Sept. 11 changed our constitutional rights

The editorial headlined "Spare legal aliens harsh treatment" (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 2) might have made sense on Sept. 10, but after the events of Sept. 11, things have changed.

If a foreign immigrant goes to a flight school and states that he doesn't want to learn to take off or land a plane, but only how to steer it, I would hope that we don't take months of court haggling to ship him back to where he came from.

Our world no longer permits us to be such good guys, and, whether we like it or not, some of our constitutional rights are going to be modified. Otherwise, we are setting the stage for the terrorists to win, thus leaving the United States to perish and the world's civil society set back 3,000 years by people who live in caves.

Earl Dedell

Free trips good idea; giving HTA money isn't

I am glad that Governor Cayetano has acted on the idea to give Hawaii vacations to New York's rescue workers. I hope that it's not too late to reap much of the free publicity that gesture would have received had it been done sooner.

I wish that he had sought out the ideas of other small business owners before he delivered this gift. I hope that the vacation packages include introducing these people to local culture and healing.

It seems that the state is only interested in helping those who need help the least. It is too bad that corporate welfare takes precedence over personal well-being every time.

Giving more money to the Hawaii Tourism Authority is a mistake. I am convinced that the HTA could not sell slop to a pig. There are more difficult things to sell than paradise.

Gene Lancette

Dec. 7 heroes should not share spotlight

The state's offer to bring New York firefighters, police and rescue personnel to the islands is a wonderful idea. They are indeed modern heroes.

However, to bring them to Hawaii the week of Dec. 3-10 is a terrible insult to the thousands of guests who will already be visiting the islands. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor -- in case anyone has forgotten.

The heroes of our "greatest generation" deserve this state's fullest attention during that week. While the comparisons between the Sept. 11 and Dec. 7 attacks will be obvious, the events already planned focus on our veterans.

This is the last time that the Pearl Harbor survivors will host their national meeting in Hawaii. We should not ask them to share the spotlight.

The state should reschedule the invitation to our heroes in New York.

Jane Campbell

[Quotables] "We need to see how the cases fare. Are there problems with them? Are they difficult to prosecute? It comes with its own set of difficulties much like domestic violence does." Peter Carlisle Honolulu city prosecutor, on sexual assault cases involving the new age-of-consent law. The law, which took effect in July, raised the age of sexual consent from 14 to 16. "It's a postage stamp, but it's more than that. (Duke Kahanamoku) is synonymous with Hawaii. He introduced what is the best of Hawaii to the rest of the world. In other words: Duke lives." Sandra Kimberley Hall Kahanamoku biographer, on the new U.S. postage stamp featuring the picture of Hawaii surfing legend Duke Kahanamoku

Hawaii motorists are held up at the pump

We recently drove from New Jersey to Arizona and paid as little as 99 cents per gallon for gasoline in Missouri to as much as $1.59 at a little one-horse town in New Mexico.

I think we averaged about $1.30 per gallon through the trip.

There's no doubt in our minds that as Rob Perez's column on gasoline costs indicates (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 4), Hawaii drivers are being held up by $2 per gallon-plus prices.

Peter Nelson

Once again, taxpayers foot the bills

I am wondering how the massive construction projects the state wants to help our economy are going to aid the people who are losing their jobs. Are we going to retrain all the hotel workers to become construction people?

To throw money into massive construction is not going to diversify a one-horse economy. Our learned state legislators can't come up with anything else but to throw good money into a pit.

Don't any of them remember throwing millions and millions of dollars at sugar before it finally died?

We got so used to feeding on the hotel room tax that we have to spend more public money to bring in that easy money. I don't see the governor or the state Legislature going to the big land owners in Waikiki (or anywhere else) and asking them to lower their exorbitant fees. Instead, they ask the taxpayers to take the brunt of this slump in the economy so construction and big land owners can make a lot of money.

There will never be a better time to find ways to diversify the economy than now.

K. Marsh

Let soldiers train in Makua Valley

As a former resident of Makaha and a military veteran, I believe that Malama Makua needs to get over it. Our soldiers need to train, period. Members of Malama Makua would have blood on their hands if any of our soldiers died because of inadequate training due to the group's misguided efforts to limit training in Makua Valley.

Malama Makua should look past the ends of their noses. Those soldiers are training to protect us.

Michael Lindo
Vacaville, Calif.

Judge Ezra steps out of bounds

Federal Judge David Ezra is out of bounds with his latest attempt to silence the state Legislature's effort to investigate the handling of funds and contracts related to compliance with the Felix consent decree.

Since when does a non-elected judge tell the Legislature what it can or cannot look into? The Legislature is responsible to the people, the taxpayers of Hawaii; the judge is not.

Isn't it interesting that just as the Legislature is gaining momentum in its investigation of questionable contract awards, the court's monitors begin saying that the state is on the right track after all and no need to keep up this scrutiny?

Something stinks here. Right on to Sen. Colleen Hanabusa and her colleagues.

Kate McIntyre

Harvesting trees can be good for forests

While the Hawaii Forest Industry Association does not condone illegal harvesting of trees, from either public conservation-zoned lands or private property, we disagree with the Star-Bulletin (Editorials, Oct. 29) which equates koa harvesting with the ruin of an ecosystem. Properly managed koa harvesting can benefit the health of the forest.

There are many managed forests in Hawaii that clearly illustrate that the removal of old trees, coupled with reforestation and ungulate control, will improve the total health of the forest, particularly where the ecosystem consists of alien grasslands and incidental koa, which is often the case.

It is our hope that everywhere trees are harvested, there will be replanting and pest control so that the forests will be improved. Hawaii's forest industry has demonstrated that harvesting can more than pay for this reforestation and management, benefiting not only private enterprise but the health of the forests themselves.

Sally Rice
President, Hawaii Forest Industry Association

Bunda was right to halt harbor measure

Three cheers to Senate President Robert Bunda for maintaining the public's right to participate in decisions at the state Legislature.

During the special session, the House passed a harbor-privatization resolution without allowing public testimony. This was a mistake. To get the most information and develop the best policy, the public should be invited to testify on all government proposals, particularly those that involve controversial matters affecting large numbers of citizens and large amounts of money.

Sen. Bunda was right in stopping the resolution until there is an opportunity for public testimony and full consideration. Let's hope all government officials follow his example.

Larry Meacham
Common Cause Hawaii

UH Warriors a pleasure to watch

During these trying times, when our state is faced with many difficult social and economic issues, it brings me great joy and pleasure to take a brief moment away from my legislative duties session to witness our University of Hawaii Warrior's victory over nationally ranked Fresno State.

I would like to extend a warm congratulations to coach June Jones and the rest of the team and staff for providing a much-needed display of leadership, teamwork and perseverance. Truly great lessons in life can be learned from such a game. Imua Warriors.

State Rep. Kika G. Bukoski
10th District, Maui

Legislature surrender to governor

Shame on those legislators who voted for the emergency gubernatorial powers bills.

These bills bestow unprecedented and unlimited powers on our governor to ignore, change, waive or suspend anything he wants to unilaterally. What kind of lunacy is this?

Our state Legislature is supposed to provide checks and balances to the powers of the executive. This responsibility is crucial to our form of government. Placing absolute authority with the executive is abhorrent to our form of government.

One can only assume that the legislative majority is clueless about what to do about our economy so they hope to pass off their responsibilities to a lame-duck governor who has nothing to lose.

Two big problems with this plan. First, they passed the ball to a governor with a record of abject failure where Hawaii's economy is concerned. Second, every legislator who voted for this idiocy will find that they, too, will be lame ducks.

Robert R. Kessler

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