Re-evaluation is needed of fireworks regulations
Present laws permitting fireworks use by individuals need to be altered. The laws as written are plainly unenforceable by our overburdened police department.Numerous instances of pre- and post-Christmas firecrackers and aerials set off by minors in Oahu neighborhoods attest to enforcement difficulties. By allowing these laws to stand, our lawmakers are shirking their duty to fashion sound and effective laws. Even worse, they are abetting those parents who, perhaps unknowingly, are endangering in their children.
Fireworks contribute to noise and air pollution. Further, emergency services necessitated by indiscriminate fireworks use eat up scarce public funds.
Would it not be saner, more environmentally sensitive and humane, and economically sounder to restrict fireworks by issuing licenses, for a fee, to groups wishing to provide pyrotechnic displays for religious, civic or commercial purposes?
LucyAnn Taniguchi
Waipahu
There's appropriate time to celebrate noisily
I generally believe that New Year's Eve and Independence Day fireworks are fun. The former, especially, is a part of our local culture. What bothers me about fireworks, aside from the fact that they occasionally endanger life and property, however, is that people light them up when it is not appropriate.By "not appropriate" I mean anytime other than the nights of New Year's Eve and the Fourth of July. Where I live in Waipahu, I had to endure cannon-like booms from aerial fireworks for roughly three weeks. To top it off, the noise echoes off the side of a hill, making the booms even louder.
I feel powerless. Calling the police is futile, since I cannot pinpoint the location from which the fireworks are being ignited. The offenders could be on the street below me or having a good time somewhere along the now-abandoned Cane Haul Road.
Who is affected? The housewife with a headache who feels a one-hour nap would do wonders. The dog that gets panic attacks when it is startled and its owner who has to pay for tranquilizers. The guy who had a tough day at work and just wants some quiet. The blue-collar worker who has just worked overtime and decides to go to bed a couple of hours early.
We need enforcement of disturbing of the peace laws. Because of these scofflaws, I have yet to enjoy a single solitary silent night this holiday season.
Stuart K. Hirayama
Waipahu
(Via the Internet)
Complain to Legislature about din of fireworks
Every year at this time, letters to the editor lament the lack of meaningful or enforceable laws to regulate fireworks. The City Council and mayor are asked, petitioned, demanded to do something. This year, in an effort to focus citizen ire where it rightly belongs, I offer the following:In 1994, the Hawaii Legislature passed a law which totally took away control of the fireworks issue from the counties and placed that solely within the jurisdiction of the state.
Since then, the counties have repeatedly asked the Legislature to allow each county to decide for itself what form of fireworks control is appropriate. These entreaties have fallen on ears made deaf, no doubt, by the explosions which thunder overhead to usher in each new year.
So until the Legislature decides to give back what it took from the counties in 1994, citizens who see red over fireworks should call, write or grumble to their senators and representatives, as they are the only lawmakers in Hawaii with any power to do anything about it.
Until then, the counties will continue to do the only thing the state left them to do: spend taxpayer dollars on putting out fires, responding to police calls and cleaning up the streets.
Ronald Boyer
Hawaii has worst New Year's celebration
What Haunani Trask failed to do with rhetoric - to keep tourists out of Hawaii - our "no-restrictions" fireworks and firecracker pandemonium is accomplishing very nicely.Last year the ruckus began on Christmas Eve, had its zenith on New Year's Eve and ended well after Chinese New Year. Firecrackers, rockets, explosions.
But this year, the Liliha/Kauluwela School playground area is crackling with a firepower heretofore unknown at this time of year. Our Christian holy day was desecrated with hells-a-poppin'.
Not all tourists stay in firecracker-free Waikiki. Canadians who stay for several months during the winter like to rent in other neighborhoods. But as one spokesperson said, "Florida is cheaper, not as far, and we don't have to relive the Battle of the Bulge."
If you, too, are fed up with weeks of nerve-jarring noise, call your legislators - day or night. They probably live in quiet neighborhoods or they would not have unleashed this no-permits-required insanity on us. Calling the police is futile: By the time uniforms appears, all is quiet until they are gone.
Rosemarie H. Tucker
Residents must confront topic of euthanasia
While Michigan's voters have just rejected physician-assisted suicide for their state, and Dr. Jack Kevorkian was recently featured on "60 Minutes," Governor Cayetano has suggested that it may be time to consider some form of assisted-suicide in Hawaii. I agree.Obviously, proper safeguards need to be put in place. We must protect the rights of those wishing to terminate their lives following a serious illness or terminal disease from unscrupulous relatives or medical professionals acting as "angels of death." Furthermore, we must not offend those people who believe in the ultimate sanctity of human life.
