Criticism of Young is undeserved

Peter Young, director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, has come under harsh criticism for alleged mismanagement (Star-Bulletin, March 23). Much of the criticism is the result of underfunding and differences between the many different interest groups and stakeholders, who each have strong feelings regarding public land management. Despite these many opinions, the responsibility of balancing between protection and usage belongs to the DLNR director.

The director manages a lot of ground, literally, as well as ocean. The department is responsible for managing 1.3 million acres of state land and 565 million acres of ocean. It is responsible for regulating hunting, fishing, hiking, boating and many other activities performed on state land as well as ensuring native remains are protected. DLNR's duties also include protecting native plants and animals from invasive species.

Young is an exemplary administrator who inherited a department short-staffed and underfunded for the past decade. Overcoming budgetary shortfalls and the need to maintain and improve facilities at state parks are among DLNR's most difficult challenges. Young has been unjustly criticized for exploring public-private partnership options to fund necessary improvements. Public-private partnerships work. Last year, Diamond Head State Park's admission fee generated $550,000 in user fees -- $110,000 went to OHA and $440,000 benefited all state parks.

Young has worked hard to cut waste and stretch the department's budget dollars. He has implemented a program to save more than $31,000 and an estimated 1.2 million gallons of water a year by retrofitting water-saving fixtures in several buildings used by the department.

He has made himself accessible to the public and the operations of his department are more transparent. This is a refreshing change from some of his predecessors. He has sought out public input to help the department find "better, faster, more efficient and less costly ways" of doing its job.

State land management issues and the DLNR have long been a lightning rod for criticism. Change, while often painful, is a fundamental part of growth -- Hawaii and the DLNR are better off for Young's leadership and efforts.

DOE misjudgments cause testing fiasco

The state Department of Education first has teachers briefing students on the correct answers to tests, and now the DOE is canceling the test preparers' contract ("More errors found in isle school tests," Star-Bulletin, April 16).

It seems that someone doesn't like the test results. Is the fox in the hen house?

Recycling mess offers lesson for government

With all the fuss about the recycling program in Hawaii, it goes to show that everything was poorly planned and poorly managed. That is what happens when you rush to implement a program; you will get unnecessary bugs in the system. You have people waiting in the hot sun, in long lines just to turn in their empty bottles. Then for most centers, they have to weigh every bag instead of counting the bottles.

This is a unfair system. I can see why many people don't want to recycle; they just gave up on the system.

If Hawaii wanted a excellent bottle recycling program, the program needs to work with all the stores and markets to help collect bottles. Then equip all recycling centers with bottle- counting machines. Train all workers on how the system works.

If the government had taken the time to think things through, problems would not have arisen. I guess this is a lesson we all had to learn.

Freshman lawmaker blunders big time

While the focus of the latest political scandal is focused on Sen. Brian Kanno for abuse of power, let's not forget Rep. Rida Cabanilla ("Legislative aide quits amid flap," Star-Bulletin, April 9). She's been in the Legislature less than one session and is already showing herself to be irresponsible.

Cabanilla recently made statements to the media that she was unaware that her office manager, Leon Rouse, was a convicted homosexual child molester who spent many years in a Philippine prison. This is evidence that she is either being dishonest or is just plain incompetent.

It's unbelievable that she would hire Rouse but never even take the time to look into his background or qualifications. If she would have done a few simple searches on the Internet, she would have found information about his child molestation conviction and homosexual activism.

Cabanilla's predecessor, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo was a leader, a first-class act. I hope she returns safely from her tour of duty in Iraq.

'Freedom first' should be Americans' code

Writing that motorcyclists should have to wear something white so that he can see them, Tetsuji Ono stated, "Safety first -- everything else is secondary," (Star-Bulletin, April 17).

First, if drivers can't see other vehicles on the road, they shouldn't be driving.

Second, our watchwords should be "freedom first -- everything else is secondary."

Remember what Benjamin Franklin said: "Those who would give up liberty for security deserve neither."

Effort to kill filibuster is undemocratic

The recent maneuvering by Republicans to get rid of the filibuster is yet another tactic on their part to silence the voice of dissent in the United States Senate. If the Republicans are for less government in the lives of American citizens, then why are they trying so desperately to maintain a stranglehold in Washington?

President Bush needs to preserve democracy in our country, not destroy it.

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