Legislator revives bill others strove to quash

Once again an arrogant legislator is using whatever means available to circumvent the will of the people. After hearing testimony from me and others from Ewa Beach and the Department of Health, the Health committee tabled a resolution that would have moved the Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment facility from its Pearl City site to the tremendously more expensive Kahi Mohala in Ewa.

I tracked that resolution up to the end of the session to be sure it was not resurrected. Then, during the last days of the session, Rep. Nobu Yonamine inserted a proviso in the budget bill that required that the facility be moved regardless of the committee hearings and community involvement.

Why should citizens go to the trouble of testifying to convince lawmakers to vote their way when one legislator can sneak in what he wants in the end? Shame on our legislative system and on Yonamine for manipulating the system for his "not in my backyard" constituents. Shame on Ewa's Rep. Willie Espero for not being more vocal on this issue. Governor Cayetano should veto this move.

Pam Lee Smith
Ewa Beach

Dumping Kyoto was inexcusable decision

George W. Bush's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol on global warming is inexcusable. Many countries worked years on this treaty to reduce greenhouse effect emissions by a minimal 6 percent. Estimates suggest that as much as 80 percent reduction is needed to halt global warming.

Newspapers are full of global-warming's effects; including costly crop-killing droughts, and increasingly frequent floods and hurricanes, plus life-threatening summer temperatures and rising ocean levels

These show a need to reduce emissions from fossil-fuel power plants and vehicles -- not increase them. Adding these environmental costs to the price of fossil fuels suddenly makes clean alternative energies look cost-effective.

Bush's energy policy proposal focuses on fossil fuel usage. His alternative to fossil fuels is nuclear power, with its radioactive wastes. And Bush is cutting money for toxic waste cleanup!

Technology development in efficiency, conservation, solar, wind, hydro-electric and geothermal, is the real answer.

Jim Brewer

Hawaii drivers need refresher course

It seems to me that, not only are the drivers on our highways not following the rules of the road, our police officers also do not follow them and do not enforce them.

Use of turn signals is out of fashion. Who cares if cars are following too closely or changing lanes unsafely? Drivers do not know how to merge onto the freeways and highways from on-ramps. I thought drivers were supposed to stop when there is a pedestrian in a crosswalk and when a signal light turns yellow.

We need to get back to basics and make sure everyone, including visitors, knows the rules and we need to hold our law enforcement officers accountable for enforcing them.

R.T. McWilliams

Law lets cockfighting proliferate

Due to public outrage over the cruelty of animal fighting, cockfighting has been banned in 47 states. Unfortunately, a loophole exists in the Animal Welfare Act that allows the interstate transport of fighting roosters between states where cockfighting is illegal to states where it is legal to fight these birds. Our U.S. senators and representatives now have an opportunity to pass federal legislation that will close this loophole, and I urge them to do so.

Cockfighting is cruel and inhumane. Cockfighters pump roosters full of stimulants, affix sharp knives to the birds' legs and force them to fight to the death. The birds suffer grievous injuries, such as punctured lungs and gouged eyes.

In addition, law enforcement officials nationwide have documented the strong connection between cockfighting and gambling, illegal drugs and firearms. Especially disturbing is that children are brought to these events which promote the insensitivity to suffering, an enthusiasm for violence and disrespect for the law.

The loophole in the Animal Welfare Act undermines the ability of state and local law officials to enforce bans. Thus, numerous law enforcement organizations support closing the loophole, as does the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

It is time to stop cockfighters from eluding prosecution. It's time to close this loophole in the Animal Welfare Act.

Laurelee Blanchard
Communications Director
Farm Animal Reform Movement
Haiku, Hawaii

Why mention Cabang's troubles?

Erika Engle's column in your May 6 edition on our attempt of infusing a little humor into the morning drive drudgery was bittersweet. The article started off with a fun spirit then turned unnecessarily dark when she mentioned, for no apparent reason, Mel Cabang's prior arrest charges for which he served his penalty. She turned a light bright story into another downer. Too bad!

