Editorials
Monday, May 5, 1997AS the Hawaiian community continues to struggle with issues including sovereignty, state funding for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and even the cultural appropriateness of a "fun run" on the new H-3 freeway, it can certainly claim a victory at the UH. This year's 38-member governing senate, known as the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii (ASUH), is dominated by 10 undergraduates who successfully ran under a "native Hawaiian slate," including President C. Mamo Kim. Hawaiian students
take lead at UHAs pointed out by the Star-Bulletin's Pat Omandam last week, this victory is important because ASUH oversees a $4.9 million investment portfolio built up with student fees over the years. The income is used to operate the Campus Center as well as to fund events and registered university groups. "I'm kind of appalled how much power the ASUH has," admitted Kim, a 47-year-old mother of two who recently returned to college after more than two decades.
Kim said the plans of her slate members (many of whom are Hawaiian studies majors) include a student government column in the campus newspaper, publishing student evaluations of faculty members, and offering scholarships to Hawaiians and other minorities on a need rather than grade-point basis.
UH students who disagree with these ideas have only themselves to blame if they did not bother to cast ballots. Historically, the ASUH election draws an appallingly low turnout, since voters seem more concerned with individual studies than the bigger picture of how their university is run. Sounds like a microcosm of what usually happens in the bigger campus known as the State of Hawaii.
EAST Honolulu residents evidently are pawns in the gubernatorial election. The new state budget leaves emergency services short about $650,000 for 1998. The result may be a cutback in ambulance service for Hawaii Kai, leaving the area without service from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in air medical service on the Big Island. At least that is the opinion of the deputy state health director, William Christoffel, and he's not alone. Councilman John Henry Felix said the prospective reduction of service "is literally a matter of life and death. It's ill-advised savings." Ambulance service
The same issue came up last year in Hawaii Kai. The Health Department said the 11-7 period could be covered from Wailupe, a few miles down Kalanianaole Highway. In 1995, the average ambulance response time for the Hawaii Kai unit was eight minutes; from Wailupe to Hawaii Kai 11 minutes.
But Democratic Rep. David Stegmaier, who represents the area, points out that the Wailupe unit must also cover busy Waikiki and the ambulances often are unavailable for other neighborhoods.
So what's going on? Two Republican legislators think they have it figured out: It's the governor's race — a shot at Mayor Harris, who is believed to be considering a gubernatorial bid. Rep. Gene Ward said, "It's the first hit on Jeremy Harris, a pre-emptive strike." Sen. Sam Slom: "The residents of East Honolulu have been held hostage to political games."
Harris has assured Hawaii Kai residents that the city will cover the cost of the late-shift ambulance service, estimated at $298,000 a year, if the state won't — even if the state refuses to provide reimbursement. The city has yet to receive reimbursement for the current year's funding of ambulance service.
In addition to meeting a real need for a highly populated area, Harris is playing it smart politically. He knows he would take the rap from irate residents if he let the ambulance service cut go into effect, and it could hurt him the next time he runs. The question is whether the issue would have arisen if the mayor was not considered a threat to Ben Cayetano's re-election.
DEVELOPMENT of Kakaako, specifically the area makai of Ala Moana Boulevard, will get a strong push with the release of $36 million approved by the Legislature to extend Ward Avenue. When the project is completed, probably in 2002, Ward will cross Ala Moana and loop around to Punchbowl Street. Kakaako development
The state owns most of the 217 acres in the area and will benefit from rental income. But more important than the revenue is the opportunity to make this area, with its central location, usable by more people. The potential is great.
PUT two sets of national statistics together and you have a depressing picture of Hawaii. A national science test of fourth, eighth and 12th graders put Hawaii fifth from the bottom. The average national score was 148 for eighth graders; Hawaii's was 135. Depressing picture
Would it be insensitive to suggest that Hawaii's teens focus more on their studies than on sex? Lesson one should be on how to avoid getting pregnant.
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor
