Souki helped save jobs at Maui office
I would like to thank House Speaker Joseph Souki for his help in saving the jobs of the administration staff in the Maui District Health Office. The House, led by Speaker Souki, restored full funding for this critical neighbor island office, which was cut by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.All the girls in the office will remember Mr. Souki at the polls.
Pearl Rockett
Wailuku, Maui
Legislators appreciate plight of the homeless
Much has been reported about the shortcomings of this legislative session. However, I would like to share a positive outcome.The legislative body that I experienced demonstrated a reasonable assessment of the state's priorities. It sought to identify creative solutions to the financial problem faced by the state's homeless shelters.
It is to the Legislature's credit that its members recognized that providing for the most basic necessities in life -- such as food, shelter and clothing -- is a priority service worthy of public assistance.
IHS and the hundreds of people we help daily are grateful that the Legislature agreed to redistribute the conveyance tax, so that shelters will receive $600,000 in additional funds for one year.
Special thanks goes to conference committee members including Sen. Robert Bunda, Rep. Bertha Kawakami, Rep. Dennis Arakaki, Sen. Rosalyn Baker and Rep. Calvin Say. IHS appreciates their help.
Lynn Maunakea
Executive Director
Institute for Human Studies
Jobs are not as scarce as media suggest
I am not one to rap the media for being all "doom and gloom," but your May 18 article, "Grads face uncertain future," missed the boat by not pointing to a lot of positive opportunities for jobs in Hawaii, now and in the near future.It is true that some companies are downsizing. But it is equally true that some companies are growing.
For instance, our department is doing a lot of mass recruitment for jobs in businesses that are expanding in Hawaii. One Kalakaua, Lucent Technologies, Comp-USA, FedEx, United Airlines and Dillingham Grocery Outlet are a few recent examples.
There are also examples of new technologies that are growing in Hawaii. SquareUSA, ATT/Bell Atlantic and Uniden are cases of high-tech development. Similar cases in environmental technology are also good signs of positive opportunities for Hawaii's graduates, such as the cleanup of Kahoolawe and the start-up of forestry on the Big Island and Kauai.
The fact that Budget Rent-A-Car designated Hawaii as one of its five national satellite reservation centers says a lot about our future in global telecommunications.
Lorraine H. Akiba
Director of Labor
State Department of Labor
and Industrial Relations
Others deserved tribute at Na Hoku Awards show
It was enjoyable to watch Na Hoku Awards again this year. It is wonderful that these artists are given special recognition, which they so richly deserve. We should all appreciate the hard work and love that go into their craft.The tributes to the Lifetime Achievement award recipients were well done and heartwarming. The tribute to the late Israel Kamakawiwoole was very well presented, with a lot of thought and care.
But what about another entertainer who passed away last October? Surely some kind of recognition was due Randy Borden, who died of cancer. Borden and Jon Osorio were past recipients for their song, "Hawaiian Eyes." Last year, they were presenters at the awards show.
Borden was overlooked for any kind of mention at Na Hoku, as were other entertainers who were lost to us last year. We are such a small community, that surely there could have been a few seconds devoted to them. I strongly recommend that this be done in the future.
Neda Baird
Solution is more gun availability, not less
It is sadly ironic that government policies declaring schools to be gun-free have backfired. Our teachers and kids are "sitting ducks" for any deranged person intent on attacking them.Some blame guns, but guns aren't the problem. The percentage of the population that owns guns has remained constant for more than 100 years. What has changed is the exposure that children have, thanks to the entertainment industry, to depictions of violence and the bombardment of suggestions that resorting to violence to solve problems is not only acceptable, it may even be heroic.
Since there has never been a successful ban of any kind in the U.S. (e.g. alcohol, drugs), and since with more than 200 million guns already in the U.S. we will never prevent gun violence, shouldn't we then prepare for it?
Rigorous studies have shown that violent crime decreases where there are fewer restrictions on the carrying of concealed guns, because criminals prefer to attack the defenseless.
Bottom line: Shootings at schools and abortion clinics will come to a screeching halt when those places are protected by either the police or armed citizens.
Brian Baron
Board chairwoman to give incumbent a good run
Your May 21 article listing election races worth watching failed to mention the 42nd District (Makakilo, Kapolei, Ewa Villages, Village Park, Kunia).Democrat Maeda Timson, chairwoman of the Makakilo/Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board, is challenging Republican Rep. Mark Moses. Maeda has been active in the community for many years and many of us feel that she's the frontrunner in this race because of her record of getting things done for our community.
Jane Ross
Kapolei
Clinton betrayed country in deal with China
The president says that "he acts in the best interest of the American people." Oh, really?We now have 13 Chinese missiles, capable of delivering nuclear warheads, pointed at America's largest cities, thanks to the combined efforts of Clinton, Johnny Chung, the late Ron Brown and Bernard Schwartz, who contributed $1 million to the Clinton re-election campaign.
Clinton's legacy has finally come clear. He is the Benedict Arnold of the 20th century. The best interests of the American people would be served by his resignation.
Janice Judd
Tax auditor is credit to her department
In these troubled times, when the general public is criticizing government and the Legislature for having too many workers who are overpaid, I would like to commend Sarah Sugimura of the state Department of Taxation, Office Audit Branch, for her excellent work.She recently assisted me in straightening out my income tax records. She then quickly and courteously suggested amendments to my general excise tax records. In less than 15 minutes, she saved me additional expenses and time.
I am sure that most of the general public has not met and been assisted by this knowledgeable tax agent.
In conclusion, should the state payroll system be amended to include merit pay raises for good job knowledge and execution, I recommend Sugimura be one of the first to be considered and get paid in accordance with her capabilities.
Bob Uemoto
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