[ OUR OPINION ]
AN important part of the federal government's 1986 agreement for self-rule in the Federated States of Micronesia was the promise of free migration to the United States and access to education, welfare and other services. Thousands of islanders have immigrated to Hawaii since then, but the government has neglected to compensate the state for its expense, now approaching $100 million. It's time that the bill be paid. Micronesian bill
too long overdue
THE ISSUE The federal government owes Hawaii nearly $100 million for services provided to immigrants from Micronesia.
Previously part of United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific, the states of Kosrae, Pohnpei, Truk and Yap were administered by the United States from 1947 until a Compact of Free Association provided for full self-government of the consolidated federation and delegated defense responsibilities to the U.S. Micronesians who emigrated to Hawaii qualified for various services provided by the state, which was to be compensated by the federal government.
Providing services for the estimated 6,000 Micronesian immigrants in Hawaii has been burdensome, as nearly 58 percent live below the federal poverty level and are reliant not only on educational services but on social-welfare services, health care and safety-net programs. The migrants do not qualify for federal programs and so depend on the state to provide those services.
"We simply cannot absorb the extra costs of providing social services and medical and financial assistance needed by such poor migrants," Governor Cayetano wrote to the Department of the Interior four years ago. A spokesman for the Department of Interior explained then to the Star-Bulletin that congressional appropriations "are a long, complicated process."
In a letter to the federal General Accounting Office last fall, Cayetano estimated the state's accrued cost from Micronesian migration to Hawaii at $85 million, and the continuing annual cost at $15 million. Hawaii has received only $4 million in the past 16 years to compensate for those expenses. Meanwhile, Guam receives $7.58 million a year in reimbursement from the federal government for the expense of services to its Micronesian immigrants.
Costs to Hawaii's Department of Education have totaled more than $64 million. Outstanding medical bills at the Queen's Medical Center and Kapiolani Women's and Children's Hospital have reached more than $11 million, and hospital officials expect eventually to collect only 30 cents on the dollar.
The state Legislature is about to approve a resolution calling for federal action to remedy this problem. Hawaii's congressional delegation needs to take the resolution to Washington and make the state's case.
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FOR the first time in 31 years, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin has owners who didn't come to Hawaii from someplace else. We are, in fact,
Hawaii’s newspaper
THE ISSUE Prominent isle businessmen have bought a share of the Star-Bulletin and MidWeek.
Canadian publisher David Black, who rescued the Star-Bulletin from extinction a year ago and bought MidWeek Printing as well, announced yesterday that he has sold a minority share of the enterprise to several well-respected island business leaders. They are real estate and media investor Duane Kurisu, the Hilo-born owner of Honolulu and Hawaii Business magazines; Warren K.K. Luke, chairman and CEO of Hawaii National Bank, and his family; attorney Jeffrey Watanabe and his wife, Lynn; and Island Holdings, Inc., which is represented by Colbert Matsumoto and Franklin Tokioka. Tokioka is the son of the late Masayuki Tokioka, the legendary Japanese businessman who nurtured thousands of young immigrant entrepreneurs, lending them money when no one else would.
In announcing the new ownership arrangement, Black said he always had intended to bring in local shareholders, adding that he will match the amounts invested by the local families. At a press conference, Watanabe said the new investors were motivated by a desire to keep alive a second daily newspaper in Honolulu.
This financial boost is important to the Star-Bulletin, whose long-term existence was questioned during its first year of operation independent of a joint operating agreement with the Gannett-owned Advertiser. Proceeds from the deal will be used to pay off the newspaper's debt and free its resources to improve the paper.
But the money brought in by the new investors is less important than the quality of the investors themselves -- serious, local businesspeople who believe that Hawaii cannot be managed from boardrooms far away, that we live in a unique place with special needs and that it's about time Hawaii businesses were directed by Hawaii citizens.
Every dollar they've invested in us is a ballot cast for the future of the Star-Bulletin, and for Hawaii business in general.
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Published by Oahu Publications Inc., a subsidiary of Black Press.Don Kendall, Publisher
Frank Bridgewater, Editor 529-4791; fbridgewater@starbulletin.com
Michael Rovner, Assistant Editor 529-4768; mrovner@starbulletin.com
Lucy Young-Oda, Assistant Editor 529-4762; lyoungoda@starbulletin.comMary Poole, Editorial Page Editor, 529-4790; mpoole@starbulletin.com
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin (USPS 249460) is published daily by
John Flanagan, Contributing Editor 294-3533; jflanagan@starbulletin.com
Oahu Publications at 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.
Periodicals postage paid at Honolulu, Hawaii. Postmaster: Send address changes to
Star-Bulletin, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802.
