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Letters
to the Editor

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Saturday, December 2, 2000

BRT system will alleviate traffic gridlock

I'd like to respond to Larry Geller's Nov. 17 letter. He wrote that I think the "$1 billion bus rapid-transit project will reduce the traffic coming in from Kapolei or Mililani."

I agree with Geller that traffic from Leeward and Central Oahu will not decrease. In fact, it will likely increase due to growth in our population and the economy.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system provides a method of increasing the number of people that can be moved on our crowded roadways.

Traffic will only get worse unless we make a serious attempt to either widen all the roads on this island, or motivate more people to give up their single-occupant vehicles for a viable transportation alternative.

The BRT system is an efficient and reliable way to move people in both directions through the primary urban corridor, which runs between Kapolei and Waikiki. Unlike the current bus system that is stuck in traffic with other vehicles, BRT vehicles would run in their own transit lanes, providing passengers a more reliable schedule.

We need to find a way to increase the people-carrying capacity of our roads. Doing nothing has only given us the traffic congestion we suffer now. If not BRT, then what?

Duke Bainum
Councilman, District IV Chairman, Transportation Committee

Quotables "We're going full speed ahead." David Black CANADIAN PUBLISHER AND PRESIDENT OF BLACK PRESS LTD. Announcing the completion of his purchase of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin from Liberty Newspapers and Gannett Co., and his intent to buy MidWeek magazine from New York-based Trans Capital Corp. "I hope the commission's order will...encourage other people with disabilities to keep working to overcome obstacles they face when they try to advance their career." Bruce Pied BIG ISLAND PILOT UNABLE TO SEE OUT OF HIS LEFT EYE Who won $1.4 million in legal damages against Aloha Island Air in an employment discrimination case

Religious people should have voted for Bush

If every Christian in America had voted for George W. Bush, we would not have this election mess in Florida. I can't understand why 48 percent of the people who call themselves Christian would vote for Al Gore, as one magazine reported.

It's like apples and oranges. Bush believes in Christian family values, is pro-life, is against partial birth abortion and believes in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. To top it all, Bush also said on national television that Jesus is his Lord and Savior.

Government stability is grounded in the morality of its citizens, and citizen morality is grounded in religion. Unfortunately, the citizens of this country have put the bank book ahead of their moral responsibility.

Melvin Partido
Pearl City

Sing the praises of America's resilience

With all the controversy over the contested presidential election, the charges and countercharges, I'm reminded that, as a nation, we have survived worse. And I think about the advice given us by songwriter Katherine Lee Bates: "America, America, God mend thine ev'ry flaw. Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law."

"And crown thy good with brotherhood," please.

Keith Haugen

Don't complain if you didn't go to the polls

This last presidential election was disgusting and not because of the counting process, candidates or tumult following the election. It's a national disgrace because, yet again, Hawaii had an abysmally low voter turnout -- under 40 percent, one of the worst in the nation.

Why do people in this state bother to register to vote at all? I've heard all the meaningless excuses:

"Neither candidate turns me on."
"My vote doesn't count anyway."
"Politicians are just a bunch of crooks."
"I'm disillusioned."

They go on and on. Yet all this baloney is just to cloud the fact that they're just too lazy.

From now on, whenever I hear citizens moaning about our rotten, corrupt, do-nothing government, I'll ask them if they voted. If they didn't, then they have no right to complain.

Art Todd
Kaneohe

Husband didn't warrant attacks

Although I've felt it prudent to keep my opinion to myself, recent personal attacks and grossly untrue insinuations directed toward my husband have pushed me to no longer remain silent.

I must set the record straight. When Garrett said that he "will remain involved" in public education, despite losing re-election to the Board of Education, he was not "clinging to power" as some opponents have suggested.

He was simply stating what he will continue to do all of his adult life -- devote himself to community service and volunteerism.

My husband is a bright, well-educated man of high integrity who has, over the years, been involved with such service organizations as the Honolulu Japanese Jaycees, the Japanese American Citizens League, the Kuhio Lions Club and the American Heart Association.

For eight years, he has worked for The Arc in Hawaii, a non-profit organization that provides housing and day programs as well as advocates for people with mental retardation.

His passion in life is to strive for justice and equality for all people, especially those who are powerless and disenfranchised. To this end, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that those with mental retardation and other disabilities are afforded the opportunity to lead the highest quality of life possible and to secure them equal access to services and other rights guaranteed to all U.S. citizens.

Garrett's commitment to his ideals has been recognized through various awards and honors, including being named one of Hawaii's Three Outstanding Young Persons by the Hawaii Jaycees, being selected as a Pacific Century Fellow and being appointed to the Governor's Okinawan Centennial Celebration Commission.

For the last four years, Garrett has given up much of his personal free time to serve on the BOE, where his contributions have been recognized and highly praised by unions like the HSTA and HGEA, and the Hawaiian immersion and special needs communities.

I cannot say why the people of this state did not re-elect him to the board. Whether he simply lost the name-recognition war or voters truly didn't think he was the best person for the position, I don't know. What I do know is that he has always been and will continue to be one of those special people who cares enough to get involved.

Holly Toguchi

A heartfelt message to Pali Lookout thieves

On Friday, Nov. 17, about 3:30 p.m, you watched us as we got out of our rental car. You saw that because of the high winds, we chose (wrongly) to only take our camera with us. You were in and out of our locked car in seconds, taking my knapsack with my wallet inside.

Did you notice that I had very short hair? Did you notice the small religious items as you rifled through the knapsack? One of them was the small blue Gideon bible I've carried with me since receiving it in the fifth grade.

You see, dear criminal, this trip to Hawaii was to "celebrate" the end of my chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. Of course, how would you know that? You're an equal opportunity thief.

