Clay Jones will be missed in Star-Bulletin
Regrettably, Star-Bulletin readers will soon have to live without the imaginative political cartoons of Clay Jones. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to Clay for the outstanding job he has performed in visually translating the foibles and fancies of Hawaii politics for us.It wasn't an easy assignment to suddenly parachute into paradise and capture the nuances of local politics. Clay was not only a "quick study," but he was able to crystallize complex issues for readers.
I suppose some considered him controversial, but that was in keeping with your "We Make Waves!" slogan, and the tradition of great political cartoonists who must call them like they see them.
James V. Hall
Editor's note: Today is Clay Jones' last day as the Star-Bulletin's
editorial cartoonist. Corky Trinidad returns tomorrow
after a one-year sabbatical.
Auckland shows need for underground lines
Your March 9 editorial on the long-term power outage in Auckland asked the question, "Of course, that couldn't happen here -- or could it?"There were many contributing reasons for the Auckland blackout. One was the cutbacks in maintenance due to the power companies' drive for profits. Another was the effect of the unseasonably hot and dry summer on the soil, which in turn affected the aging gas and oil insulated cables.
Mercury Energy described its situation in Auckland by stating, "In this case, we have four cables lost, which can be described as catastrophic rather than risky. We never envisaged we could get to this situation, and if we had we'd have rung the alarm bells immediately."
Hawaiian Electric may now claim that, yes, a similar outage could occur here if we place lines underground. However, state-of-the-art advances in solid dielectric cables have increased reliability since the original placement of the failed lines.
Despite its recent problems, Auckland remains committed to underground lines. A hurricane or other major tropical storm wiping out our own above-ground system appears far more likely, doesn't it?
Brian Durham
The Outdoor Circle
UH should be cultivating brains instead of brawn
Pardon me, but I have always believed that the primary purpose of a university is to educate the minds of its students. Training the body was a secondary purpose that came later in the history of the great universities of the world.How, then, is one to understand the recent calls for cuts in the University of Hawaii's modern languages programs, as well as its medical and dental schools, while there is no mention of the million-dollar athletic programs at UH undergoing the same fate?
Go figure!
Bill Cody
Voters should retake control of government
Hawaii residents must take their state back from the arrogant, single-party system that is manipulating all factions of our government to enrich itself, big business and big labor.One good example of this is the so-called "Lingle Bill." This is an attempt to tilt the playing field to the favor of incumbents, the people who already have their campaign funds in place.
Maui Mayor Linda Lingle has come up with some practical ways to run an efficient government and to stay within budget. Similar ideas have come from other candidates, which could help small business, which in turn employs a surprising number of people. These people, in turn, pay taxes.
Other states have seen the light and voted in the loyal opposition with new ideas that have turned their whole financial pictures around. Michigan, Minnesota and New Jersey are three that come to mind.
Why can't Hawaii, with about the worst economy in the country but with the highest cost of living and an increasing unemployment rate, make the change, too? Now!
Jim Behse
Stadium's organization led to great graduations
Pearl City High School has held its commencement exercises at the Aloha Stadium since 1990. Since 1995, we have worked with Eugene Tokuhama, events manager; Dave Goltz, Jumbletron manager; Herb Naone, head custodian; and Vance Hall, parking, to plan and coordinate this occasion for our graduating classes.For the past few years we have shared their services with Mililani High School, as our programs are held on consecutive days at the stadium. This year, Radford High School will join us, resulting in three graduations on the same weekend at the same place.
While we share some common needs, each of us has specific plans. It is no small feat that our individual accommodations are being met.
We commend Ed Hayashi, stadium manager, and his staff for helping to make Pearl City High School graduations successful celebrations for our seniors, their parents and guests.
Frances Nakaoka
Marcia Miyasato
'98 Graduation Co-Advisers
Pearl City High School
Oversight by the LUC must not be weakened
As a small-businessman and frequent participant in land-use planning issues on the Big Island from 1986-92, including many months spent as an intervenor before the state Land Use Commission, I want to register my opposition to the Economic Revitalization Task Force's recommendation that LUC oversight powers be transferred to county agencies.Most county political appointees, many with strong ties to local development and construction interests, are simply incapable of separating politics and self-interest from sound long-range land-use planning.
Expecting such individuals to successfully guide growth in their counties is tantamount to putting Saddam Hussein in charge of destroying his own weapons of mass destruction.
I urge those legislators with the best interests of Hawaii and its people at heart to stand on the right side of history by defending statewide land-use planning and oversight from the special interests who seek to emasculate it.
Glen M. Winterbottom
Naalehu, Hawaii
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