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Letters
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Saturday, August 26, 2000

Prostitution editorial was off base

This is to clarify your Aug. 11 editorial concerning the three new prostitution-free zones, in which you wrote that "a law that seems to have worked in Waikiki may not be effective in other areas."

Under the state law allowing the counties to designate these zones, areas that have "significant prostitution-related activity," such as the Ala Moana red-light district, may be targeted -- not just areas having "street prostitution."

Additionally, your statement is incorrect that "under state law, public property clearly does not include private business establishments, and any attempt to give it such a convoluted definition would fail in court." Two independent legal opinions by city attorneys have confirmed that the state's law does include commercial areas open to the public such as strip bars.

Lt. Michael Johnson's statement, which tried to weaken the law's scope, has been proven wrong by these legal opinions supporting my bill, and is no longer the Honolulu Police Department's position. Recently, HPD testified in support of designating all three zones -- Ala Moana, Wahiawa and downtown -- during the City Council's meeting.

Police have reported seeing prostitutes shifting from Waikiki, working out of Ala Moana's strip bars. This emphasizes the importance of my bill to toughen enforcement equally in all communities affected by "significant prostitution-related activity" and connected drugs, gambling and organized crime problems.

Andy Mirikitani
Member, Honolulu City Council

Admission Day was ignored

I was saddened not to read or hear anything about Admission Day -- no proclamation or public announcement. As we enjoy the benefits and privileges of that holiday, have we forgotten all the sacrifices that thousands made to attain statehood?

Don't we understand what statehood means? Thousands of people all over the world try any means to enter our country. America is a wonderful place.

Let's not forget to celebrate Admission Day next year.

Howard Shiroma

Quotables "A lot of times, the girls are very reluctant witnesses. In her eyes, it's not a sex crime, it's a love relationship. That leaves juries with lots of reasonable doubt." Adriana Ramelli DIRECTOR OF HONOLULU'S SEX ABUSE TREATMENT CENTER On the difficulty of winning convictions in statutory rape cases in Hawaii where the age of consent, 14, is the lowest in the nation "Hawaiian warriors had to prove courage and honor to pass the rites of bravery." Dustin Webster LAST YEAR'S RED BULL CLIFF-DIVING WORLD CHAMPION Ready to defend his title at Lanai's Kaunolu Point, birthplace of the sport

Gays must keep fighting for equal rights

So Dave Shapiro is tired of "gay" politics in his face (Volcanic Ash, Aug. 12). Well, I'm tired too. I'm tired of:

Waking up every morning and seeing the same religious wackos and conservative Republicans spouting their daily ration of hatred toward gays and lesbians.
Living in a state and country (except for Vermont) where homosexuals are treated like outcasts and second-class citizens.
A governor who promised to make it one of his top priorities to pass a comprehensive and progressive equal rights package for gays and lesbians in committed lifelong relationships, but bowed to the conservatives and has done nothing instead.
Hypocritical Republican leaders such as Newt Gingrich and now the Republicans' choice for vice president, Dick Cheney, both of whom have gay family members but who tell the American people that their family members made bad "choices."

Wake up! Homosexuality is not a choice. I am not a gay advocate nor do I have a gay agenda. I am just your average Joe who pays taxes just like everyone else and would like no special rights. Just equal rights.

So, Mr. Shapiro, until the day comes when all citizens, gay and straight, are afforded the same rights, you must endure many more days of gay politics in your face.

Kirk Mitchell

Anti-gay forces must remain active

In his Aug. 12 column, David Shapiro says he wishes "radical anti-homosexual groups" would adopt a "live and let live" attitude towards homosexuals. But as long as homosexual activists are not satisfied with being left alone to do what they will in privacy, and are tolerated or even have their behavior approved of, this issue will be ongoing.

Immediately after the defeat of same-sex marriage, homosexual activists announced that they would continue to push for legalization of same-sex marriage, whether using the word "marriage" or not.

Then gubernatorial candidates Ben Cayetano and Linda Lingle came out saying that this issue is not dead, that they will push forward some form of benefits for gay couples, thus giving societal approval to homosexual behavior and relationships.

