Hawaii can learn much
from New Zealand series

My congratulations to A.A. "Bud" Smyser for finding in our Polynesian neighbors in Aotearoa an impressive example for shaping Hawaii's economy in the mode of Asia's tigers of economic growth. With Smyser's guidance, Hawaii should be taking the form of another Singapore or Hong Kong just around the corner.

Especially perceptive and valuable is Bud's advice to follow New Zealand's lead to break the "monopoly union power." Actually, if Hawaii were to take New Zealand's lead, and legislate the right of workers to decide "whether to bargain personally with employers or through unions," it would be met with fanfare by workers and union leaders alike. Currently, less than a third of Hawaii's workforce (mostly government employees) is able to bargain collectively.

If there should in the future be a state constitutional convention, unions should join with Bud Smyser to force all Hawaii employers to allow their workers the basic human rights of collective bargaining and workplace representation.

At long last, it sounds as if Smyser is becoming a friend of Hawaii's working people. Right on, Bud.

Ikaika Valdez
Pearl City
(Via the Internet)

Hong should get a medal
for enforcing the rules

So contractor Kevin Kekona finds Hanauma Bay manager Alan Hong guilty of "overzealous enforcement" and refusal to relax the rules. It sounds to me like Hong is doing the job he's paid to do.

And what's so shocking about want-ing to fire an employee for illegal acts committed while on the job? Why does Kekona think his employees should be able to break the law with impunity?

Sounds like Kekona wants Hong to act like his grandmother -- to let him get away with stuff and always treat him kindly. Grow up, Mr. Kekona!

Beverly Johnsen
Lahaina, Maui

(Via the Internet)

Concept of whole language
is worth learning about

The public needs to know that the biggest misconception about whole language (WL) is that it doesn't teach phonics. This is absolutely WRONG! Basic skills must always be taught. The difference is how they are taught.

Most adults grew up spending the majority of their class time doing phonics workbooks and worksheets; this is known as isolated skill and drill.

WL teachers teach the same skills but in the context of meaningful and motivating experiences for children. Students are asked to apply what they are taught about vowels, consonants, word endings, syllables (and the list goes on) by writing on self-selected topics versus hours of filling in blanks on a worksheet.

Students are allowed to choose from hundreds of books they are interested in reading vs. being told which story to read from one basal. Students are taught to use meaning, structure, along with phonetic cues to read.

WL is a philosophy that does teach skills but in the context of real life applications that are meaningful, make sense and have a purpose for each student. WL teaches phonics and more!

Anna Y. Sumida

Make no bones about it:
Local milk is white gold

Milk is one of the purest foods we currently consume. Due to stringent regulations, locally produced milk is tested on a daily basis for bacteria, adulteration (pesticides) and taste. Additionally, there is a pasteurization process that is added insurance to our well-being.

I was amazed and appalled recently when I went into a grocery store with a close family member. This person has lived on a local dairy for the past 35 years, but was not aware that the "Island Fresh" sticker on the cap of a local processor's jug differentiates between locally produced and mainland milk.

Most stores mingle the mainland and local milk in its stock. That is an individual store's right. But the general public needs to be aware that, although the container may be a familiar brand, if it does not have an "Island Fresh" sticker on it or is labeled Island Fresh, it is not locally produced.

Support locally produced products: Buy "Island Fresh."

John Yoshikawa
President, Feed & Farms Inc.
Kapolei

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