Doctors are especially drawn to the mainland

I am writing in response to the well-written March 24 article, "Hawaii's brain drain," by Lavonne Leong. I, too, share her perspective that it is more than anecdotal.

I am a 1987 Punahou graduate. I attended the University of Oregon, returned to UH for medical school then trained in internal medicine in Indiana, where I am currently undergoing infectious disease subspecialty training.

People who want to continue subspecialty training in areas such as infectious disease, cardiology, gastroenterology and critical care/pulmonology must select programs on the mainland, because Hawaii doesn't offer this kind of training. After obtaining advanced training in these areas especially associated with basic research, coming back to Hawaii becomes a difficult decision.

The mainland has many more opportunities for continuing research interests and Hawaii has precious little to offer someone with a basic research background, so moving back home would mean "settling" for less.

In other words, in most cities of comparable size, large university teaching hospitals exist where cutting-edge medicine is practiced because of their commitment to research. Until Hawaii makes a similar commitment, we will always have second-rate medical training, knowledge and, ultimately, patient care.

Royden Young, M.D.
Via the Internet

Opportunities are still limited for Hawaii youth

Regarding last week's stories on Hawaii's brain drain:

It doesn't seem as if anything has changed in the 25 years since I left Hawaii.

After being told once too many times that I had scored perfectly but was an "overachiever," I left for California. I finally got tired of working for a national company that hired mainland managers who could "work with you people." I felt like a captive in a tourism-centered Hawaii.

Things aren't perfect here in California, but I can say that it is increasingly becoming like Hawaii where I live. I hear more and more local accents in my area, and, unless Hawaii revitalizes itself, ie. rids itself of its plantation mentality, the trend will continue.

Christina Waldeck
Torrance, Calif.
Via the Internet

Quotables "Even though I don't live in Hawaii, it is always in my heart." Pualani Mossman Florida resident, 81 Hawaii's former "poster girl," honored with the first Hookahiko Award for teaching the world about the islands "If you have to explain why I would take this job to somebody, chances are they won't understand." June Jones UH head football coach On why he gave up a job with the San Diego Chargers to lead the Rainbows

Congress should simplify tax code

It's tax season and the madness has to stop. Judging by the thickness of the IRS tax forms folder in the public library, you know that our senators and representatives don't do their own filings. If they did perform this particular form of self-torture without the aid of CPAs and other help, the folder would not be the size of a fat dictionary.

Also, since heaps of criticism have (justifiably) been dumped on the IRS, Congress must also take its fair share of the blame. The IRS is merely enforcing tax laws passed by Congress, although perhaps with too much zeal at times.

Since the U.S. economy is reportedly strong, perhaps Congress should further enhance its strength by simplifying the tax code. CPAs might not like it, but the vast majority of the populace would.

James Ko
Via the Internet

'Education Governor' sounds good in theory

There goes the "Education Governor" again. He talks a good story but his ability to get done what he says needs to be done is next to nothing.

Start with the salaries for teachers that will bring in the talent we need, then get rid of some of the overhead we know we don't need, and then maybe I'll start believing in the "Education Governor."

Hank Le Page
Via the Internet

Police from Hawaii are a hot commodity

With respect to local police officers leaving for "greener pastures" in Washington state and Oregon, I lived in Hawaii most of my life, and was an officer on Kauai for six years. Two years ago, I was forced to move to Tennessee for the good of my family.

There is no place like Hawaii, and I wish I could still be there. But, unfortunately, that cannot be the case. A police officer from Hawaii is a hot item, due to the training we received as well as the aloha ingrained in each and every one of us.

Although Hawaii will always be home, I will never be able to live there again. Where I am now, I am able to own my own home and take financial care of my family, something that was a struggle on Kauai.

I hope my letter will serve as a wake-up call for the people of Hawaii to deal with the shortfall of police. Officers don't get into law enforcement to get rich, but they need to be secure enough to provide for their families.

Robert W. Ford
Collierville, Tenn.
Via the Internet

Judges need to be scrutinized more closely

New laws need to be passed to make sentencing for certain crimes mandatory. We also need to take a harder look at the people becoming judges.

It has become apparent in recent months that, under some circumstances, a bleeding heart judge or one unfamiliar with the law has turned back into society, under probation, a convicted child molester and a violent offender who nearly beat a Chicago cop to death. In the same time period, jail time was given to gamblers, drug addicts and a lap-dance provider.

Crimes concerning money and property will eventually work themselves out. But the little boys whom Chinky Mahoe molested, people who are beaten and those who are nearly killed will never be the same.

Elsie D. Hollingsworth
Pearl City

Activist was sullied in article about her death

So Lahe'ena'e Gay was pushy, disrespectful and dishonest about her genealogy (Star-Bulletin, March 6)?

Did we really want to read this in an article about the tragic death of a woman activist on a humanitarian mission?

What was your purpose in allowing such shoddy journalism to be printed? Your newspaper has reached a new low in its campaign to portray Hawaiians at odds with each other.

Charles H. Meyer Jr.
Via the Internet

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