Once again, Hawaii's liberal social agenda takes priority over logic and public safety (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 29, "Island Air loses round against partially blind pilot"). The Attorney General's Office is supporting the Civil Rights Commission in forcing Island Air to hire (or compensate for not hiring) a pilot with no left eye. Partially blind pilot shouldn't be flying
As a military pilot for 28 years, I would concede that, with his right eye, pilot Bruce Pied may have learned to accommodate for a lack of normal depth perception. But the real issue is peripheral vision.
Check it out. Focus straight ahead on a fixed point then close the left eye. Depending on the prominence of your nose bridge, you lose 30-40 percent of the field of vision to the left. Even in radar-controlled airspace, the last measure of safety is a fully capable flight crew looking out the window.
Pied is obviously a true airman at heart. But good pilots know and respect their limitations. To assert his "right" to fly other people through the crowded skies is as irresponsible as the bureaucracy abetting him.
Gerald Coffee
Aiea
A tragic ending capped the Nov. 15 condo fire that took a precious human life. However, a small glimmer of hope and goodwill emerged from the devastation, and was thoughtfully included in your Nov. 17 story, "Woman, 33, dies in Makiki apartment fire." Pets are overlooked at scenes of fire
Commendations should go to the fearless firefighters who rescued the neighbor's cat, Vinegar, from the smoke-filled building, and to the emergency room staff at Kapiolani Hospital who provided oxygen to the cat, free of charge. They also assisted in locating an all-night pet clinic for follow-up treatment.
I believe this story serves as an essential reminder to rescue personnel: Trapped pets may sometimes be overlooked when disaster strikes and that a thorough search, when possible, is in order.
For pet owners, there are "Emergency Pet Rescue Stickers," which identify the types of pets included in a household. The stickers can be affixed to one or more house windows.
Many people may not realize that resuscitation techniques will work on many animals afflicted with smoke inhalation, as was the case with Vinegar the cat.
Cinde Fisher
Kailua
A Nov. 13 banner headline proclaimed "DOE again forced to cut its budget." Only in Hawaii would a reduction in a supplemental budget request be considered a "budget cut." A supplemental request is not a 'budget cut'
A supplemental budget is, by definition, a request above and beyond that which was originally budgeted for and would be required by unforeseen circumstances or other situations beyond the vision of those personnel responsible for the original budget request.
The DOE requested a supplement to its original budget by 10 percent. Either the budgeteers are not doing their jobs in identifying their needs, or the idea of supplemental requests has become a part of the standard operating procedures for state departments who "lowball" their original budget figures, knowing that an addition will be considered emergency funding.
The Star-Bulletin, by calling this reduction in supplemental requests a budget "cut," is contributing to the DOE's inadequacy to forecast its funding needs and its reliance on rubber-stamp approval of "emergency supplemental funding requests."
Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach
In your Nov. 11 editorial, you quote the executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission, Bob Watada, as saying, "You make contributions to candidates who will do things for you. That's how the system works." Spending director made a cynical statement
It is the height of cynicism and a sad commentary on what our state has become when our top campaign spending official sees civic participation only as self-serving. Regrettably, it shows how truly jaded our current leadership and the commissioner are.
The real reason businesses and individuals should support candidates for public office is to help elect those who will do what is best for Hawaii - the entire state - and its people.
When we view political contributions only as ways to buy influence, we are saying government should do what best serves the richest companies and individuals with the biggest contributions. Where does that leave all those average families and small businesses who do not have big money to give to elected officials to look out for them?
Rep. Quentin K. Kawananakoa
House Republican Leader
Your Nov. 11 issue contained a story with the headline, "OHA board approves spending $560,000 for internal audits." This is not true. OHA internal audit will cost $365,000
The actual amount appropriated for the audit process is approximately $365,000. The majority of the remaining amount was for the production of policy and directive manuals for the organization.
The actions taken by the trustees were not created without serious consideration and consultation with staff. The auditing appropriations are tied to recommendations by auditors who evaluated Office of Hawaiian Affairs programs during the past few years.
Many of the recommendations of the previous audits and the latest audit, provided in a comprehensive outline dated July 22, 1996 from Deloitte & Touche to the board, are being taken seriously.
On Nov. 10, an evaluation of proper direction began that will put OHA's house in order and hopefully solve many of the problems that have, for so long, delayed our ability to effectively reach our beneficiaries.
A. Frenchy DeSoto
OHAChairwoman
Bishop Estate Archive
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