Investigation needs to be
conducted on Alan Hong

I am offended by Francesca Gabrielli's (Letters, March 27) simplistic characterization of people who have been complaining about Hanauma Bay manager Alan Hong's operation style as "grumbling concessionaires." If Gabrielli would spend a few days "above water" looking at our concerns objectively, she would discover the following:

Hong's abusive management style has forced the City Council, at the recommendation of the city's attorneys, to settle a lawsuit brought by a transportation company doing business at the bay. This out-of-court settlement in 1996 cost taxpayers nearly $100,000 because Hong overstepped his bounds when it came to enforcement of the rules at the nature preserve.

It's no secret to city officials that several employees, vendors and visitors to the bay have complained frequently about Hong's conduct and behavior. The concerns are serious enough that the Department of Parks and Recreation has finally ordered an investigation into these allegations.

Councilman Mufi Hannemann, to his credit, is simply stating what a number of officials within the city have been sweeping under the rug. In fact, Hannemann's concern for the operation and maintenance of the bay is well documented. He authored the current fee structure, which guarantees that money collected at the bay remain there to fund the operation and maintenance of the preserve, as well as sorely needed educational and preservation programs.

In fairness to Hong and those who have raised the allegations against him, we need to allow the city time to conduct a fair and thorough investigation and to take appropriate action.

Gilbert Matsumoto

Alert over global warming
is so much hot air

I was very pleased to read your Feb. 28 article about how the U.S. and other industrial countries are stalling efforts to curb the release of "greenhouse" gases.

Twenty years of satellite data confirms that global warming has not occurred during this period. Over 95 percent of the greenhouse effect in the atmosphere is caused by naturally occurring water vapor. If the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubled, that would increase the warming by only about 1 percent.

The 11th and 12th centuries were warmer than today. During that period, weather was believed to be relatively mild, unlike the devastating storms that were recorded during the "Little Ice Age" of the 14th and 16th centuries A.D.

During the past million years, our planet experienced over half a dozen "Ice Ages." The last major one lasted over 60,000 years and ended 10-15,000 years ago. If industrial activity delays the start of the next Ice Age, that would be beneficial.

Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere results in increased growth rates for many plants and trees. There is no scientific justification for government agencies to risk crippling our nation's economy by artificially mandating major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Alan Lloyd

Gambling would wreak
havoc on Big Island

A casino would be the worst thing that could come to the Big Island!

There have been many accounts where children have been left unattended in cars while the adults go in to gamble. Many people will become addicted to gambling and will become poor or increase the numbers of poor on our island.

Financial stress has already given rise to a record number of family abuses recently. The poor are the most susceptible to the lure of the "strike it rich" mentality.

Local businesses will be damaged by a casino. Many restaurants and businesses involved with entertainment are barely hanging on as it is.

It is also well-known that a casino siphons local people's entertainment budgets and leaves little to be spent patronizing surrounding businesses. Bankruptcies will increase, business embezzlements will increase, and definitely so will crime.

And what will the Big Island expect to receive from a casino coming here? Fifty to 100 minimum-wage jobs.

But will those workers be proud and excited to work in a smoke-filled room listening to the racket of tokens and bells and having to smell the breath of alcohol all day long?

Will the workers be proud to be making millions of dollars for some mainland investors (or gangsters)?

Marti Morishige
Puna, Hawaii

Residents should unite
to help Mililani board

The threat of a lawsuit by the Mililani Town Association (MTA) causes its neighborhood board members to resign.

This threatened action, without obvious merit, is enough to scare law-abiding citizens into hiding in order to protect against the costs of defending themselves.

These are citizens, for the most part, with no political ambitions, who believe involvement contributes to good government and who serve without compensation.

Imagine the mere threat of a lawsuit effectively being used as a bully-pulpit for controlling opposing points of view.

Given the association's excellent history in enforcing its restrictions for the well-being of the community, it is surprising that an eyesore such as this Voicestream tower is being made the focal point of this controversy; $100,000 income for the next five years is insignificant when compared to the alienation of the community-at-large.

Let me suggest that all citizens get involved. Let's start a community fund and take on the MTA as a test case. We'll play their game and let the courts decide if it can effectively muzzle citizens who disagree with its business plans.

Legal action challenging MTA will effectively block installation of the tower until the issue is resolved in the courts.

Hank Taufaasau

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