Homosexual activists are actively trying to achieve social acceptance through various sensitivity courses and classes in our education system, police force, military and anywhere they can.

These activists are trying to achieve social acceptance and approval of their behavior. Those who believe that homosexual behavior is wrong, sinful, unnatural and unhealthy and who do not want their children to believe that homosexual behavior is acceptable or that it is approved, will stand up to defend our values.

Rebecca Saltzburg
Vice President, Alliance for Traditional Marriage and Values

Mayor has done much to revitalize Waikiki

Mahalo to the city and Mayor Harris for the significant improvements instituted at Kuhio Beach. Along with enhancements to Kapiolani Park, Kalakaua Avenue and Ala Wai Boulevard, Waikiki's ambiance and "sense of place" are being restored for both visitors and residents to enjoy.

The mayor understands that Waikiki and its surrounding areas must be revitalized to regain its position as one of the world's premier destinations. To his credit, he's brought together industry, community and government in the development of a comprehensive vision for Waikiki, and created property tax incentives to encourage renovation of Oahu's commercial buildings.

Murray Towill
President, Hawaii Hotel Association

Anti-Bush cartoon was in poor taste

Corky's Aug. 21 cartoon on the editorial page, portraying George W. Bush's likeness as the life-threatening melanoma cancer that John McCain had removed from his skin, is possibly the most despicable piece of political satire that I have ever seen. I've never agreed with Corky's left-wing politics, but even I didn't think he would stoop this low.

R.D. Greenamyer
Mililani

Hiring process for principals should be reviewed

Your Aug. 22 editorial was on the mark in laying the responsibility for Makaha Elementary's crisis atmosphere at the foot of Principal Clarence De Lude. The school's previous principal nurtured a collaborative and supportive relationship. It's a shame that current leadership is lacking in these qualities.

Since the Leeward district superintendent and members of the Board of Education had a hand in selecting the current principal, perhaps they should rethink their selection process.

In an area that struggles to balance positive models as opposed to negative perceptions, any program like Hoa 'Aina O Makaha that attempts to heighten student achievement and attitudes deserves support. The explanations and excuses espoused by De Lude sound like bureaucratic static to justify poorly thought out actions.

Kelly Westfield
Waipahu

Cops, not cameras, are needed to enforce traffic laws

We have had Multinova speed cameras in Australia for years (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 11, "Cameras will be used to catch Oahu speeders").

You'll find that speeders who, in many cases, are just traveling with the flow of traffic will be caught and, in time, your authorities will realize they have a real cash cow in their possession.

However, those who think they will stop bad or reckless drivers through the use of cameras at intersections are wrong. You need police on the road.

By the way, on my last visit to Oahu, I got cut off by a police officer in Kaneohe who didn't indicate his lane change. Since this is against the law, perhaps you should start by citing bad drivers who happen to be Honolulu police officers.

Ed Hefferon
Wanneroo, Western Australia

There are many reasons to oppose Foley's pardon

I disagree completely with John Radcliffe's View Point column last Saturday on Governor Cayetano's pardon of Tom Foley. Foley admitted guilt, then was convicted and sentenced to a prison term by society via a judge. This was not the first time that Foley had been caught driving under the influence of alcohol.

Foley lives; Ho Pin Tsai does not. While the victim's family may have requested that Foley be released, his imprisonment was at society's request, too.

Radcliffe wrote that Foley never should have been sent to Halawa Prison in the first place. Was there any other option upon sentencing?

Why wasn't Foley sent to a halfway house instead of being fully pardoned? Why wasn't it mandatory in view of Foley's repetitive and lethal behavior that he take Antabuse, a medication that when combined with alcohol will strongly remind a person not to drink?

It really irks me to see a guy like Foley do something completely irresponsible, serve less than his allotted time, get pardoned and be released back into society. Would Radcliffe have felt differently if it had been his family member who was killed?

Tim Fern, M.D.
Kaneohe

Drunken drivers should be humiliated in public

Those convicted of drunken driving should be made to stand out on the roadways with signs hanging around their necks. Each sign should state the offender's conviction, such as, "I killed so-and-so." A bit graphic but why not? It would be similar to what a judge on Maui has been using as a sentencing alternative.

