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Fix playgrounds instead of buying building

How interesting that your April 10 editorial supports the state spending $22.3 million to buy the Hemmeter Building to display art collected by the state Foundation on Culture and the Arts, when we don't even have the funds to replace the playground equipment at our schools. Oh well, I guess the governor wants to put tourists ahead of our children.

If you want to see real art in action, watch a child on a playground. Unfortunately, because the play equipment at some schools has been removed because it doesn't meet federal safety standards, our kids are missing what you and I grew up on.

R.D. Greenamyer
Mililani

Francis will have tough time unseating Mink

Russ Francis for U.S. representative? Is he serious or has he taken a few too many knocks upside the noggin during his overpublicized football career?

I'm not doubting his intelligence or integrity, but surely one would attempt to form a more credible resume before challenging Patsy Mink for her seat in D.C. For Francis to accuse Mink of being a "career politician" while campaigning to take her place seems a bit hypocritical.

If Francis couldn't defeat often-maligned City Councilman Andy Mirikitani in 1998, who is the well-meaning person who talked him into an even bigger challenge now? Then again, Hawaii loves an underdog.

Spike Nishi
Waipahu

Quotables "Over the last few months, Hawaii has become one of the best places in the world to explore fine sake. The people who produce it are the kings, and those who distribute it and consume it are the commoners." Chris Pearce AUTHOR OF "THE JOY OF SAKE" On a reinvigorated local interest in the Japanese brew and the need to bring a better class of sake to the state "This is not the same island that it was when Miu Lan was alive." Virginia Beck KAUAI HEALTH PRACTITIONER At a Lihue vigil to mourn Miu Lan Esposo-Aguiar, whose husband has been charged with setting her on fire

State forces public to accept multitracking

The state Department of Education claims building multi-track schools will save precious capital improvement funds. Yet on a comparison chart recently prepared by the DOE, the multitrack school carries the same price tag as a singletrack school.

Do the math and you'll find that by designing a multitrack school you can save $2,082,024 on building 12 classrooms. However, to air condition the remaining classrooms, the state must spend an additional $2,466,945 for construction costs.

Schools designed for multi-tracking have the highest operating costs in the state. Taxpayers will be coughing up more money for education to pay operating expenses for these schools. Yet how do teachers or children benefit? By having their rooms air-conditioned? Are we setting a good standard for our children --a shortage of learning resources and facilities but cool air?

Logic seems to be falling on deaf ears. Multitracking doesn't mean more teaching positions. It doesn't mean smaller class sizes, saving capital improvement funds or less acreage needed for the school.

It does mean the need for more administration like vice principals and counselors, and more custodial positions. It means more wear and tear on the facility because of constant use. It means more costly utility bills and having to secure child care four times a year for three-week periods. Teachers don't have a summer to go back to school; students don't have a summer, period.

Somehow, the DOE believes that all new public schools must be multitrack ones. Why? It makes you wonder if it has something to do with the air-conditioning company.

Jo Ann Inouye
Mililani

Column on arbitration should be reprinted

For the past several weeks I have been reading articles and letters to the editor about certain proposals for civil service reform. Many of these articles refer to binding arbitration vs. the right to strike. Arbitration has always seemed like a good concept to me, as it connotes compromise instead of head-to-head adversity.

But that was before reading David Shapiro's April 8 column clearly explaining why binding arbitration -- as it pertains to Hawaii and the Hawaii Government Employees Association -- can provoke an economic disaster in the near future. I have revised my opinion.

Since many others in Hawaii may share my naive opinion of arbitration, and may not have had the opportunity to read Shapiro's excellent column, it should be reprinted as soon as possible, preferably in a box on the front page. The public needs to be alerted about the need to make reforms to civil service, particularly as it concerns arbitration.

William G. Burlingame Sr.
Mililani

Public needs right to sue negligent HMOs

Your April 3 editorial questioning whether patients should have the right to sue health management organizations missed the important point prompting this legislation.

Managed care, including an HMO, directly affects patient treatment when deciding appropriate treatment for each individual case. As the law now reads, if a health professional misjudges appropriate treatment, this professional can be sued. If an HMO misjudges appropriate treatment, it cannot be sued.

Simply put, this is unfair to a patient wronged by an HMO.

As it turns out, HMOs have been shielded from lawsuits no matter how negligent their actions might be. The pending legislation would simply remove this shield, and give relief to patients if wronged.

This shield is finally being challenged by a bipartisan congressional effort, and Congress should be congratulated for standing up to the very powerful managed-care industry.

Stephen K. Miyaji, DDS

Kapiolani lily pond is not practical

If the lily pond at the Kapiolani Bandstand is going to utilize our precious fresh drinking water, we are going to deplete our reservoir. We don't want to be in the same situation as Maui or the Big Island, where they are experiencing drought conditions.

We don't need a luxury item like a lily pond that is merely nice to look at. The Waikiki Neighborhood Board was not consulted about this, and area residents don't support the pond idea because of safety concerns and the unnecessary expense to maintain it.

Remember, tourists come to Hawaii for our aloha.

Bobby Oshiro
Aiea

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