 level; that means no drugs as well.

It's time to test all drivers when crashes occur. We must take a "tough love" approach to treatment, including mandatory long-term monitoring for compliance. A person convicted of prior DUI offenses should have to win back the right to drive after a DUI arrest, or lose that right forever.

We need earlier license revocation and mandated treatment, and perhaps electronic house arrest or boot camps for non-compliant repeat offenders.

Dr. Fred C. Holschuh
Hilo

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More education, not less,
required in real estate

Real estate continuing education is of vital importance to the public and to any agent serious about a career in real estate. Ten hours of education every two years is the minimum that should be required.

At our firm, both Don Monroe and I have more than enough time in the business to qualify for waivers. Yet neither of us has requested one because we believe it is mandatory to understand any and all changes taking place in the state. These changes affect how we represent the corporations and individuals that we work with on a daily basis.

We urge the Legislature to keep up the good work in this area. If anything, it should add more hours and difficulty to the courses. There should be no waivers or exemptions if one is going to retain a Hawaii real estate license.

Andrew D. Friedlander
Chief Executive Officer
Monroe & Friedlander Inc.