Jonalynn Sing

Senators conveniently forgot about term inequity

Regarding the Senate term inequity controversy: What did the senators know and when did they know it? The question was recently answered by Bob Watada, executive director of the Campaign Spending Commission.

Watada said that he informed all of the senators of the problem by letter before the last legislative session even began, and then discussed the issue with Judiciary Committee Co-Chairmen Avery Chumbley and Matt Matsunaga during the opening weeks of the session.

Yet Chumbley, Matsunaga and Senate President Norman Mizuguchi all claim that they "do not recall" ever receiving the letter or any subsequent discussions. That's a lot of coincidental, convenient memory lapses regarding something so important.

Listen to the senators hedge their bets with excuses:

Chumbley stated that "if the issue was raised back in September, then it just slipped through the cracks."

Matsunaga's response, also tinged with guilt, was: "I think it's kind of pointless now to try and point fingers and find the blame."

They knew! And they lied about knowing!

And what about all those other senators who got the letter? Heck, if Sen. Les Ihara hadn't brought up the issue in April, who knows how long these guys could have kept it buried?

Roy Frank Westlake

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Somebody had better tell bank about UH controversy

Egads! Is that a rainbow in the First Hawaiian Bank logo?

Ron Yoda

Dealing with OHA
and sovereignty

Race baiting masquerades as quest for equal rights

Revisionists Thurston Twigg-Smith, H. William Burgess and now Ken Conklin continue to cover up the circumstances that led to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian kingdom by using the vicious practice of race baiting -- the implication that certain inalienable rights owed to the Hawaiian people under international law and the law of nations somehow violate the 14th Amendment, which guarantees equal protection under the law for U.S. citizens.

The United States, the criminal offender in this case, finds itself in the enviable position of being able to pass judgment on its own crime.

It is a convoluted legal process that allows the criminal to decide whether he has committed a crime or not. The process is tantamount to murdering someone and then being allowed to decide whether the crime is of significance.

Where is this fading thing called American justice, and does it really exist anymore?

Rod Ferreira
Kamuela, Hawaii

Rights of Hawaiians continue to erode

Regarding whether non-Hawaiians should be able to run for a trustee's seat on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs: Would you think it fair if others were given the right to decide how your income should be spent?

If your ancestors' lands and rights had been taken, would you want descendants of the takers -- and those they encouraged to emigrate to work what had been your lands -- to be able to take away your decisions about your remaining resources, simply because there are more of them than there are of you?

Would you celebrate this as democracy or recognize it as a perversion of democracy?

I am astounded at the lack of logic and common sense that keeps people from acknowledging the continuing injustices eroding the rights of Hawaiians in their own homeland. What is this about? Power? Greed? Moral bankruptcy? An educational system that fails to help people develop critical thinking and face the truth about historical and current fact?

H.E. Henderson

No one would want to be treated like Indians

Why would any sane person want to have the same rights as Native American Indians? The record of the Department of Interior is one of 100 years of abuse and mismanagement.

A recent "60 Minutes" expose showed $2 billion in missing Indian monies and innumerable missing records. Most Indians live in profound poverty.

The bait for this bill, introduced by the Hawaii congressional delegation, is the loss of programs that supposedly help Hawaiians. One must ask why:

These programs are needed in the first place.
Hawaiians are still suffering from Third World socio-economic statistics.
20,000 Hawaiians are still on the Hawaiian homelands list that was created in 1920.
The state still owes Hawaiians millions and maybe billions of dollars for ceded lands use and Department of Hawaiian Home Lands abuse.

Why? Because Hawaiian have trusted the U.S. to do what it has never done.

Real self-determination and self-governance will always be better than wardship. Hawaiians took care of themselves and this beloved aina for a thousand years before there was a United States. They can do it again. This is their right and sacred responsibility.

Steven Tayama

OHA Special

Rice vs. Cayetano arguments

Rice vs. Cayetano decision

Holo I Mua: Sovereignty Roundtable

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