'Broken Trust II' writers could have done better job
The Broken Trust II essay would have greater credibility if the authors had clean hands. When some of them worked at Kamehameha Schools, more than 30 percent of the students fell through the cracks and did not go on to advanced education.The authors appear to have done nothing in long-term planning. The many outreach programs were never evaluated, and many non-certified, unqualified people were hired to teach. Who broke the trust?
The essay relies on campus rumors and gossip to malign the trustees. The authors have been around schools long enough to know that such information is unreliable.
But by far the most troubling aspect of this entire fiasco is the critics' efforts to encourage students to disrespect authority and those in positions of authority. It's time for parents to wake up and to come thundering in on the side of righteousness.
Tom Hansen
Lahaina
'Broken Trust II' reminds community of schools' role
The Nov. 27 essay, "Broken Trust II," was correctly a continuation of the original "Broken Trust" essay published on Aug. 9. The five authors of "Broken Trust" continue to be deeply concerned about the unfortunate turmoil surrounding the Bishop Estate and the Kamehameha Schools.At no time can we forget that Kamehameha Schools is the primary focus of the Bishop Estate operation. For over 100 years, the trustees of the past have built and maintained an excellent educational institution. Thousands of graduates have contributed leadership and solid contributions to Hawaii's life.
The school must not be hampered or tarnished by anyone, least of all by those responsible for its life and success.
All Hawaii, and especially Hawaiians, must stand in full support of Kamehameha Schools. Hopefully, some meaningful and positive steps can now be undertaken to reposition it as an important part of Hawaii's educational life.
Monsignor Charles Kekumano
Public grows impatient with official investigation
Not wishing to engage in a "spitting contest" with Peter Savio (Letters, Nov. 27), the real estate mogul of Bishop Estate, I prefer to quote Shakespeare: "Me thinks thou protests too much"!I repeat, however, that all Bishop Estate trustees should resign and Governor Cayetano and Attorney General Bronster should wrap the case with dispatch. The people of Hawaii are becoming impatient!
Robert M. Lowe
Bishop Estate Archive
Media represent public, so judges must help them
While attending the Fall 1997 Judicial Conference, I was disappointed to hear one judge mention that since the media were profit-making entities, they were suspect or not deserving of full cooperation.This is true of nearly all media -- but that is irrelevant. Journalists and the public should be treated equally so far as public and court records are concerned. Who wants it for what purpose is irrelevant.
As a citizen, I hope that the media, as surrogates for the public, will be given every bit of cooperation possible.
Journalists have a difficult enough job understanding and interpreting the courts and arcane laws and, after doing their own fact-gathering, need all the help they can get from the judiciary.
Desmond Byrne
H-3 is pau, so here's road that should be followed
The travail of Interstate H-3 has confirmed that no more major highways will be built on Oahu. What can be done to avoid gridlock in the 21st century?My research has concluded that light rail is the only mode with passenger capacity needed for the next century. It would attract substantial federal aid over a long period, and will keep the construction industry busy.
I recommend that the state undertake the next try at rapid transit on an exclusive right-of-way, that the initial funding be $200 million of highway special funds, that the rate of expenditure of special fund money be no greater than the average rate for H-3, and that no general funds be used at any time.
The technology should be modern light rail on single pedestal, with alignment and length to be the state-owned right-of-way on H-2 and H-1 except through the central city.
E. Alvey Wright
Kailua
Stop! Don't change avenue into one-way thoroughfare
I strongly oppose Liholiho Elementary School's proposal to turn Eighth Avenue into a one-way street (Nov. 24, "School seeks solutions for students' safety").The traffic congestion occurs for only a half hour in the morning before school begins and a half hour in the afternoon after school gets out. Why should I and other residents of Eighth Avenue and neighboring streets endure the inconvenience of a one-way street seven hours a day, seven days a week, when the traffic congestion occurs for one hour a day, five days a week, and not even the entire year?
Since the traffic congestion and unsafe situations are caused by illegally parked vehicles driven by certain uncooperative parents of Liholiho students, here are three suggestions:
1) The principal should call in these parents for a conference, especially since the safety of students are at risk.
2) If an unsafe situation due to illegal parking is occurring, HPD should be called for assistance. It is inappropriate for JPOs to be handling this matter.
3) A portion of Eighth Avenue fronting the school could be widened, creating a third lane that could be used as a loading zone for parents to pick up and drop off their children. This would provide a loading zone while still allowing two-way traffic to flow freely in front of the school.
D. Hanatani
New Zealand is model for Hawaii -- to avoid
A.A. Smyser regularly tells us that New Zealand and its new-right, free-enterprise is a wonderful model for Hawaii. At last, in his Nov. 27 column, he admitted that all is not well in Aotearoa.Yes, Maori and Pacific Island people have suffered unduly from the changes, but at least 80 percent of the total population suffered as well. Real incomes are lower and unemployment rates are higher than when the changes began in 1984.
Crime, family violence and suicide rates have gone up as well.
The truth is that most people in New Zealand have missed out. The only real winners are large corporations (often from overseas) and a small fraction of people at the top of the heap.
"Trickle-down" has truly been a trickle. The welfare reforms, with substantial reductions on a per capita basis, have done little more than to hurt decent people.
New Zealand is a wonderful country and is certainly a model for Hawaii -- a model to avoid, rather than follow.
Paul E. Perry
Police aren't appreciated when it comes to raises
The public is being misinformed. Not all members of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers received a 5 percent raise as the media have mislead everyone to believe.As a SHOPO member for more than 24 years, my new pay package consists of 2.69 percent for the next two years (a one-time raise for two years) and nothing more. Hundreds of other SHOPO members share this same package of only 2.69 percent.
One of the lessons learned from this particular contract negotiation is that we now know where certain politicians stand, including our governor, when it comes to supporting more pay for these "special" police officers.
I refer to them as "special" because they stand in a category all by themselves. These are men and women who risk injury and death each day to provide us with a better environment for our families to be raised in.
Will 2.69 percent over two years stop the flow of officers to mainland cities, where their risks are recognized and appreciated more?
Edwin Massey
SHOPO member
Bishop Estate Archive
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