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Letters
to the Editor

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Saturday, January 29, 2000

Public must demand action from Legislature

Governor Cayetano, to his credit, is laying out a viable cause of action for our state under his leadership with the Legislature, which specifically identifies those problem areas that can be solved if the proper courage and knowledge are exhibited, in particular, by the state Senate.

The Legislature has to take action for the public benefit -- not private interests -- so we can commence creating a proud university, a public school system that provides qualified employees for private industry and reduces any unnecessary costs or redundancy in our public employee roles.

After 20 years of neglect by the Legislature and the entrenched political power system, time has run out, and they must act now.

The public should accept nothing less. To the extent necessary, we must be prepared to bring in a new cadre of dedicated people to perform in the Legislature for the new millennium.

Cec Heftel
Former U. S. Congressman

Invest in education, not in more park space

I'm not a golfer, but I think that the governor must have a few golf balls loose in his head for wanting to turn the profitable Ala Wai Golf Course into a New York-style Central Park. The Ala Wai is already bordered by Kapiolani Park and the Ala Wai Field, so there should be no complaints about lack of green space in that area.

Do tourists flock to either of those parks? Kapiolani Park is in Waikiki, yet do tourists use it at all? I don't believe so, especially when there is a very nice beach just across the street.

Taxpayer money would be better spent hiring more public school teachers. Our state will profit far greater by investing in education rather than in a park that few will utilize.

Jeffrey Herman

Legislators ignore public concern

At a recent community meeting, within days of the New Year and well before the opening of the 2000 state Legislature, an elected official from our area was asked, "Will you support a ban on fireworks?"

Without a pause, the answer came: "No, I will not support a ban." Apparently, a decision had already been made without regard to public desires or needs.

I found this shocking. As an American, I expect elected officials to represent the citizens -- namely, me! How many life-altering decisions are made in this manner, and subsequently become law?

Ginny Meade

If you don't like tradition, leave Hawaii

Our state is blessed with a culture all its own. Celebrating with a string of 10,000 firecrackers and shooting aerials that light up the skies from Mililani to Kaneohe are all a part of us.

Those who want to end this practice should just move to the mainland or somewhere else, because they obviously don't appreciate what Hawaii has to offer.

Don't let the antics of desperate politicians obscure the truth behind a unique cultural aspect of our state.

Reid Seino

Selfish revelers endangered homes

Although I'm originally from the mainland, I have never been in favor of a complete ban on fireworks for a couple of reasons. First, I enjoy watching them. Second, the cultural reasons. However, this last New Year's Eve changed my mind.

Forget the smoke that just about kills anyone with asthma, including my daughter and me, or the tremendous amount of money that went up in that smoke.

Let's just talk about the illegal aerials that people bought and set off next to their neighbors' homes without regard to the danger.

I don't blame the police or the fire departments, who clearly had their hands full. And I don't blame, totally, the entrepreneurs who wouldn't sell if there were no market.

The responsibility, as I see it, comes down to those who, in their selfishness, don't care about the consequences of their actions on others. It boils down to a lack of aloha spirit, don't you think?

Steve Lombard
Laie

Levin should stand up to Oahu 'good ol' boys'

We are disappointed and frustrated about Sen. Andy Levin's recent reversal concerning development of a state prison on the Big Island. Last year, he showed strength and conviction in opposing the "old-boy" network that tried to shove a prison down the Big Island's throat.

Yet now Levin says he won't oppose it.

Development of a massive state prison on this island (whether publicly or privately funded) would increase the per capita criminal population on the east side to unprecedented levels.

The social and economic consequences are chilling. Shall Hilo evolve into a prison community dominated by the dependent family members of inmates who usually surround a prison facility? Shouldn't we instead lobby to expand the University of Hawaii-Hilo, Kamehameha Schools' presence on the island, etc., and make Hawaii County the education island?

Please, Senator Levin, stand up to the evil forces trying to dump Oahu's prison problems on the Big Island. If you do, we're behind you all the way.

Jim Wyban
Carol Araki Wyban
Kurtistown, Hawaii

Headaches and the caffeine connection

Thank you for the very important Jan. 22 Wall Street Journal article on "rebound" headaches, which are caused by excessive doses of caffeine. I speak from personal experience.

Every day for 30 years, I took two to six tablets of Extra Strength Excedrin for headaches. No doctor or medical test ever revealed to me that my "cure" was actually my problem.

Only after taking a friend's advice and going "cold turkey" on the Excedrin did my headaches disappear. I realize now that the 65 mg of caffeine in each of those pills had given me a caffeine habit and was causing my pain.

