Gathering Places
Gathering Places
I have had the pleasant opportunity during the past few weeks to have separate, private meetings with Dr. Edwin Cadman, the dean of John A. Burns School of Medicine and Evan Dobelle, new University of Hawaii President, to discuss the future of the university and the state of Hawaii. New UH med school
belongs in KapoleiMy quick impressions are that President Dobelle was probably voted "most outgoing senior" in high school, while Dr. Cadman was named the "hardest-working senior." I wouldn't be surprised if each of them was voted the senior most likely to succeed.
While very different in style, I believe they are both men of great vision who have much to contribute to our state.
Cadman has developed an exciting concept that I believe will lead to better health care for Hawaii's people, create hundreds of near-term construction jobs, hundreds more in health care, medicine and science and provide the med-ical/scientific critical mass needed to foster a successful biotechnology industry for Hawaii.
Cadman has been working with many others at the university, in the medical and business community and in government to bring his vision of a new medical school-biomedical campus to life.
Dobelle recently arrived on the scene and publicly disagreed with the Kakaako waterfront location chosen by Cadman and Governor Caye-tano. Dobelle says he will chose a final site in the next couple of months.
This is my advice to Dobelle, Cadman, the governor and the Legislature -- the best location is at Kapolei. I am certain there are other adequate sites, but none that fits better into Oahu's long-range economic and community plans.
Whether you agree with me that Kapolei is an ideal site, with Cadman and the governor that the Kakaako Waterfront is the right spot, or like Dobelle you need a little more time to decide, let's all agree on one thing -- the decision where to put the new medical school-biomedical campus needs to be made before the opening of the 2002 legislative session.
The opportunity for a new biotechnology industry that will create better health care, train great doctors and create more jobs in a well-paid and expanding field, won't wait around for the usually slow wheels of government to turn.
Past state leaders, some of whom are still in office, failed Hawaii's people with their long-delayed, politically motivated and ultimately wrong choice of Atkinson Drive for the site of the Hawaii Convention Center. Let's not make the same mistake with the medical school-biotechnology campus.
We have had all our eggs in the four baskets of tourism, agriculture, construction and military spending for much too long. It is time for decisive, focused action to diversify our economy and fortunately we have a great opportunity before us. Let's work together to make it happen.
Linda Lingle is chairwoman of the Hawaii
Republican Party and a candidate for governor.