Why aren't we celebrating 100th year of annexation?
This year is the 100th anniversary of Hawaii being annexed by the United States yet I have heard absolutely nothing about recognizing the centennial of our becoming Americans.Perhaps it is an oversight. Maybe someone thinks it is too expensive. But then I remember how, several years ago, our former governor ordered the American flag not to be flown so as not to offend a small group of sovereignty activists.
Are our present leaders more sympathetic to anti-American radicals than to the vast majority of our population, who are proud to be part of this country?
This shameful failure to celebrate becoming Americans should be remedied immediately. If not, it's one more reason why we need new leadership in Hawaii.
Elbert Ah Chun
Controversy doesn't exist over Bayer Estate chapel
Your July 3 front-page article, "Fight heats up over Aina Haina chapel," implies a level of controversy that simply doesn't exist. The use of this historic home on the Bayer Estate for small wedding services was an agenda item at the local neighborhood board meeting recently. Opposition to this project appeared to be limited to two families, one of which did not even attend this meeting.I am a resident of East Oahu and have visited the Bayer Estate. Susan and Richard Mirikitani are the most reasonable of people, and repeatedly offer to address any concerns that neighbors may have.
Your article emphasizes the negative opinions of two individuals, while ignoring the positive aspects and the support provided by the community at large. This project will make it possible to preserve a historic home, with no new construction. In our stagnant economy, this should be encouraged.
Jean Palm McIntosh
(Via the Internet)
Mayor should do the job of managing director, too
It is depressing to read that the City and County of Honolulu is spending several thousand dollars to search for, interview and hire some political hack to serve as managing director, just so the person can further siphon some $90,000 a year from the taxpayers, plus benefits and perks.During these dismal economic times, can't this position be eliminated? Are Mayor Jeremy Harris and the hundreds of others who are "working" in city jobs so badly swamped that they cannot do whatever work is required? With many Oahu residents working two or three jobs to support their families, is it too much to ask the mayor to put in a few more hours at his desk?
Chris Lee
Ultimatum wasn't issued on open market at the Row
The lead sentence of a June 30 article read, "Either the open market at Restaurant Row had to go, or attorney William McCorriston would." That is untrue.I spent at least half an hour explaining to your reporter the situation: Several tenants (including our firm) did complain to Restaurant Row management that the open market and video arcade appeared to be violations of the lease requirement that the Waterfront complex be maintained as a "Class A Building."
Since the tenants had not been consulted before the open market and video arcade were placed in our common area, which we pay for, we were concerned as to the plans for continued commercial activity there.
Never did I tell your reporter that I gave an ultimatum that the law firm would leave Restaurant Row if the open market stayed. In fact, Restaurant Row management had already made the decision to allow the open market's lease to expire.
William C. McCorriston
Attorney
Forget Kapolei relocation; work centers are way to go
In response to your June 29 story, the state's plans for the "Second City" can still be salvaged. Instead of relocating entire offices and forcing many employees into longer work commutes, consider split-office concepts to allow more employees to work closer to where they live.Look back to the state's own former Hawaii Telework Center, the nation's first and acclaimed national working model. Seventeen Mililani-area state and private-sector employees successfully demonstrated they could work in a neighborhood work center with appropriate electronic connectivity back to downtown home offices.
For three years, work center employees were spared stressful two-hour daily commutes. With the near elimination of work travel, they enjoyed more family time and notable life-quality improvements. All were happier, more productive employees.
Far better than constructing a 1,000-employee office in Kapolei would have been a scenario with the state acquiring a number of surplus bank branches available from recent bank mergers. The payoff would be fewer employees on the road and more communities better served.
Edward K. Uchida
(Via the Internet)
Missile defense would be costly, impractical
I balk at the $60-$116 billion estimates for deploying the ballistic missile defense program proposed ostensibly by letter writer E. Alvey Wright (Letters, June 29). Missiles intercepting ballistic missiles "from above the atmosphere" must maneuver at a closing speed in excess of 22,000 mph.As a small boy, I played with the spools of metal tape that jammed the enemy radar when dropped from Allied bombers during World War II (my father was a B-17 pilot). Effective use of countermeasures would make interception virtually impossible.
Chemical and biological warheads can be divided into submunitions. The THAAD system has yet to successfuly complete a missile interception.
A bill sponsored by Sen. Dan Inouye (D-Hawaii) would direct the Pentagon to deploy after one success.
Richard Thompson
Inchon, Korea
(Via the Internet)
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