Jack Robinson
President, Caesars Cleaners

Cross was used as instrument of death

It never ceases to amaze me how so many, otherwise seemingly intelligent people, can allow themselves to be duped so completely when it come to religion.

For instance, a recent letter writer states that the Christian cross represents "peace and goodwill." Has the writer taken no history courses? The Christian cross was also a means of execution for countless thousands of human beings.

Had hanging been in vogue at the time of Jesus Christ's alleged execution would modern- day Christians be seen sporting silver nooses around their necks and dangling from their rearview mirrors?

And how does one juggle the faith's promises of peace and goodwill with its threats of eternal death and planetary destruction?

Mike Quinn

[QUOTABLES] "He is a scholar. What they accuse him of is pure nonsense. I want the world to know my husband has done nothing wrong." Liu Yingli, Wife of American business professor Li Shaomin who has been formally charged by the Chinese with spying for Taiwan. Li, who taught at the City University of Hong Kong, disappeared after crossing the border into China on Feb. 25 to visit a friend. "It's nice to be able to wear a white hat and help people. It's fulfilling." Chuck Totto, City Ethics Commission executive director, who is taking a preventative approach to ethical breaches by conducting ethics training sessions for City Councilmembers and other city employees.

Is campaign against currency next?

In response to Mitchell Kahle of Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church:

What kind of money do you use? I assume U.S. currency. The next time you have some in hand, turn it over and look at it. You will note that there is one common denominator on every piece of coinage or currency. It is: "In God We Trust."

When are you going to do something about that flagrant violation of your policy of separation of church and state?"

Capt. Skip Crawford
U.S. Navy, Retired

Hawaii needs motto reminders, too

Last summer, Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill to encourage the display of our national motto, "In God We Trust," in every public building.

Colorado Congressman Bob Schaffer introduced the bill to defend the right of government agencies to post our national motto.

He said that "Our national motto, like the pledge of allegiance, is more than just words, and it should be displayed to remind Americans of our heritage."

Hawaii also needs to support this type of legislation. We need something to help offset the evils generated by pornography and prime time TV, sadistic video games and movies and software that promotes murder and mayhem, the prevalence of substance abuse, and public school sex education.

The display of our national motto in every public school classroom might be a good start.

Willis Maeda

A different hand signal would be appropriate

I offer my single digit shaka award to Sen. Cal Kawamoto for his law requiring pedestrians to do stupid things before crossing the street.

Today while crossing Lewers Street at Kuhio in a Diamond Head crossing on the Makai side of the street with the green light, a young lady making an illegal right hand turn from Lewers to Kuhio (illegal because I was in the zebra), paused from speaking on her cell phone to scream "get out of my way" as she went around the corner.

At what point, Senator, was anyone going to do anything to get that young lady's attention? Do you believe that what you are purposing will have anything of value to offer a pedestrian?

Better you should offer a Church Mass. I assume you do not walk across Waikiki streets.

Arnold Van Fossen

State learned little from teachers' strike

Now that the Hawaii State Teachers' Association strike is over, it looks like back to business as usual for the executive branch.

It's incredible that the Budget and Finance Department plans to take a $28.5 million "windfall" from the Department of Education to put to other uses.

What happened to all the textbooks, computers and facilities that were touted as so crucial during the strike?

Actions speak louder than words and it looks like our elected officials are continuing to send the same message that they have been sending for a tragically long time -- "Education is not important."

Doug Thomas
Mililani

Medical marijuana is still the law here

Your May 15 editorial on the Supreme Court's decision on medical marijuana adds to the confusion about what this decision means for Hawaii and the eight other states that have authorized medical use of cannabis.

The decision will have no impact on Hawaii's law, or that of any other state that protects certified patients from arrest by state authorities for possessing and using marijuana as medicine.

