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Digging up of roads could be unnecessary

Kalanianaole Highway drivers are in for two years of confusion and traffic snarls. What I don't understand is why do water mains and gas lines have to be put in the middle of the roadway.

Couldn't the line be located on the side of the road? In the Kalanianaole situation, a big portion could go through the grounds of Kalani High School and Waialae Iki Park without causing such a traffic jam. Part of the lines could be located beside storm drains.

The engineers and architects are going to say this guy is lolo. But then again they are the ones who put the fire hydrants in the middle of the sidewalk and then spent $100,000 to build sidewalk extensions to meet ADA requirements, when it is obvious that on rubbish days no wheelchair can use the sidewalk anyway.

The traffic mess that the gas company created two weeks ago could have been avoided by creating an extra lane. I hope the Department of Transportation will have a little compassion and use a lot more imagination to keep the traffic flowing.

Martin Wyss

Military should pay to use Makua Valley

The military always threatens to take its marbles and go somewhere else, as Senator Inouye has warned it would do in light of the people's request that the Army quit using their valley as a shooting gallery (Star-Bulletin, Jan. 10).

The fact is the military has nowhere else to go. It must maintain its forward projection in the Pacific since it lost its bases in the Philippines.

So, like it or not, the Army is stuck with staying in Hawaii. Therefore, it might as well try to live amicably with the natives.

In fact, the natives should charge the military a fee, as the Philippines did before it booted out the U.S. military altogether.

Our leaders should realize that the people of Hawaii are doing the military a favor, not the other way around. These leaders should take the example of that proud lady --the new governor of Puerto Rico, who has defied the Navy by asking it to stop using one of her island's for target practice.

Besides, has the Navy any proof that its effectiveness has suffered since it quit shelling Kahoolawe?

Raymond L. Chuan
Hanalei, Kauai

Star-Bulletin is unbiased newspaper

We certainly need two newspapers in Honolulu, because it seems quite apparent if you send any derogatory letters to the editor about the Democrats to the Advertiser, they never get published.

Speaking from my own personal experience, the Star-Bulletin stands out as the truly unbiased publication.

Now let's see. Bill comes out from under the desk, still smiling; the happily married Rev. Jesse Jackson returns to the podium, after having a child with his assistant; and another happily married slick Willie (Brown), mayor of San Francisco, repeats the process. He returns to his podium, as if nothing unruly happened.

It's all utterly disgusting behavior by all Democrats. What a legacy of moral decay we are left with. These people are or were in high office to be respected, listened to and held in regard. They should all be shipped off on a slow boat to China, with Hillary at the helm.

John L. Werrill

Homosexuals haven't suffered like blacks

Your Jan. 16 article, "Oahu march will champion tolerance," was biased and misleading.

I attended the parade on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and found it disturbing that members of the homosexual community tried to present themselves as experiencing the same discrimination as black people.

In no way have homosexuals suffered like black people have. Gays enjoy the right to vote, freedom of speech, etc., just the same as everyone else. They simply want the additional right of forcing society to approve of their lifestyle.

Race and behavior are totally different issues. Race is something you're born with; homosexual behavior is something you choose. We should judge each other according to our behavior, which is a reflection of character.

Mark Lee

State may be sued over civil unions

When it comes to the issue of civil unions for same-gender couples, Mike Gabbard is correct. Civil unions will provide exactly the same rights and benefits of marriage, except for the title.

Gabbard fails to realize that the Baehr vs. Miike case was a victory for same-gender couples. Attorney Dan Foley said in 1999: "The (Baehr) opinion is that same-sex couples are now entitled to all the rights and benefits of married couples without the license, and if the Legislature doesn't extend it to them, the state will be litigating into the next millennium."

Well, here we are in the new millennium ready to begin new litigation against the State of Hawaii. Only this time the stakes will be higher for taxpayers.

This time the plaintiffs will also be seeking financial damages -- actual and punitive -- that could result in a multimillion-dollar judgment against the state.

Attorney General Earl Anzai has been notified by formal petition of our intent to proceed with litigation in the absence of timely legislation to provide a mechanism for legal civil unions.

In his conclusions of law in the Baehr case, Circuit Judge Kevin Chang ruled that Section 4 of the Constitution guarantees that "no person shall...be denied the equal protection of the laws...." This "inherent and inalienable right" applies to all persons, including gay and lesbian citizens.

