Schools need defense funding

Our country owes military families more than just a $1.5 million study of attitudes toward Hawaii public education. These families deserve the best education defense dollars can buy.

While the U.S. Department of Defense provided $41 million in impact aid to Hawaii last year, the real financial impact of hosting the most military bases in the country costs Hawaii well over $200 million. Because we have a single statewide district, shortfalls in the hundreds of millions are felt systemwide.

Almost 10 percent of Hawaii's students are from military families, most of whom maintain residency in other states and therefore do not pay income taxes to Hawaii. One hundred percent of funding for schools comes from state revenue; no county funds are allocated to education.

It costs $7 million a day to operate public schools. If the DOD fully reimbursed the state, Hawaii would not have to furlough any school days to balance its budget. I urge military commanders to continue turning their concern into action, and their action into full funding.

Neighbors need to get involved

A word of advice for the residents of Halekoa Drive in Waialae Nui near where the recent beatings of two people took place. And for all of Honolulu for that matter:

If there are cars and mo-peds coming and going at all times of the night, you don't have to suspect drug activity; you can guarantee it.

Don't become “;concerned”; - become involved.

Call the Honolulu Police Department, write down descriptions, license plate numbers and times. Find out how to start a neighborhood watch. HPD can't do it by itself; its needs the help of the communities to fight the scourge of drugs.

Akaka Bill not merely symbolic

Here's a wake-up call for those who think the Akaka Bill is merely another symbolic measure like the Apology Resolution:

» Fourteen members of the state House have introduced House Bill 2241 that would transfer all the unencumbered ceded lands to the new Akaka Government as soon as it is recognized by the state and federal governments.

» House Bill 2672 proposes to give another $200 million to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which is expected to merge with the new Akaka Government. This when the Legislature cannot find enough money to keep our kids in school on Fridays.

Isle Democrats could lose power

For the first time since statehood, traditional-family-values voters in this state will have a very good chance to break up the Democratic Party hold on the congressional seat to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie in a special election.

Charles Djou, the lone Republican, who supports small government and is for preserving the definition of marriage as one man and one woman, could be our Scott Brown, who pulled a big upset in Massachusetts.

Democratic state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who is also running for the open seat, voted for House Bill 444 (civil unions, another name for same-sex marriage).

Republican victories in Virginia, New Jersey and the big upset in Massachusetts show Americans are discontented with the Democratic Party because of its big spending and its new health bill proposal. I would hope the many years of the local Democratic control of our congressional seats will end during this special election.

We need safe routes to schools

In the article, “;School board hears ideas on reducing bus ridership”; (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 22), Mary Cochran is quoted as saying, “;You expect our kids to walk 21/2 miles with no sidewalks.”; Here is a perfect example of why we need to get moving on Safe Routes to School (SRTS).

Since 2005, Hawaii has

received funds for SRTS to provide infrastructure such as sidewalks within a 2-mile radius of schools. Hawaii, however, is one of 11 states that has obligated less than 20 percent of its funding as of Sept. 30, 2009.

The Hawaii SRTS Hui recently announced that Hawaii was selected to be part of the SRTS National Partnership Network Project. After safe routes have been implemented, we'll have more options to consolidate school bus drop-off points where kids can meet with others who live near the school and walk together. Physical activity can be built into their morning and afternoon routines to improve their health as well as reduce traffic congestion.

Please visit www.hawaiisaferouteshui.org.

School bus fares issue is complex

Increasing school bus fares won't help the bus company save money as riders would lie and state they won't ride the bus, although they would continue to.

As a regular school bus rider, I find the bus is typically full, because a majority of riders don't pay, as our driver befriends most of them. Even with a raise in bus prices, the bus would still be full, but with fewer paying customers.

Moreover, increasing the bus walking distance won't help the state at all. Essentially, students would either walk to a bus stop 2.5 miles away in the morning that would keep the student bus load and impairing revenue. In the afternoon, since students already know their bus drivers, they would ride the same route home to a stop 2.5 miles away from school and walk home from there. Cutting routes would definitely deter these abusers - but there must be another way to save money, such as cutting all afternoon buses and return all morning services so we could just walk home as a daily health benefit.

Speaker Say gave Gov. Lingle a pass

House Speaker Calvin Say defends his decision to postpone House Bill 444, but like the voice vote he led, his reasoning is a smokescreen for spineless caving to political pressure. Say rationalizes that a vote would have been futile because he anticipated a veto. You don't need a veto-proof majority to send a bill to the governor, Speaker Say, but you do need integrity and courage in the face of a vocal group intent on denying rights to same-sex families.

Trading accountability for political cover, Say stripped every House member of an opportunity to stand by each of their beliefs - and kept citizens from knowing where our representatives stand. Shelving the bill gives Gov. Linda Lingle a pass, too. Blocking civil unions is now Say's legacy, not Lingle's.

It is never futile to stand for what is fair and just, Speaker Say. And it's not too late: Bring HB 444 back for a vote. Be proud, not afraid.