Skaters damage park-and-ride facility

Regarding the skateboarders using the Hawaii Kai park-and-ride ("Hawaii Kai debates spot for new skate park," Star-Bulletin, April 16): Did the Star-Bulletin reporter notice the graffiti and the missing benches around the park-and-ride?

I agree that not enough people use the lot, and I agree that the skateboarders need an appropriate skate park. But the article makes not one mention of the damage the skateboarders have done.

For example, there is the aforementioned graffiti on benches and walls. The benches also have been heavily damaged by the skateboarders riding off of them. Do the skaters consider the cost to the taxpayer for their damage? No.

At first I didn't mind the skateboarders using the park-and-ride, but I quickly changed my mind once they started doing damage. Hurry up and build a skate park for their enjoyment. Better that expense than an ongoing repair and replacement job to the park-and-ride.

Kellie Chang

Let skaters do their thing in Hawaii Kai

The kids in Hawaii Kai like to use the "kiss-and-ride" parking lot area for street skate boarding. So what? There are rarely any cars or pedestrians there anyway. It is a safe place for teens to meet one another and hang-out. It is mostly flat, paved, has curbs, open spaces and is well lit. I don't ever see drugs or illicit activities there.

The kids bring their own safety equipment, ramps, music and accessories with them. Nothing more needs to be built. It is already there, and it's free! It doesn't take a panel of city planning experts to figure out that the kids don't want another skateboarding park built in Hawaii Kai. They just want to be left alone. If there's no problem, don't fix it!

Karyn Herrmann
Mother of a teen-ager
Hawaii Kai

[QUOTABLES] "If my story can help another teen-ager to stay alive, my life is more than worth living." Ka'anoi Ka'apana, Education assistant for the Mental Health Association of Hawaii and recipient of the 2001 Welcome Back Award for Lifetime Achievement for overcoming clinical depression. "We're the 11th-largest city in the United States, and we've got big-city problems like other big cities do." Lee Donohue, Honolulu police chief, commenting on whether police are being shot at more often. Two officers were wounded and a suspect killed in a shootout Tuesday on H-2 Freeway.

Teachers need to provide accountability

In recent years the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has supported Governor Cayetano's efforts to revitalize the Hawaii economy. The chamber has also advocated quality education at the primary and secondary grade levels.

In the present stalemate between the state and Hawaii State Teachers Association, we believe teachers should be given affordable increases based on merit. A key measure of affordability is that no new or increased taxes, or repeal of tax reductions, should be imposed to fund these increases.

We want to keep the best teachers we have, and attract the best prospects. Equitable and affordable pay is a necessary means to this end. We also commend the governor for his support of accountability in Hawaii's education system; the same accountability that is required of every worker in the private sector, from management on down.

Stanley Hong
President & CEO
The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii

Unprovoked anger is difficult to explain

It was interesting to read the letter from Greg Mescan of Aiea (Letters, April 17) about his "not-so-positive" experience with the teachers' strike.

How coincidental, that our school's teachers experienced a similar incident on Day 3 of the strike, although some details vary. About 25 teachers were walking the picket line at the entrance to our school. A vehicle pulled up and the driver shouted, "You teachers better get outta my way! You have no right to block my way! What you guys are doing is illegal!"

The unprovoked yelling shocked the marching teachers. The driver was asked if he would honor our picket line. In reply, he yelled, "I gotta get a tax number from the office, so you better move now! You have no right to stop me! Move, NOW!" On he drove, as teachers scattered out of his way.

Later, he walked up to the line of pickets. Angrily, he shouted, "You teachers don't deserve a pay raise! What you're doing is illegal!"

He then went to his truck, and as he approached the exit, he was met by about 30 pickets chanting "support our teachers." There was no harassment from the pickets. An attempt was made to inform him to wait until there was a break in the picket line before driving through.

He screamed, "Get those damn teachers out of my way! Move, now! NOW!"

We moved, and he drove off. Greg Mescan wrote, "I respect an organization's right to strike..." That's good. The driver of that white Ford pick-up truck sure didn't. Just for the record, this teachers' strike is a legal strike, and no one has been denied access to our school.

R. Tom and L. Nakano

Editor's note: This letter was also signed by 40 other public school teachers.

Pols should send their kids to public school

Local publications have pointed out in recent months that Hawaii has the highest percentage of high school students enrolled in private schools and enrollment at University of Hawaii is falling.

I propose that every elected official be required to enroll his or her children in public schools. Their children should attend grade school from K-12 or attend a University of Hawaii campus. Perhaps then our decision makers will have a vested interest in making meaningful improvements to public education and the university system.

Sheri M. Gon
Lecturer
University of Hawaii-Manoa

Just say no to more education governors

When Jeremy Harris and Mazie Hirono say they want to be the next education governor, as a college professor, I say, no thanks. Our university and school systems can't afford another self-proclaimed education governor. It will take our state years to recover from Ben Cayetano, the current education governor.

Hazel Beh
Associate Professor of Law
William S. Richardson School of Law

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

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Party's image is personal image

A recent Star-Bulletin story said Hawaii's Democrats are trying to boost the party image.

If they haven't figured out yet that to boost the party's image each politician has to boost his or her individual image, until more are trusted than distrusted, they haven't got a chance. Not being for sale to the highest bidder would be a good start.

Robert G. Devine
Ocean View, Hawaii

Democrats already losing supporters

Senator Inouye is correct about the last elections being a wake-up call for Democrats ("Democrats go up to bat burdened by two strikes," Star-Bulletin, April 16).

I am one longtime Democrat who will vote for Linda Lingle for governor. Hawaii needs new leadership, and the Democrats can't handle the heat or the tough issues.

Alex Gomes

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