Wednesday, September 15, 1999
Airport won't be as safe without police on duty
As a former police officer, I am concerned for the safety of my family and friends who use the Honolulu International Airport ("Sheriff's officers will replace police at Honolulu Airport," Star-Bulletin, Sept. 10).Other airports throughout the United States have a large force of police officers with back-up units such as bomb and narcotic squads. It seems that Hawaii officials are compromising the public safety. And their priorities seem less concerned with the public and our officers' welfare, which is one reason we are losing them to mainland cities.
What will it take to have this remedied, a disaster or rise in crime rate at the airport? This my personal view and not aimed at anyone or any official, but food for thought.
E. Tanioka
Via the Internet
Government adds to consumers' costs
Thank you for printing "What price paradise?" on Sept. 1-2. It is a provocative wake-up call to both consumers and companies that do business in Hawaii. I especially appreciate the critical response to explanations of higher pricing, a tone that wasn't always present in the Star-Bulletin when I lived in the islands.I have little doubt that the lack of economic competition there stems from the antiquated governmental policies that regulate new businesses.
State government has a multi-grounded (legal, economic, moral) obligation to protect the people and environment from insidious business practices. Yet some companies in the state -- especially those that dominate a particular service area -- seem to have become government agencies themselves.
Jennifer Weuve
Brookline, Mass.
Via the Internet
I bought a bicycle at K-mart for $60 and then I had to pay the store $15 to register it with the city. That represents 25 percent of the purchase price. Auwe!Hugh Dickson
Via the Internet
What Price Paradise?
Native plants should replace ironwoods
Once again the city has outdone itself. It intends to remove the decaying ironwood trees along Kalakaua Avenue, which are as Hawaiian as the Australian continent from which they came, and replace them with more of the same. So much for trying to grow native plants instead of more alien species.If you are replanting to commemorate Alexander Cleghorn (who had the trees planted), I think if he were alive today he would advocate replanting with native plants. I guess native plants, like the kanaka maoli, are an embarrassment to the city government.
People ask why Hawaii is the extinction capital of the world. The city and county should look in the mirror for the answer.
Henry Alau
Kaneohe
Via the Internet
Quotables
"There's a number of people
who redesigned their positions
right out of the company."Richard Dahl
PRESIDENT OF HONOLULU-BASED
PACIFIC CENTURY FINANCIAL CORP.,
PARENT OF BANK OF HAWAII On how 50 of the bank's best employees worked
on a massive reorganization plan that will
eliminate 1,015 positions
"Protect the Planet has
done nothing wrong."Debbie Pollack
DIRECTOR OF
PROTECT THE PLANET Defending the environmental group formerly headed
by Stuart Novick, charged with child abuse and sexual
assault, who allegedly videotaped dozens of girls
at his Kalani Valley home
Citizens deserve access to public information
The Honolulu Community-Media Council has recently notified the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor of our concern that the continued existence of the Office of Information Practices (OIP) is in doubt.We were instrumental in the creation and adoption of the Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA) and have supported OIP since its genesis.
Two important but often conflicting values are at stake:
The importance of open government in a free and democratic society. Without an open government, there can be no real freedom. Openness in government requires both public access to public records and public decision-making, which should be hidden behind closed doors for only the most compelling of reasons.
OIP is an important organ in sorting out and resolving the intricate issues involved in deciding, under the UIPA, when information should be made public and when, because of overriding privacy concerns, it should not. Therefore, we strongly urge the retention and strengthening of OIP.
Helen G. Chapin
Chairwoman
Honolulu Community-Media Council
Protect what's left, even after house burns
There are no words to express our appreciation for the response we received after fire destroyed our home in Niu Valley. We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of aloha from friends, neighbors, strangers, businesses and agencies who sent monetary gifts, clothing, household items, toys, medicines.Two days after the fire destroyed our home, however, a corner of the cottage that survived the blaze was looted. Jewelry and other items of great sentimental value were stolen.
Please, dear friends, protect your valuables, even when you think no one would add to your trauma by taking the remnants of what is left.
P.S. The lost cat was found -- a little scorched but OK!
Freda Hellinger Arlene,
Amber and Anela Ling
Does governor support education or not?
It's quite frustrating and sad that the governor wants to take money away from public education. If my memory is correct, his initial platform while running was to help improve the schools in this state.I have just learned that the United States is tremendously lacking in qualified teachers and the shortage is getting worse. I also think that the state Department of Education will probably not meet its requirements for the Felix consent decree.
Now, let me see. Maybe the governor is right. The education of our students is going quite well and doesn't need the extra money. Doesn't everyone agree? Not!
Anna Campbell
Via the Internet
Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes
UH student news Ka Leo O Hawaii
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Letter to the Editor
