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Friday, May 8, 1998

Hawaii doesn't need economic task force plan

According to your May 6 issue, Governor Cayetano has stated that "Hawaii's economy will soon get better." The headline in your financial section was "Oahu home sales surged again in April." That section also contained a comment by the CEO of a leading hotel chain saying that its Hawaii room occupancy rate of 80-83 percent remains well above the national average of 65 percent or less.

During prior months, there have been many reports of rising home sales, continuous monthly declines in unemployment, hundreds of new jobs in the hotel industry, and new companies coming here.

These are among the reasons to believe that Hawaii's economy began to bottom out last year. That is why Hawaii didn't need the regressive tax plans of the Economic Revitalization Task Force.

Now, the governor should act on the serious omissions by the task force: diversifying our economy and assisting the survival of small business.

Jerome G. Manis

Task force proposal offered balanced plan for recovery

I strongly support the Economic Revitalization Task Force's proposal, which will help Hawaii's lagging economy.

I understand that the plan will result in the reduction of personal income tax and a slight increase in the general excise tax. This is OK, because we need a balance.

Hawaii's residents are in need of personal income tax cuts, because taxes are out of line with the rest of the country. But these tax cuts should not be in lieu of important social services.

We need to eliminate the duplication of services and make state government more efficient and cost effective.

We need to trim the fat off, not the meat.

Betty Ann Splinter

Any tax increase would be a mistake

The Star-Bulletin's April 30 headline "Cayetano: Senate's 'attitude' hanging up tax" deserves a response from the business community. Merriam Webster's Dictionary defines attitude as "a mental position or feeling with regard to fact or state."

The taxpayer, whether a business person or consumer, knows that any consideration of a tax increase, whether excise or income, is not in sync with economic fact or state budget issues.

The governor had better come down out of the clouds and place his feet on the terra firma of Hawaii's economic reality. No tax increase! A balanced budget! That's the right attitude.

Cy Barker

Buddhist temple adds beauty, serenity to Palolo

I was saddened to learn of the ruling to lower the top of the Korean Buddhist Dae Won Sa Temple. Although not of that faith, I have received great pleasure from this beautiful structure.

When I'm out walking, I sometimes pass by this lovely tranquil place. On occasion, I stop and sit on a bench to enjoy the scenery. The temple roof blends with the emerald mountains surrounding it. Every time I see people at the temple, they always bow, smile and are friendly.

There are people who want to have the structure razed if it is illegally built. Would they want to apply that same standard and raze all structures on every property on Oahu that has some part built or remodeled without proper permitting? There would be a lot of newly homeless people in Hawaii.

In the midst of some of the junk and ill-repair in Honolulu, it's nice to have artistically designed structures with neatly tended surroundings. The temple is an asset to our valley and beautifies it. We should be thankful.

Tisha DeShazo
Palolo

Kauai lap-dancers didn't testify against Richie

Thank you for supporting Carl Richie's release on parole in your May 5 editorial. However, it was in error to say "several workers were given immunity from prostitution charges in return for testifying against Richie."

None of the women who lap-danced were given immunity, none of them testified against Richie, and none were Richie's employees -- they were all independent contractors.

The prosecutor simply dismissed their charges of prostitution.

Daphne Barbee-Wooten

Gene Ward has strong qualifications for Congress

According to some observers, Quentin Kawananakoa may beat Neil Abercrombie -- and certainly Gene Ward in the GOP congressional primary -- because he may have the ability to raise $1 million.

The fact that Gene has 10 years of political experience, and is a seasoned international ambassador, a skilled negotiator and a superb businessman with keen economic and political insight does not seem to matter.

That he married as Asian bride, adopted a Chinese girl and has been waist deep in local issues over 20 years as a devoted family man seems not to be an issue either.

Should we then conclude that the representation of Hawaii on the national and international scene is best served by the highest fund-raiser?

Terry Bosgra

Democrats see trouble in November elections

Rep. Marcus Oshiro's May 5 letter shows he must be nervous about the minority 12 Republicans in the House. Or, I wonder, is he is nervous about the Republican candidates who will be running for the other 39 House seats in November?

If Oshiro is nervous, maybe it is because he is part of the big, 39-member Democrat majority in the House with a Democratic governor, who collectively in 1998 are the smooth-talking "Harold Hill" making promises they cannot deliver.

Republicans can only speak the truth about "trouble" in River City, Hawaii. The minority Republicans have done an excellent job in educating the people.

James I. Kuroiwa Jr.
Chairman
Honolulu County
Republican Party of Hawaii

Only political change will save this state

I predict that Election '98 will be the death knell for politics-as-usual in Hawaii.

Consider what our politicians achieved over the past few years: squandered a substantial surplus; created a bloated bureaucracy; resisted meaningful government downsizing, reorganization and reform; rebuffed initiative, referendum and recall; pandered to special interests; created stumbling blocks to a vibrant economy.

Then the "take it or leave it" Economic Revitalization Task Force proposals were extoled as a panacea for our problems.

Adding insult to injury, self-serving politicians and special-interests derisively portray the public as ignorant for failing to understand and enthusiastically embrace the ERTF proposals.

We need to elect politicians with new visions, open minds and innovative solutions. Political continuity be damned!

Kerry A. Krenzke

Tourists vote indirectly with their pocketbooks

Legislators are under the impression that visitors can't vote, so they plan to raise the hotel room tax. Wrong.

With an increase in that tax, potential visitors will vote by staying away. The primary engine that keeps Hawaii going will then sputter. A downturn in visitor counts will mean more layoffs. More layoffs will mean more disgruntled voters.

These voters will remember who caused the layoffs. Senators and representatives who vote for an increase in the hotel room tax will vote themselves out of office.

Roy S. Tanouye
Waipahu

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