Airport exit tax could be revenue source
Our deep-thinking legislators have for years missed an obvious revenue source without continually having to gouge Hawaii residents. Japan and every Asian country has an airport exit tax ranging from $15-$22 that everybody pays to leave the country for whatever reason.We could also add $10-$15 for all Asian visitors only and nobody would bat an eye. The rationale would be for the increased immigration and security services necessary that are already being provided to these destination travelers, which is true but not being paid for by Hawaii taxpayers.
Would anyone really cancel a Hawaii vacation because of this, the equivalent of a T-shirt purchase? We have already lost many visitors and millions of dollars due to the Waikiki hooker and crime problem, thanks to our inept enforcement agencies.
Get real. Knock, knock. Anybody home at the Legislature?
Pat Dolan
Kaneshiro is ignoring safety of Texas inmates
Many Christmas days were ruined by Keith Kaneshiro's vituperative response to the respectful petition signed by more than 150 Hawaii inmates. They asked to remain at Texas' Karnes County Correctional Center until being returned to Hawaii, rather than being sent back to Newton Correctional Center, from which they were recently transferred.Kaneshiro slammed their high ratings of living conditions, medical care and staff interaction at Karnes, compared to Newton, as "b.s." because both facilities are run by the same Bobby Ross Group.
If this is so, why is he so adamant about returning them to Newton as soon as possible?
The prisons chief apparently has forgotten that their good behavior and low flight risk were previously cited as the main "criteria" for their transfers last summer. Yet he now blames them for their "involvement" in the recent disturbance that reportedly followed a fight among four or five men in a Newton chapel and "a Hawaii inmate who ran into the Hawaii inmate's dorm" to avoid discipline.
How unfair to blame almost 160 men as "troublemakers" for broken locks and other incidents originally attributed to fewer than a dozen leaders.
Since so many Hawaii inmates were indiscriminately tear-gassed by Newton guards, Kaneshiro should welcome their safety at Karnes.
Someone needs to remind Kaneshiro that he is now the director of public safety and no longer the city prosecutor.
Faye Kennedy
Retired parole officer
Inmates might start filing lawsuits from Texas prison
Your Dec. 27 editorial on the Hawaii inmates' petition to remain in the Karnes correctional facility instead of being returned to Newton, Texas, was not your finest hour.If these men were troublemakers, as Public Safety Director Keith Kaneshiro now portrays them, they shouldn't have met the high standards he allegedly used for their original transfer from Halawa.
It's also strange that such bad apples could communicate so easily with the Karnes warden and officers.
Is it possible that the professionals at Karnes are more sensitive to the hostility our inmates have faced from other inmates because of racial and cultural differences?
If a petition receives such condemnation, what would happen if frustrated inmates resorted to state and federal lawsuits claiming inadequate protection from racial and ethnic conflicts that have already led to an inmate's death? What a waste of taxpayer dollars, even if they lost.
Joyce J. Banks
State can't control fireworks or fix economy
Another New Year's Eve passes with no relief for tens of thousands of Hawaii residents. Police contend with unenforceable laws, firefighters battle avoidable blazes, people with respiratory problems suffer, uncounted burns and injuries are treated, animals are terrified, our islands are trashed. Sadly, our government lacks the backbone to end this yearly turmoil.In fact, this annual chaos and mayhem is a perfect analogy for government's inability to bring Hawaii out of the economic doldrums and into the prosperity that the rest of the country enjoys. Every legislative session is filled with noise, flash and smoke. Sadly, when everything subsides, little is accomplished and our long-suffering citizens and small businesses are forced to cope with an unsightly mess.
Consider if the money wasted on fireworks were donated to homeless or abuse shelters, to youth or senior or environmental causes. Consider if the governor and legislators stopped using smoke and mirrors to curry favor with cronies, big-bucks supporters and public employee unions.
In 1998, consider if we resolve to dump the dullards and elect officials willing to shrink the bureaucracy, vigorously confront and resolve Hawaii's problems, and revive our economy. What a difference that would make in all our lives!
Kerry A. Krenzke
UH center's performance deserves applause
Congratulations to Coach Riley Wallace and the University of Hawaii basketball team for their outstanding accomplishments on and off the court. Also, a tip of the hat to Hawaii basketball fans for their physical and vocal support for these worthy warriors.Can't help but wonder who the media voters were that kept stalwart UH center Eric Ambrovich off the Rainbow Classic all-tournament team.
Certainly, his stellar performance in the super holiday tourney turned out to be the ultimate Christmas present.
Jim Reed
Double standard reigns when it comes to HMSA
The Hawaii Medical Service Association has stated that the need for unrestricted access to patients' records is necessary to protect against fraud and abuse by providers.How wonderful it would be if that were reciprocal. We would then understand why claims to HMSA have been "in processing" since November of last year, or why it took almost a year and a half to pay for anesthesia (and the letter writings to get action from HMSA took more than twice the time needed for surgery).
Is there some way that the public can be protected from fraud and abuse from HMSA?
Dr. Walter Young
Bishop Estate Archive
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