Please, if you see a flowered cloth knapsack by the side of the road or in the garbage, take it to the police station. We don't care about the money and credit cards; it's the religious items, the pictures of my daughter, etc., that are irreplaceable.

My family still has fond memories of Hawaii and, as Anne Frank said, "I still believe in the goodness of people."

Sue Helmak
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Death of loved one can be moving, cathartic

After reading the Star-Bulletin's Nov. 29 editorial, "Dutch law could guide doctor-assisted suicide," I wanted to share my experience with my father, who was terminally ill with cancer. By September, it had invaded nearly every part of his body.

Less than a month later, my wife, siblings and I sat at his death bed for the last five days of his earthly existence. He never asked for pity and did his best to disguise the pain that leaked through the morphine.

He still strongly desired to be an active partner in the lives of all his family. Proud, you ask? No, courageous in the face of impending death.

His last five days were full of pain, but the hospice where we lived and slept for those last days gave him dignity. His family was there and he wasn't lonely. I had my hand on his chest as his breathing became more and more drawn out.

The staff at Kelsey Creek Care Center cared for us, just as we cared for our father. Up until his last breath, he responded to our voices.

Dignity in death is not being alone. My father participated in life right up until the end. I know because my hand was still on his chest as his heart beat for the last time.

Frank McCafferty

Second chance means reinvigorated mission

I was delighted to read that an agreement has been reached between the employees of the Star-Bulletin and Black Press Ltd., and particularly that an ESOP (employee stock) participation is part of the new relationship.

Your newspaper's "near-death experience (NDE)" is a wondrous opportunity of both parties. Perhaps, as many NDEs have done, you will value your second chance for the betterment of the community.

It's great news for Hawaii's people that this alternate voice will be preserved, one that will be free from big corporate influence.

David Miho

Teachers, schools
need money

Poor financial support sends message to educators

Education funding is not a simple choice of paying teachers or buying supplies. We have enough money for both good teachers and good books, if we cared.

Instead, we spend money on other things, like new aquariums. Can't we admit that we're wasting tax money on tourist attractions? What good is visitor revenue if we don't use it to buy better public education?

Teachers aren't greedy and they aren't expendable. Yet we treat them like they are canned goods -- haggling over prices and ignoring then, when possible. The result? A shortage of teachers, all of whom make barely enough to live.

Teachers deserve a fair market wage. Is a farmer being greedy for charging enough for his produce or lifestock to live on? This situation is our choice.

It's easy to blame the government. We should be holding it accountable. Education is underfunded because we decided it would be, whether we say it out loud or not.

Rod Gammon

Current teachers need more respect, money

In his Nov. 27 letter, Roy Iwamoto suggested that -- in light of a shortage of public school teachers -- the state should hire University of Hawaii graduates with degrees in mathematics and sciences, language and literature, history, etc. This is not a solution.

I'm sure that teachers would take Iwamoto to task for even implying that graduates with specialized knowledge are far superior to that of a teacher, who possesses "only" a general education degree.

There's more to teaching than just imparting facts and figures. If anyone doubts it, try taking the PRAXIS test that all teachers must pass before being licensed in this state.

Teaching is an art. It takes, in my opinion, a special person to be a teacher, who must be even more special to stick with it.

The average college graduate is thinking of "big bucks" on joining the working world. Those "big bucks" aren't in the field of education. As far as I've been able to determine, teachers in Hawaii haven't received an appreciable raise since the 1970s. The cost of living goes up but their salaries do not.

It's not a matter of finding people superior to those now in the classroom. It's recognizing the needs of those dedicated teachers and affording each a livable salary.

Mainland teachers won't come here because of the pay, and those who do won't stay more than two years. It has nothing to do with their abilities.

If people are really sincere about public schools in Hawaii, they should actively challenge the expenditure of state funds for golf courses, aquariums and the like. Ask where the $18 million of educational money from the U.S. government went several years ago. I'll tell you -- the majority of it went into the state general fund.

Bernard Judson
Kapolei

Public school teachers are not greedy

In his Nov. 29 letter, Donald Allen calls Hawaii's teachers greedy in their current contract negotiation. How dare he! I am appalled by his lack of knowledge about my profession. People decide to become teachers for many reasons, and money isn't one of them. We purchase necessary supplies to enhance student learning with our own funds.

I have bought various supplies to enhance my classroom -- including oscillating fans for hot and humid days, educational computer programs, books from local stores and book clubs, and the basics of pencils, paper and notebooks.

I have just completed my masters in education program, but I must repay a student loan for the next 10 years of my life. To get a pay increase, we must attend classes during the school year to receive PD credits, which means spending more of their own money to better ourselves.

Perhaps Mr. Allen needs to shadow a teacher from the beginning of a school year until June, so he can view first-hand what teachers go through during class, after school, as well as in the classroom on weekends, vacations and holidays. Maybe then he will change his view of teachers from "greedy" individuals to the underpaid, caring and dedicated "angels" that they are.

Teresa C.M. Kwok

Special Education Teacher, Central District

Money only spent on schools in emergency situation

I note that a blue ribbon panel of local bankers and charity executives are to raise $100 million for a new aquarium in Kakaako. Another news story tells of students removed from an outlying public grade school because of the discovery of lead paint. Somehow, funds are found for alternate classrooms. Ahem.

Sea Life Park is still a gem of ocean education. The Hilton Lagoon will soon be an underwater environment for budding scientists and tourist enjoyment. Maui has a new, world-class aquarium. None depend on public financing.

We can be sure that $100 million isn't going to be sought by a blue-ribbon panel to benefit our public schools.

I suggest that parents take a good look at the schools their children attend. With luck, they can find lead paint and perhaps even shredding asbestos. Only then will capital expenditures be forthcoming for their children's education.

Beverly Kai

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