Dear Mr. President, I think you are so cool and nice. I am glad you are doing this for the children of Afghanistan. I am 8-years-old and I see you on the news and you make everything feel better and I'd like to meet you if you come to Hawaii. (Enclosed) is a dollar from me and two more from my Mom and Dad. Sarah E. Herschel Manoa

Judge is off-base to question inquiry

I was deeply concerned when Judge David Ezra suggested that Sen. Colleen Hanabusa's investigation into the taxpayer costs of the Felix consent decree amounted almost to obstruction of justice. I question when knowing how tax dollars are being spent is anything less than just, correct and the job that our elected officials are tasked to complete.

The fact that a lot of dollars have been spent with questionable results is the very question that Judge Ezra himself is supposed to be asking. He should be doing everything in his power to assist Hanabusa's investigation rather than preventing her committee from asking fair questions.

Lois Wilson

Ehime Maru expenses seem excessive

Not to take anything away from the grief of the families of those lost on the Ehime Maru, but the money spent to recover the bodies from this tragedy seems grossly excessive.

The Ehime Maru sinking was, after all, an accident, and accidents occur every day that result in the loss of life.

There are millions of desperate people on this planet. Couldn't the $60 million spent raising the ship have been better used for some other purpose?

Robert E. Rau

[Quotables]

"Andy had an opportunity to do something truly noble, and he decided not to. For what reason, I don't know."

John Henry Felix

Honolulu City Councilman, on Andy Mirikitani's decision to vote "no" on a smoking ban in Honolulu restaurants. The ban was voted down 5-4. Mirikitani's vote was probably his last Council action before he is sentenced Dec. 4 on a federal theft, fraud and bribery conviction.

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"It is needed in a better and much more stable economic time period."

Andy Mirikitani

Honolulu City Councilman, explaining why he voted with the majority to reject a restaurant smoking ban. Mirikitani co-sponsored similar anti-smoking legislation in 1995.

Traffic needs must be considered

The call from residents of Ewa Beach and the Ewa Neighborhood Board to halt further home construction until traffic improvements are in place should serve as a lesson to all Oahu. The Star-Bulletin's editorial (Oct. 19) makes several important points in this regard.

The growing resentment of the negative impacts of development is more than a stereotypical "not-in-my-backyard" reaction. It indicates a desire for better planning with more community involvement.

Problems like Ewa's are increasingly becoming the norm rather than the exception. To cope with these planning irregularities, states like Washington and Florida have "concurrency" statutes requiring that all infrastructure needed to maintain pre-existing levels of service be constructed before a residential development is completed.

Also, as your editorial alludes, developers -- not government -- must pick up the cost of new roadways, sewer and wastewater systems, schools, parks, public safety and other facilities that development necessitates. Avoiding public subsidization of residential growth is a basic tenet of smart growth. Legislators need to be more aware of how development increases government costs and take steps to make development pay its own way.

Citizens for Improved Planning
Editor's note: This letter was signed by Molly Broadus, Laura Brown, Charles Carole, Randy Ching, Kathy Harter, Pearl Johnson, Shaunti Kiehl, Richard Weigel and Howard Wiig.

Bush policies hamper war on terrorism

The "go-it-alone" cartoon in "From the Drawing Board" (Insight, Nov. 4) shows the weak link in the Bush war on terrorism. His initial policies opposing the ABM treaty and the Kyoto Protocol on the environment are among the many Bush barriers to international cooperation.

Early on, he rejected international treaties against unregulated, offshore banks, now recognized as havens for terrorist money. His criticisms of the United Nations have not been forgotten by many of its participants. Hence, Bush failed to get United Nations' participation in attacking Osama Bin Laden and the Taliban regime.

Such prejudices seriously hamper our anti-terrorism efforts and explain why the adjacent cartoon -- "War on Terrorism Marathon" -- portrays Uncle Sam as the lonely participant.

Jerome G. Manis

State should develop local resources first

The recent economic downturn, and two recent announcements, demonstrate that it is critically important to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies locally before we try to export them to the Asia-Pacific region.

Hawaiian Electric Industries (HEI) has lost millions of dollars on power projects in the Philippines and China.

Then a "Buy Hawaii" campaign was launched with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism estimating that $500 spent locally could generate $2,000 in revenues and income.

Hawaii is still dependent on imported fossil fuels for more than 90 percent of its energy requirements, at a cost of more than $1 billion per year. We need to kick this habit.

The state should set an example by mandating a reduction in energy use in state facilities, and use renewable energy for much of the remaining energy demand. This will significantly reduce the use of fossil fuels in state facilities.

Such a mandate by the governor would reduce the state's utility bills in the near term and benefit the state in many other ways.

Local companies could provide most of the equipment and services. Accelerated development of indigenous renewable energy technologies (e.g., solar water heating, wind energy and seawater air-conditioning) would generate additional local economic development opportunities.

David Rezachek

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