The time to address this issue is upon us. Let's act now for the sake of the terminally ill and their loved ones.
Allan Kaleikilo
'Tibetan' performance was Chinese propaganda
A "song and dance" is what the people were exposed to at Blaisdell Center on Dec. 22. The experience was not Tibetan culture - it was nationalist Chinese propaganda at best, not much higher culturally than a glitzy amateur review.Possibly a quarter of the audience left. Many of those who remaining talked, slept, snickered and looked at each other in disbelief. The event was politically, culturally and financially exploitive.
Norma Nichols
Progress being made toward goals at Maili
Too often, we look for a single magic bullet to cure our educational ills. The reality is that success in our schools depend on many interdependent factors. At Maili Elementary, we know that each of these are important in our children's education:
Maili staff have experienced a highly gratifying increase in parent and community involvement. Our 1997-98 SAT score results showed improvement for the first time in five years. The members of our ohana are committed to making Maili the best it can be, and I am very proud of them.Experienced, stable, committed qualified teachers and administrators.
Stacey Omori
Teacher
Maili Elementary
Carter, Ford defend sitting president
Interesting how Jimmy and Gerald come out of the woodwork to rescue William. Gerald is famous for that if you remember "Tricky Dick;" so now he lends some support to "Slick Willy."Jimmy builds houses now, so maybe we should pardon him for giving away the Panama Canal, which he and we might live to regret.
I guess it's too much to expect a draft dodger, non-inhaler, who's in perpetual denial, to be man enough to resign, even out of simple regard for his family. At least then he could be assured a pardon from his pal, Al.
John Werrill
Add murder to crimes committed by Clinton
The United States, the greatest and most influential nation on this Earth, has a leader who is accused of adultery and perjury. And now, by definition of U.S. law, he has committed first-degree murder!While Mrs. Clinton was giving a speech about how people should get into the Christmas spirit of compassion and forgiveness, her husband was ordering the bombing of Iraq, which injured and killed hundreds of people.
In America, even if a person believes that someone may hurt or kill him, he cannot take the law into his own hands and kill that person who threatens him. He can only use deadly force if he is being attacked with deadly force.
If President Clinton believes that he can kill people who pose a threat to America, why hasn't he attacked China, North Korea and Russia? He attacks a country that is known not to put up much resistance on the eve of his impeachment.
Clinton has continually lied under oath and has deceived the American people. He avoided the draft and said that he smoked marijuana but didn't inhale. The settlement paid to Paula Jones didn't cost him a dime because it came from his campaign fund.
He may be good looking, a smooth talker, and very suave and debonair, but so are other criminal masterminds and con artists. Actor James Wood said it best: "Lies are the basis of all crime."
Colin Kau
Here's easiest way to clean Capitol pools
With regard to the "muck" in the pools surrounding the state Capitol, how about putting the fish back that kept the pool clean for so many years? Then the governor could issue an executive order that would allow the discharging of old water containing fish manure into the storm drain.Let's fix it the easy and low cost way!
Wayne Gilbert
Why hire losing coach to lead Rainbow football?
So here we are hiring Coach June Jones from the NFL ranks. What's he going to do to help the UH Rainbows that he couldn't do to help San Diego? Under his guidance, the Chargers won five games and lost 10.Was Jones really the right choice and is the cost to us really worth it? Well, I guess the people doing the picking and hiring have their heads buried so far that they can't see this.
I predict the Bows will have another losing season next year under Coach Jones. Then we'll end up paying off his contract and wasting valuable money again.
Michael Cantu
(Via the Internet)
High salary for Coach Jones shows warped priorities
While UH is very lucky to get a football coach with such great credentials as June Jones, and while I am a big sports fan of the university, his $400,000 annual salary is too high.I understand that $150,000 of the money will come out of the UH general fund, with the rest from UH television/radio packages and the private sector. Jones will be the highest paid football coach that UH has ever hired.
It may be true that UH will make the money back through ticket sales (assuming the football team has a winning season). But the university is ignoring its students, and the academic and research aspects of the college. Why don't the university and private sector go out on a limb to support the well being of all UH students?
It was rumored that Marriott is going to donate money for part of Jones' salary. Is this the same Marriott that just raised its food prices extremely high at the expense of all students?
Why doesn't the school have more computers? Why is some of the science equipment moldy green or broken? Why did Hamilton Library have cuts in its funding? Why is it every time I register, many of the classes are closed?
UH must set its priorities straight. If it can raise $400,000 for Jones' annual salary, it can raise money for these other things.
Jennifer Chang
Kaneohe
(Via the Internet)
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