Don't open wildlife reserve to oil drilling

It was reported last week that draft recommendations by the Bush administration's U.S. Department of Interior for boosting energy production include releasing millions of acres of federal wilderness land for development.

These plans include drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Americans should know that the amount of oil estimated to be produced daily from drilling in this Alaskan reserve is equal to that which we could save if SUVs were required to get three more miles per gallon.

It seems obvious that our first attempt at solving our energy woes should involve decreasing our consumption of oil. Conservation should be attempted before any of our country's few remaining wildlife areas are sacrificed.

Joan Holup

[Quotables] "I got attracted by the bubble and the bubble burst." Judy Jakobovits, Niu Valley Realtor to lost more than $250,000 from her retirement portfolio after investing heavily in the high-tech market last year. "We have our minds. We don't need Molotov cocktails." Joshua Cooper, Non-violent protest organizer advising a group that intends to protest during the Asian Development Bank meeting at the convention center next month.

[ TEACHER STRIKE ]

Teachers need respect and appreciation

With all of the rhetoric flying during the current labor dispute with teachers, there are two words that are missing: respect and appreciation.

Our teachers have worked so hard under incredible pressure to deal with Felix Consent Decree issues and standards implementation. Their efforts are bearing fruit as evidenced by improved test scores, and by more school complexes meeting Felix requirements.

Our work to improve Hawaii's public schools is far from complete, so we must ask our teachers to maintain the momentum and continue their endeavors.

It is about money. In order to achieve the desired improvements and reforms, we must be willing to invest in attractive salaries to recruit and retain excellent teachers. Decent learning environments and current instructional tools are important, but they are only as effective as the teacher.

Our teachers have proven they are accountable. Are we?

Shannon Ajifu
Kailua

Trust the governor to do what is right

These are very trying times for Governor Cayetano, the government labor unions and the over-taxed general public. We all want to see our government workers paid fairly, especially our teachers. However, it is obvious that this is not the time to raise taxes or cut essential services to accomplish these goals.

It is also obvious that the way to chart our course through these economic problems is to have one dominate mind in command. The Democratic Party is too beholden to the labor unions and the Republican Party too small to be effective in this regard.

The only effective dominant mind is the governor and now is the time for all of us to trust his judgment and back him up.

Mahalo, Governor Cayetano for having the brains and guts to stick to your course. I am with you.

Bob Hampton

Living in isles means settling for less pay

Why should teachers get all the limelight? I agree that they should get a raise, but have our students' SAT scores improved to the point that teachers should get all that they are demanding? Besides, there are other people who made the choice of coming back to Hawaii or staying in Hawaii to work, even though they could be making more money somewhere else.

I have a bachelor's degree in psychology with more than five years experience working with kids and teen-agers. But because the salary scale for that profession in Hawaii won't make ends meet for me, I have been working in a totally different field. And I work a part-time job as well!

Other professionals work what's supposedly a typical 40-hour a week job, but they put in 50, sometimes, 60 hours. They aren't complaining for a raise. That's what choosing a career in Hawaii is all about, sacrifice.

Brent Catekista
Aiea

>> HSTA Web site
>> UHPA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site

---

Turn convention center into a casino

The Hawaii Convention Center is a white elephant that has become a burden on the citizens of Hawaii. The tax dollars used to maintain it should be going into improving our public schools. The center could serve Hawaii much better if it were used as a gambling casino and for Asian cultural entertainment.

Hawaii gets between five and six million visitors per year. Las Vegas gets well over 35 million. Those visitors leave behind more than $108 billion dollars each year, resulting in a booming economy there.

A casino here would employ hundreds, if not thousands, of people in high-tech, as well as service and performing arts occupations. All of Hawaii's businesses would benefit.

The price of the building should be $1 billion so that the state could make a nice profit from the sale. A gambling license should be $100 million. Each year license renewal fees could be $25 million. The state would then have plenty of money to deal with any social problems that might surface.

Why should we keep waiting for everyone in this state to go bankrupt before we are will to do something to prevent it?

Russell Grisham

Gaming proponents use naive seniors

On April 5, I went to testify at the hearing of resolutions to have studies on legalized gambling in Hawaii. As I entered the Capitol, I saw a large group of senior citizens wearing brand-new T-shirts, printed "Gaming for Better Education."

One of the senior citizens recognized me, and I asked what organization was he with. He replied, "Pauahi Union House." I then asked him if he was for gambling. He said, "No." I said to him that gaming means gambling. He thought he was supporting the teachers for better pay, and it was the first day of teacher's strike.

I sat next to a Filipino lady and asked her if she was for gambling. She replied,"Gambling...I no like gambling. Brings bad people and our children get bad." She too thought that she was supporting the teachers on strike.

It bothered me that the seniors I talked to did not know why they were at the hearing. Let us not take advantage of the senior citizens!

Irene Matsumoto

New HECO power line is necessary

I live in Aiea Heights and do not want to be burdened with higher electricity costs due to very vocal groups from Palolo Valley, Manoa and the university areas that do not want the high-voltage lines over Waahila Ridge. I'm not willing to pay for another area's undergrounding. We don't have it in my neighborhood.

We need for HECO to go ahead with plans to complete the Kamolu-Pukele line. Horrors, if Oahu can't keep Waikiki in electricity! Can you imagine what the tourists would do or say if they all got stranded in their rooms? I sure don't want to "be in the dark," do you?

Annette Kau Summerlin

---

Letter guidelines The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point on issues of public interest. The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed, must include a mailing address and daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813