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Hawaii's sidewalks are full of hazards

I am very disappointed in the condition of Hawaii's public sidewalks and walking areas. I've tripped many times because the stones were so bad on Lewers Street. I fell into the road once but, fortunately, no vehicles were passing.

I recently tripped at the state Capitol, wrenching my right knee. I wrote to state officials and was sent a claim form. They want evidence of my injury. Does being in government cause eye defects? Nevertheless, I went back to the Capitol building to photograph and videotape the many potential hazards there.

Perhaps they think that, because I am a visitor, I will lose interest in this claim. Better for them to accept what I say than cost taxpayers more money by denying it ever happened.

Jack Brokenshire
Devon, England

Statutory rape law must be changed

Hawaii's law concerning statutory rape/age of consent is the worst in the nation. Since 1986, any child 14 years or older can consent to having sex with anyone of any age. We don't have to be very smart to know that older men frequently prey on young people.

Our law makes no distinction concerning the age of the perpetrator. The Alan Guttmacher Institute's 1994 report, "Sex and America's Teenagers," found that six of 10 girls who had sex before age 15 were coerced by males an average of six years older.

If a child 13 years or younger lies and claims to be 14, the perpetrator has nothing to worry about. Our law protects him since it requires the perpetrator to "knowingly" have sex with an underage person in order to break the law.

People should contact lawmakers and demand a change. If we don't care, legislators won't care either.

Stanley W. Philbrick
Kaneohe

Quotables "For a man to be convincing (dancing) as a woman, he must emphasize beauty and grace. This is challenging." Nobuyoshi Koba "Mardi Gras Follies" dancer Who takes an hour to transform himself into a dancing geisha "I'm not going to close off that option. There's a lot of experience in this body." Henry Peters Former Bishop Estate trustee On possibly running for public office "He's taken a beating in certain circles, but in Waianae he's still a champ." Walter Heen Hawaii Democratic Chairman Agreeing that Henry Peters is electable in his old House district

Mayor Kusaka is violating sunshine law

The creation of a secret advisory committee by Kauai Mayor Maryanne Kusaka is another in a seemingly endless string of acts of ignorance and arrogance, further abetted by a county attorney who habitually disregards the sunshine law until called to task by the public.

In 1998, Mayor Kusaka created a Citizens Advisory Committee on the General Plan Update for Kauai County. This committee operated for more than a year without complying with provisions of the sunshine law, specifically by refusing to give public notice of its upcoming meetings.

Three times I called this to the attention of the county planning director and the consultant who apparently ran the committee but was always ignored. The fourth time I notified the county clerk -- resulting in that meeting being cancelled and rescheduled.

Since then, this committee has acted in compliance with the law, at least with respect to letting the public know when a meeting was scheduled.

This latest act of arrogance on Mayor Kusaka's part, however, is even more egregious than earlier situations. Not only will she not announce the meeting times, she is withholding the names of committee members.

No doubt it will again take a public outcry for the Kusaka administration to act in accordance with the law.

Raymond L. Chuan
Hanalei, Kauai

Why was Bob Hogue fired by KHON?

In the early 1990s, when Les "The General" Keiter retired as sports anchor on Channel 2, we celebrated our long association with him. When Bob Hogue replaced "The General," we took him into our homes and hearts.

We grieved with him and his children at the untimely and tragic loss of his first wife. We later rejoiced with him when he found a new soul mate.

And now, without the courtesy of any explanation to its previous loyal audience, Channel 2 acts as though Hogue had never existed. No goodbyes, no bon voyages, no farewell parties, no apologies.

When I called KHON to express my anguish, it was like talking to a brick wall. No comment from news director Jim McCoy, anchorman Joe Moore or anyone else.

Hogue's "disappearance" was announced (without explanation) in a Dec. 30, 1999, column by the Star-Bulletin's Dave Donnelly. Sports editor Cindy Luis expressed regret in her Jan. 3 column but, other than that, the local press seems totally unconcerned.

Puzzled and angry, I feel certain that I speak for a number of Star-Bulletin readers and KHON-TV's prior news audience when I express my deep consternation.

Don Ferguson

Mainland city workers get more compensation

Your March 1 article addressing the disparity of compensation between local municipal department heads -- particularly within police and fire departments, as compared to their mainland counterparts -- was informative.

It should be pointed out that Honolulu firefighters at all levels make significantly less than firefighters on the mainland. This must also be true for police officers, considering the number of articles last year describing their exodus to the West Coast.

M. Roger Goodell

Women should be allowed to pack guns

Why isn't a female victim of spouse abuse given the right to defend herself? Why, when she wants to carry a gun to protect herself, is she told no?

Women who do not want to become victims are denied the best means of self-defense: a handgun and a concealed-carrying permit. Women, for some reason, are thought of as being incapable of shooting a gun.

In Hawaii, too many women have been victimized by police and bad advice on domestic violence. If women in law enforcement can hit their targets, their endangered civilian counterparts -- who have even more of an incentive to learn to shoot -- can do so just as well if not better.

This is why Hawaii should allow its citizens to carry concealed weapons. If not, those who would deny these endangered women the ultimate in protection should be held personally responsible.

Debbie Okamura

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