UH can't afford to give Warriors a makeover
Regarding "
UH goes for green" (Star-Bulletin, March 6): So the new football coach needs new uniforms! OK, that and his mega salary, benefits and bonuses are his priorities. Let's not hear any more about the lack of soap, coaches' offices, training facilities, etc.
Someone at the University of Hawaii needs to exert some sane oversight to assure that the funds available will be used where they will do the most good. New uniforms should be at the bottom of the list. Is this the kind of makeover we really need?
A.L. Rogers
Kaneohe
Overgrown weeds or beauty of the aina?
Everyone, stop complaining about the overgrown brush all over the roadsides. Don't you know it's the city's plan to let visitors from out of state experience the "natural" ambiance of our islands?
Clark Himeda
Honolulu
Many factors involved in Hawaii's 'socialism'
The frustration expressed in Thursday's letter "
Socialist views keep isles from progressing," about Hawaii's political philosophy, is certainly understandable. But step away from the rhetoric for a minute and consider this. Social structures and attitudes evolve for many reasons, most driven by economic reality. Hawaii has always had dollars from elsewhere: military, ag export and tourism dollars have been flowing to the islands throughout its modern history. Cultural values built around family also contribute to a paternalistic system. One result is a form of collectivist socialism, but it exists for real, practical reasons. It works well more often than not.
It's also true that such a system requires a lot of extra work to get anything major done. That's frustrating if you want to see rapid change. But you know what? That's just the way it is.
Jim Dorsey
Kailua
Army strives to protect environment, culture
Tuesday's editorial, "
Course change on Stryker unlikely despite environmental harm," does not accurately portray the Army's efforts to preserve the lands entrusted to us, protect sites of cultural or historic importance, and protect threatened and endangered plant and animal species in Hawaii.
The environmental impact statement is a detailed analysis and considers possible worst-case impacts that might be caused if the Stryker brigade is stationed in Hawaii, Alaska or Colorado, and goes to great lengths showing how these potential impacts can be mitigated through active controls.
Our activities actually have preserved the natural beauty of our lands, cultural areas, delicate plants and animals from encroachment by urban growth, agriculture and recreational activities. These common land uses have often proven more damaging to Hawaii's environment than the Army's managed training activities.
The Army has gone to great lengths to protect the lands entrusted to us. We have invested $58 million during the past five years establishing and expanding environmental and cultural programs for our installations and training areas in Hawaii. We plan on spending $135 million more during the next seven years to expand these programs.
The Army is protecting our environment in Hawaii with programs such as renewable energy sources for new housing and office buildings, recycling construction debris and wastewater, and preserving habitat through buffer programs, just to name a few.
We will continue to be a good partner in the Pacific, and will effectively balance proposed Stryker operations with protecting Hawaii's valuable cultural and environmental resources.
Col. Wayne Shanks
Pacific Chief of Public Affairs
U.S. Army
Drowning victim helped save many lives
I am writing in response to the article "
Man drowns as lifeguard funds languish" (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 26). That this tragedy could have been prevented if funding had been received earlier is not only horribly ironic but a shameful waste of human life.
Dan Rawlins might have been just another tourist to many on Maui but we who worked with him are devastated by the loss. Dan worked for the Texas Department of State Health Services for years. He spent many years as an advocate for those who face stigma on a daily basis. He managed contracts for the state that provided prevention, treatment and other services for those with HIV and substance use disorders, among other things. Most recently he pushed through an award for my program that will allow hundreds of patients to receive treatment for substance use that otherwise they could not afford. That he died due to a delay in funding is a travesty.
If only he had worked for the state of Hawaii, I'm sure that he could have and would have prevented the loss of life ... perhaps even his own.
S. Carol Garza
Houston, Texas
Lawyer should refer people to doctors
Rick Fried ("
Legal Matters," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 24) says we don't have a problem with medical malpractice in Hawaii, that other forces are responsible for the exodus of physicians from our state.
I would like to suggest that every patient out there whose physician has departed or retired early and who has not been able to find a replacement, all Fried's office and ask for a referral. Fried should have a list of physicians he has not sued who might be available.
It's the least he can do.
Mollie Foti
Kailua