Hawaiians need to have say on Hanauma plan

Hanauma Bay is a treasure. We have been blessed by its beauty. Now, we share the spot with the people of the world. Wakea and Papa would be proud of us.

But for some reason, there are persons who believe that man-made buildings can improve what nature has provided. The plan recently approved by the City Council, calling for the erection of an 11,000-square-foot education center in addition to a 2,200-square-foot "snack bar," is excessive. These structures would mar the environment.

As a native Hawaiian, I am appalled that no Hawaiian was included in the study groups. When the Office of Hawaiian Affairs was provided an opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the final EIS did not address OHA's concerns.

The city can do a better job on this project with a little more consultation. What is the rush? Enough concern has been expressed to warrant it, although seven of our Council members seem to ignore it.

Roy L. Benham

Inouye has helped more Hawaiians than Trask

Mililani Trask has always been an obstacle to sovereignty.

She speaks pro, but her actions are con. She maligns people on both sides at the same time. She marches to her own drummer and out of step with the Hawaiian people and kupuna.

All her crassness and invective prattle have not brought the kanaka maoli any closer to sovereignty than when they lost it.

Inouye has shared his record of what he has done to help Hawaiians and Hawaii. What is Trask's record? Besides her small stature, she has an equally small mind.

Ken Chang
Kaneohe

John Henry Felix is far from greedy

As a longtime business associate and friend of City Councilman John Henry Felix, I cannot allow assertions about him, in a recent letter to the editor, to go unchallenged. The uninformed author wrote that Felix was "greedy."

Apparently, the writer's unhappiness that Felix is allowing his private property to be used for weddings motivated the false statement. But whether you agree with his politics or business ventures, nothing could be further from the truth.

In the last five years alone, Felix has donated more than $1 million to charities, nonprofits and educational institutions. This money came out of his own pocket, not from his political campaign or corporate accounts. I know because I prepared the checks.

Say what you will about John Henry Felix, but know this: He is one of the most generous public figures this town has ever seen.

Reg Baker, CPA

Quotables "When I asked hard questions about the budget, they removed me as chairman. Now I ask the hard questions, they do the same thing." Mufi Hannemann HONOLULU CITY COUNCILMAN Removed from the chairmanship of the City Council's Transportation Committee after criticizing parts of Mayor Jeremy Harris' $1 billion transit plan "Your chances of getting decent medical care in prison are very poor, especially for women. This case shows the prenatal care is atrocious." Myles S. Breiner ATTORNEY FOR PRISON INMATE ANN HOSE Suing the state over the death of his client's unborn baby because of a drug injected into Hose's abdomen by a prison nurse during her pregnancy

More information on release of murderer

Mahalo for your Nov. 18 story and Nov. 19 editorial on freed killer John Allen Truth, who murdered my former mother-in-law, Janice Carter, in 1993. He walked away free from any criminal charges in 1996.

The city Department of the Prosecuting Attorney went out of its way to continue to follow the killer and inform the family of the victim. Of particular note were the efforts of Deputy Prosecutor Kevin K. Takata and Kathy Carlos Lawrence, a counselor with the Victim/Witness Assistance Division.

When Truth, awaiting trial on the charge of second-degree murder a year-and-a-half, was deemed unfit to be tried due to a mental disorder, the court dismissed the case and subjected him to involuntary civil commitment on May 1, 1995. Jurisdiction was then transferred from the city prosecutor to the state attorney general and Department of Health.

On May 5, 1995, Takata wrote Attorney General Margery Bronster, reminding her of the unanimous view of all three court-appointed psychiatrists who warned that Truth presented "a real and immediate danger to others." He reiterated the city's interest in Truth's status and whereabouts.

Bronster never responded. Follow-up communications to her were likewise ignored.

Questions also arise as to which court and what judge, without benefit of notification, released Truth, and how, as rumored, he was sent or escorted to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., by another state agency at taxpayer expense. More non-responsiveness came from the interim AG's office. This is unacceptable.

I will be introducing legislation to eliminate any "falling through the cracks" between county and state in the notification process to a victim's family, and to end free passes given those who claim mental problems while murdering others. This is a bipartisan issue and I welcome any support.

State Sen. Sam Slom
R-8th District

NOW doesn't let other side be heard

Florida's legislature and governor have approved allowing motorists to purchase "Choose Life" license plates for an additional $22 fee (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 23).

Purchase of the plates is entirely voluntary, with proceeds going to support organizations that serve pregnant women who plan on putting their babies up for adoption.

Yet the National Organization for Women is seeking to block the sales, arguing that the plates unconstitutionally promote an anti-abortion slogan.

Obviously, NOW is pro-choice but only when the choice is consistent with its own pro-abortion position.

John Pechauer

ADA lawsuits will multiply if plaintiffs win

The outcome of the trial over L&L Drive Inn's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act will affect every business and public accommodation in Hawaii. Since 1992, over 500 ADA lawsuits have been filed against businesses in Hawaii.

Since a victory by the plaintiffs will mean more ADA lawsuits, the business community should support L&L in its fight against these frivolous suits. However, few speak out for fear of retaliation.

Hawaii has already suffered economically for many years. We cannot afford more ADA lawsuits.

Vickie Fortejon

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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