The article didn't point out that there are other villains more widely used than analgesics and just as addictive. There is an average of 38 mg of caffeine in a 12-oz. can of Coca-Cola; an average of 92 mg in a cup of instant coffee; and a whopping average of 199 mg in a cup of auto-drip coffee!

Every office has its "coffee-holics," who are most likely unaware that their many cups-a-day consumption is the cause of their frequent headaches. Sadly, unless they quit or cut down on the java, they will continue their dependency and never kick their pain.

C. Richard Fassler

Quotables "Think how refreshed and vigorous state employees would be if allowed to nap for four hours. State department heads (should) awaken their employees every four hours for a 10-minute work break." Robert Herkes BIG ISLAND REPRESENTATIVE Mocking state Sen. Rod Tam's proposal to allow government workers to use one of their two mandated daily breaks to take a nap on the job "Hope there's no Breathalyzer checks." Herman Bautista FARRINGTON HIGHWAY MOTORIST One of those bound for the Waianae Coast and stuck in an hours-long wait after police closed off the highway for a hostage situation, resulting in an impromptu tailgate party among strangers featuring beer and pupus

Parental abduction is not taken seriously

As a former parentally abducted child, I was close to tears when I read Diane Chang's Jan. 21 column about Janet Greer's struggle to get her daughter back from Egypt.

I was abducted by my father at the age of 4 and lived in hiding for 14 years. I lived in three countries, pretended to be a boy, begged for money and didn't go to school, all to hide from a mother who loved me.

The situation with little Elian Gonzalez does indeed hit home for many of us who have experienced parental abduction as odd, unfair and inconsistent. The 6-year-old Cuban boy has been turned into a political punching bag, and is being forced to "decide" whom he wants to be raised by.

I am not going to draw any conclusions regarding Elian's fate. I have seen enough cases to understand that every one is different; there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the sensitive issue of custody.

But I will say that Greer is right: Parental abduction cases are not taken seriously enough. Victim parents and children often do not get the assistance they need.

Parental abduction is a crime, but is often not seen as such. I suffered because of this attitude, and so have --and do -- countless others.

Cecilie Finkelstein
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Amnesty already exists for delinquent taxpayers

While Tom Slade's Jan. 24 letter proposes tax amnesty for Hawaii taxpayers, the state Department of Taxation already has ongoing efforts to encourage those who have fallen behind in their tax filings to come forward and work with us to make things right.

If you voluntarily come forward to resolve your tax situation, we work with you to get your returns filed. We are more inclined to waive penalties, and are generous with payment plans. Getting back on track also avoids the prospect of criminal prosecution.

There is no need to wait for tax amnesty to resolve your situation. As Slade points out, going year after year without filing makes the situation worse. Just contact me or any of our Oahu or neighbor island offices for more information.

Ray K. Kamikawa
Director of Taxation
State of Hawaii

Democrats are hypocrites about rights of individual

Walter Heen, in his Jan. 20 letter, said that the Democratic Party believes in the dignity of the individual and the right of that individual to share in all of the benefits that society bestows on every other individual. He forgot to add the qualifier: "except when the individual is a member of a politically unpopular minority."

Most Democrats chose to publicly take the politically popular position against same-sex marriage, contrary to the values to which Heen refers.

Nobu Nakamoto

So many helped ease pain after ranger's murder

Those of us working for the National Park Service are still trying to make sense of the senseless murder of Steve Makuakane-Jarrell, a ranger at Kaloko Honokohau National Historical Park on the Big Island. It is a tragedy we will never come to grips with.

However, we have been helped throughout this ordeal with the extraordinary professionalism and overwhelming support of the residents of the Big Island, the Hawaii County Police Department, Hawaii County Fire Department, Hawaii National Guard, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

A heartfelt mahalo for their support, consistent advice and hard work.

John J. Reynolds

Tailgating is a problem if you drive too slow

I am glad the state is spending money on driver education. The simplest, most cost-effective way to improve traffic safety and congestion is to inform people that the left lane is for passing and that, if someone comes up fast behind you on the freeway, let that car pass. That alone would reduce a lot of rage.

If you think the No. 1 problem on the road is tailgating, you are probably guilty of driving too slow in the left lane.

Michael Scherr

Three tips to ease the traffic flow

Inconsiderate slow drivers: Get out of the passing lane.

Police: Stop hiding around corners and at the bottom of hills like banditos with your silly laser/radar guns.

Hawaii state government: Devise more realistic speed limits to help reduce congestion and road rage.

John Scrivener
Kailua

Legislature Directory
Hawaii Revised Statutes

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