City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle says build, build, build more prisons. Right on. Crime is a disease, somewhat like cancer. Its best chance for survival is to be cut out, much like what you do when you place a criminal in prison. Take him out of the system. Prisons don't have to be
fancy to be effectiveTrying to rehabilitate a criminal without his having served time in a prison is ineffective and costly. Build the prison, but instead of state-of-the-art gyms, build classrooms to educate those who need it and work those who have an education to the limit.
Bruce Tetreault
Our state's economy is in need of a boost and homeporting an aircraft carrier here would go a long way toward re-establishing its health. Pearl Harbor workers need
new carrier soon, not laterThere is a proposal before Congress to build a new aircraft carrier at the Newport News, Va., shipyard beginning in 2002 and finishing it in 2008.
Between now and then, our shipyard will be forced to lay off thousands of workers, and it is estimated to cost $600 million to restart the ship-building production line.
A better way to go is to start production of that carrier, designated CVN-77, now rather than later.
Japan has already indicated that it will not permit the U.S. Navy to homeport any nuclear vessels in its waters. Of course, the Philippines ordered the U.S. out of Subic Bay some years ago.
Hawaii is fast becoming the American forward defense position in the Pacific, and it is entirely possible that our state economy could rebound because of that. The schedule could be moved up. Therefore, now would be a good time to contact Hawaii's congressional delegation and urge its members to ask Congress to speed up funding for the building of the CVN-77.
Ray Sweeney
On April 4, Oahu Construction paved Kahilu Farm Road fronting my one-acre houselot. But it stopped its paving right up to the boundary of my neighbors' property on the makai side. Kali Watson is ignoring
plight of HawaiiansAbout 14 years ago, this same road was paved from the mauka side. But strangely enough, it also ended right on the mauka boundary of my neighbors' farm, leaving approximately 300 feet of dirt untouched. This caused a major dust problem, not only to the farming operation by ruining its crops, but to the general welfare of the 126 residents in Kuhio Village as well.
On Nov. 29, 1995, we brought this matter to the attention of Kali Watson, director of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. The same letter was re-sent to him on Jan. 31, 1996, followed by a third mailing on March 15 of this year. No action has been taken.
This entire project of pipelines and roadways for additional farmers totaled about $6.9 million and yet, for some reason, the department has "not included this 300 feet of dirt into its planning."
If this is not discriminating against a native Hawaiian beneficiary's rights, what would you call this neglectful act?
Ethel Andrade
Kamuela, Hawaii
It was my privilege to travel to Washington, D.C., last week to represent the fine teachers of our islands as Hawaii's State Teacher of the Year. State teacher of the year
imparts valuable messageAs I listened to the speech given by President Clinton, I realized that great emphasis would be placed on education during his term. I also became aware of the resources and attention given to education by other states.
It's time that we in Hawaii realize that our most important natural resource is not the aina, although its beauty is unsurpassed. Our greatest resource is our children, who will shape the world in the years to come.
We rob them of their future opportunities if we do not ensure that they receive the best education possible to prepare them for the next century.
Contact your legislators to let them know of your concern for our educational system. We are already behind the rest of the nation in the amount of money spent on each child for books and facilities. Our teachers' salaries are the lowest in the country when the cost of living is factored in.
We must send the message to our elected officials that we are willing to pay for our children's future.
Elizabeth Kammerer
Kahuku High & Intermediate
Hawaii State Teacher of the Year
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