Although federal prohibition of marijuana for any use remains unchanged, states may continue to pass and operate under their own laws. Given that nearly 99 percent of all marijuana arrests in the nation are made by state and local officials, the likelihood of prosecution for using medical marijuana is slight.

As you stated, the court's "ruling addresses the narrow area of organized manufacturing and distribution of marijuana" by the Oakland Cannabis Buyers' Cooperative. Obviously, the decision would extend to any other organized effort at distribution. Since Hawaii's law permits certified patients and/or their caregivers to grow their own supply, the court's decision does not present a conflict.

May I add that the Hawaii law does not permit physicians to prescribe marijuana. Nor does it permit physicians to administer it to patients in privacy, as claimed in your editorial.

A physician may recommend only. It is up to the patient to obtain and administer, which is what the 187 registered patients (latest count) are doing.

Donald M. Topping,
President
Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii

A lesson in fat heads and fat bodies

The recent estimate is that 22 percent of the young people in Hawaii are overweight has been caused by bad diet and sedentary behavior. Children, surprisingly, are being taught to be fat.

About half of our public schools have vending machines selling sugar and caffeine. The Department of Education mandates little physical education.

Furthermore, DOE representative testified against a bill that would have provided funding for the Hawaii Bicycling League's Bike Ed/Walk Ed program.

For a pittance, 0.023 percent of DOE's budget and with a subsidy paid by cyclists out of the Bike Registration Fund, the bicycle league would have taught every fourth-grader in Hawaii how to bicycle safely, and taught first graders how to walk to school safely, thus providing kids with badly needed exercise. DOE helped kill the bill.

It is fair to discuss the negative synergy between fat-food dispensers in schools, under exercised, over-hyped, difficult to control students, and school policies de-emphasizing physical well being.

Lack of control in classrooms, poor academic performance, and 22 percent obesity may be different aspects of the same root problem. The brain is part of the body: If the body isn't right, the brain isn't likely to live up to its potential either.

Khalil J. Spencer
Past-President
Hawaii Bicycling League

State hospital endangers residents

As a resident of Castle Hills and a neighbor of the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe, I believe the hospital should be closed down. When violent patients can readily flee, our safety is seriously threatened. If we cannot adequately secure the hospital, we should consider sending the patients to mainland facilities.

Although I feel sorry for the residents of Kahala for the recent intrusion of one of the state hospital escapees, I feel worse for my neighbors. They fear that someday a state hospital escapee will threaten their families.

The rapid police response in Kahala was commendable. My neighbors were jealous until they heard that gunfire was exchanged. Some suggested that we should be happy that the police response to state hospital escapees is neither adequate nor timely.

I continue to worry about the safety of my family. I worry about the threat from firearms and guard dogs that my neighbors may be acquiring. I worry about the police response after the recent exchange of gunfire in Kahala.

So I suggest that we shut down the state hospital.

Curtis Harada

Frequent driver's tests would be too much

About your editor's scratchpad urging drivers tests every five years: What a hassle it would be to wait in line for a road test...and at what cost to the city?

I remember waiting all day (probably six hours) to be tested by the very few available testers, and would dread having to go through that again. (I am 55 years old.)

A friend of mine continued to drive until her 97th birthday when she was arbitrarily denied a license renewal even though there was nothing wrong with her. She died at age 101 of natural causes.

I feel licenses should only be revoked for DUI and proven stupidity on the road. Testing for everybody else should be waived.

Glenda Chung Hinchey

Noisy street cleaners disturb sleepy heads

Why is the city filling every night with chaos when residents are winding down from hot, stress-filled days?

The noise is from that monstrous, flashing street-cleaning machine that prowls and growls in high gear and can be heard three blocks away. It is too big for Honolulu streets and too noisy for our tropical climate, which necessitates open windows.

From nine-ish up to midnight it makes numerous passes up, back, and crosswise, causing more stress and raising blood pressure for even the healthiest of residents. Once every couple months would be sufficient to keep our streets free of debris, but certainly not every night.

Suzanne Teller

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