For those who "don't see God in same-sex unions," religious dogma is no longer an acceptable premise for argument in a court of law. To deny constitutional rights because someone "goes against what the Bible says" is to place religious belief above civility, fairness, equality, reason and the law.

The United States is a constitutional republic -- not a theocracy.

Mitch Kahle
Chairman,
Protest and Non-Violent Action Committee
Civil Unions-Civil Rights Movement

Quotables "You know you're getting old when your son plays in your band!" Kelly "Kelly Boy" De Lima LEAD SINGER OF KAPENA Whose 12-year-old son, Kapena De Lima, has inherited his father's talent and love of music "I have a difficulty with it unless my constituents tell me it is something they want." Colleen Hanabusa DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FROM WAIANAE On a plan that would grant Sun International Hotels Ltd. the right to establish casino gambling at a specific site in West Oahu, with a tax on revenues to fund scholarships to the University of Hawaii. The company has hired the governor's former campaign coordinator, Charles Toguchi, as a lobbyist.

Crowd should proudly sing anthems at arena

At sporting events at the University of Hawaii Stan Sheriff Center, I'd like to see more participation by spectators. What kind of participation? The singing of the national anthem and the state song, Hawaii Pono'i.

The person performing those two songs on the court, using a microphone, usually drowns out the fans. We need more output by spectators, an outpouring of melodic voices, with gusto if possible. The whole auditorium should rock with enthusiasm.

There were times, in the past, when the Star-Spangled Banner would bring out the chicken skin. Pride -- we need more of that!

Roy E. Shigemura

Universal preschool is not a top priority

While I respect the concept behind Gov. Ben Cayetano's recent call for universal preschool in Hawaii, I believe the timing of the plan is ill-advised.

Like so many things, this program should take a lower priority than other much-needed improvements to our public education system in Hawaii.

Once we have addressed all of the higher-priority issues in a meaningful way --including paying a competitive teacher salary that attracts the best and brightest educators, and upgrading classrooms, textbooks and other materials -- then the governor's idea deserves attention.

We must get out of the habit of spending resources we don't have on new programs, when existing programs are already suffering for lack of funding and support.

The future of our children should be of paramount importance to our state government. That means providing a high-quality education at all levels.

Once that's done, we can (and should) look to expanding our reach beyond the traditional K-12 role.

Ken Armstrong

DOE employees should spend time at schools

I have a suggestion that will save money and ensure that our public schools improve. We should make it mandatory that all Department of Education employees, except secretarial and nurses, spend a minimum of one semester every three years in the classroom.

This classroom time should be in public schools that fill two or more of the following criteria:

Have a teacher retention problem.

Have low test scores.

Have a high percentage of learning-challenged students.

Have a high percentage of behavior-challenged students.

This should include counselors, psychologists and the like. If they have never taught in adverse conditions, they cannot begin to know the problems. Therefore, they must learn first hand.

Also, teachers should be allowed to deduct expenses for school supplies from their taxes. Many of our teachers spend $500 or more yearly out of their own pockets for supplies the state should furnish.

Charles Phelps
Waianae

Critical teacher shortage threatens state

We're worried. We're afraid for the children, the teaching profession and the state in general.

The critical shortage of certified teachers will continue to grow, as nearly one- third of current teachers are ready to retire at the end of this year. Another 40 percent will be ready to retire next year.

There are not enough certified teachers to replace them. Classroom vacancies are already being filled by uncertified and substitute teachers.

We could be hiring certified teachers from other states. Instead, other states, offering a living wage and other incentives, are hiring teachers from Hawaii. Teachers can't afford to teach here.

It is enormously hard to prepare for class, teach and check student work for hours each night, have numerous committee and student progress meetings, then rush home to go to a second job so that bills get paid.

Teachers have to provide for their families, so they are forced to go elsewhere.

The lack of teachers shortchanges our keiki, who study in overcrowded classrooms. It shortchanges businesses by providing underqualified workers. It shortchanges the state by producing citizens unready to take their place in an increasingly complex society.

We can only do our best. We cannot bring teachers here or make the ones we have want to stay. Only our lawmakers can do that.

When the cost of living is factored in, Hawaii has the lowest teacher pay in the nation. Aren't we worth the investment? If you are as worried as we are, let the governor and your legislators know it.

Debbie Pranke

Editor's note: This letter was also signed by Yvonne Kunimoto, Ward Gardner, Joyce Okuna, Winnie Enriques, Evette Tampos and Dorothea Fendentz.

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