Big Islanders endure Third World conditions

As a displaced Hawaiian of 50 percent blood quantum living on the mainland, I just read your story about the deplorable conditions of unsanitary plumbing on the island of Hawaii ("Terrain, expense clog isle progress on indoor plumbing," Star-Bulletin, July 23).

No one should be living under these conditions. Before Hawaii became a state, there were many of us living on Kapalama Heights with cesspools and even that was bad enough. I know we all don't like to pay taxes, but it goes without saying that the cost of these utilities should be shouldered by every taxpayer in the islands.

If I were to have benefits as a 50 percent Hawaiian, my share would certainly go 100 percent to this cause.

Phyllis Kauakahi Specht
La Jolla, Calif.

Cayetano has right to defend his policies

Our esteemed governor was right to defend his programs and his administration against criticism ("Lingle blasts gov's critique," Star-Bulletin, July 30). The prevailing state program is that of the majority of voters who elected him into office. Let his critics beware that any criticism of his program is a criticism of the electorate who put him into office.

The critics' cry is absolutely absurd that it's illegal for our governor to use his public resources to counter criticism of his state programs. A sitting governor has the distinct advantages of incumbency, which incumbents in good standing commonly rely on to respond to critics of state administration and programs.

The accuser's intent is clear. To use the press and the State Ethics Commission in an attempt to muzzle the governor. The tactic is similar to that employed to derail the Jeremy Harris candidacy. A lawsuit was filed over the resign-to-run law and proved baseless in the end, but was effective in sidelining his candidacy.

It's time for Democratic candidates to propose their programs and speak out against their critics. It matters little what their style of management and administration. What matters is the substance of the programs they propose for Hawaii.

Terumi Kanegawa
Wahiawa

Hawaii needs a break from big government

An Associated Press story (Star-Bulletin, July 31) paraphrased Gov. Ben Cayetano saying that Hawaii residents through their political leaders have decided to pay more to have more government services than in most other states.

Obviously, that has been the problem -- and why we need to make a radical break from that legacy. We need a change because we're tired of losing, tired of being last. That's not what we want for the future. We want somebody who can listen and have it register -- and not give us more excuses and rationalizations for losing. That's not the Hawaiian way.

Mike Hu

Cockfight operators deserve punishment

Let's tie the cockfight operators and breeders to a post for a year with only food and water. We'll see if their enthusiasm for sadism will fade. Or perhaps they will be reincarnated as fighting cocks.

Rosemarie H. Tucker

Police aren't trained to spot pet distress

The Honolulu Police Department should not be given the responsibility to investigate animal-nuisance complaints because their officers are not trained in animal behavior, and may not be able to recognize when an animal-nuisance complaint is really a case of animal neglect and/or abuse ("Noisy dog gripes will go to police," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 2).

Often animal-nuisance complaints are the first indicator that an animal needs help. Animal control officers have been screened and trained at taxpayer expense to handle situations involving animals. Invest- igating animal-noise complaints needs to remain with them.

As a zookeeper trained in animal behavior, I know that animals make noise for a myriad of reasons. Barking continually may be a sign that a dog is in distress. For instance, when a dog is thirsty and has no access to water it will often bark to draw attention to its plight.

It is disturbing that Hawaiian Humane Society would so easily give up the responsibility of investigating animal-nuisance complaints to the police, knowing that some complaints may involve animal neglect that will go undetected.

Linda Vannatta

Put a safety grate over Blowhole

All of Hawaii's people are saddened by the accident that claimed the life of the young man at the Blowhole.

The Blowhole blows ocean water and trapped air under pressure skyward, which is caused by water pressure build-up in a cave/lava tube, whose entrance is located on the seaside of the rock formation.

The pressure build-up is caused by waves breaking at the seaward entrance of this cave/lava tube.

The pressure developed when this blow-out occurs can lift thousands of pounds of weight in the air. Standing directly over the opening will lift you straight up, as unfortunately happened in this case.

Unfortunately, warning signs are not always effective. The more reckless among us tend to ignore them, especially during these times of extreme sports programs and fear-testing game shows, on-going challenges of friends and the macho show-off to a girlfriend.

Save Our Surf recommends that a stainless steel grate be secured at the top of the vent hole. Properly designed, this grate will enable the pressure to vent the air and water and eliminate the chance of someone falling into, or being sucked into the opening. A half-circle fence may also be considered.

George Downing
Spokesperson, Save Our Surf

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