Harbor fee increases are far too steep

The proposed increases for use of state harbor facilities are way out of line. The immediate increase with added increases later will only make boating a rich man's pastime.

Your argument (Editorial, Star-Bulletin, Oct. 5) that compares our rates to the rates of other states is getting tiresome. Everyone who supports any kind of increase in any form for any public use always uses the argument that this is how things are done in other states, so it also should be OK for Hawaii.

The state made numerous improvements at Haleiwa's small boat harbor to lure the folks of "Baywatch Hawaii," only to see them walk away. Some of these funds undoubtedly were diverted from other harbors.

If a fee increase is required, it should be in line with the economy. It may rile some people, but I also believe large increases should be directed at live-aboards who tie up an increasing amount of dock space. These folks are living cheaply at the expense of the taxpayer who helps subsidize the harbors.

I no longer own a boat, but someone needs to speak up against these outrageous increases. The next thing you know, I will have to pay to go to the harbor to watch the fishermen bring in their catch, or to view the participants in a fishing tournament.

Bill Nelson
Haleiwa

Boaters wouldn't object to modest hikes

Ninety-nine percent of the boaters who testified at the Oct. 5 state hearing on boaters' fee increases opposed them. Many testified that they were being asked to start paying the increased fees for completely restored facilities that are not yet planned, funded or constructed.

The Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation was asking for enormous fee increases, but there wasn't even a master plan that could show boaters what work was planned at their facility and when it would be done.

The recreational boaters recognize the need to increase their user fees to meet today's economic standards and are willing to accept the government-prescribed cost-of-living index of about 20 percent. This should be sufficient to pay the expenses of operating, maintaining and managing the facilities and services at our state boating facilities.

Acquiring capital-improvement funding for the expensive restoration of the deteriorated state boating facilities is a separate matter that has muddled all previous fee-increase proposals. Let's bring our user fees up to date first and then start working out a more sensible plan to restore our boating facilities for implementation later.

William E. Mossman
Hawaii Boaters Political Action Association

Hawaii residents gouged by airline fares

During the dockworkers' lockout, when the only way to get goods into Hawaii was by air, some of the major airlines indicated they were going to increase shipping rates by more than 300 percent. This would have added to the already high cost of goods in our stores.

These airlines can move a person round trip between the West and East Coasts for $199, but they charge us $450 to $525 for round trips between here and the mainland, and the difference in distance is not that great. During fare wars, Hawaii always seems to be excluded.

We do travel to the mainland, and many of us have children attending colleges there. In many instances we are almost totally dependent upon essential imported items. Are we not entitled to some consideration? I believe so, but apparently those major airlines don't.

The next time the airlines ask for concessions, such as lower taxes, let them remember their treatment of Hawaii. I hope every resident of Hawaii, particularly our legislators, remember how the airlines treat us when responding to such requests. Perhaps it would only be fair to increase landing fees and taxes for them during their stated times of need.

Bernard Judson
Kapolei

Kaiser doctors put patients ahead of pay

I was saddened to read Rob Perez's article detailing the billing problems that have plagued Straub for some time ("Raising Cane," Star-Bulletin, Sept. 29). I felt sad not only for the unfortunate patients facing huge bills in their last days but also for the physicians who work in the fee-for-service world.

Kaiser physicians work in a different world. I am a plastic surgeon, in practice in Honolulu at Kaiser Hospital since 1975. My colleagues, both at Stanford University (where I trained) and here, thought I was a bit mad to take a path so much less lucrative than the one they had chosen. I joined Kaiser in large part because of the genius of our founder, Henry J. Kaiser. He had structured the financial incentives in a brilliant way: Doctors would receive substantial salaries, but no rewards for under- or overtreating their patients. Henry J. wanted to avoid the temptation to "overtreat" in the fee-for-service world, while avoiding the temptation to "under-treat" that seems to exist in the "gatekeeper" type of for-profit HMOs.

Kaiser has always been not-for-profit. Henry J.'s idea was that with this structure, doctors would simply practice the best medicine they knew, with no financial incentives to do otherwise,and with no interference from administrators. Financial concerns, for patients and physicians, would be eliminated. The article reminded me of one of the reasons I first joined Kaiser so many years ago.

Richard J. Siegel

Look around for venue to take college tests

I am writing in regards to Ian Grimes' not being able to take the PSAT at Roosevelt High School due to space limitations (Letters, Oct. 6). It is very important that Grimes and other students with similar concerns know that they can always inquire at other schools to take the PSAT if space and testing materials are available.

At my school, I have accommodated a limited number of students from other private and public schools, some even from the outer islands. Students also should note that the PSAT will be administered on either Oct. 15 or Oct. 19. Each school selects a date that it will give the test. Students should call the counseling offices of other schools to see if arrangements can be made for emergency situations.

Grimes should be applauded for taking the PSAT seriously. A good score on either the PSAT or SAT will no doubt open many doors for his future. Although the SAT is one of several criteria that colleges will consider in admissions, it is an important one.

Randall Fong
College Counselor
Sacred Hearts Academy

Let's join modern era by ending leasehold

The claim that "high property taxes force owners to lease" (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 6) is another "tax hell" myth. Property taxes in Hawaii are among the lowest in the United States. That's why leasehold land is so profitable while so destructive to home owners and small businesses.

The leasehold system was born centuries ago during the feudal era when lords of the manor -- landlords -- allowed peasants to live on manor lands in exchange for their work or food production.

Lord Baltimore was given control by England of all lands on what is now Maryland. That state abolished leasehold around 1890. Unless Hawaii also does so, many leaseholders will lose their homes and businesses.

Jerome G. Manis

Police acted properly in shooting incident

I am writing this letter in support of the Honolulu Police Department officers who were involved in the shooting in Kaneohe last week. They did as they were trained to do in such a situation. They did their jobs and stopped a very dangerous individual.

I just couldn't believe Arnold Willets' brother as he spoke about the slain gunman as though he were a kind and gentle person who just wanted to "live his life" and run and get "high."

Well, here's a news flash: Kind and gentle people don't carry shotguns in their cars, smoke "ice," run from the police and place 2-year-olds in extreme danger.

On this day, Willets gave no thought to the police officer he attempted to murder, gave no thought to the 2-year-old who was sitting next to him, and gave no thought to any other innocent person who was on the streets at the time.

A "kind and gentle person?" I don't think so. No sympathy here.

Daniel James Bryant
Aiea

Willets should have been behind bars

Arnold Willets, the man shot and killed last week while trying to flee from police, escaped in March 2001 (Class C felony, five years), and was caught in a stolen car (Class C felony, five years), while having eight felony convictions for robbery (Class A or B, 10-20 years), kidnapping (Class A or B, 10-20 years) and auto theft (Class C, five years) and various firearm violations (each at minimum a Class C felony). Let's just say 10 more years.

That adds up to 45 to 65 years in jail. Also he was arrested last month for rape (Class A, 20 years) and has four felony cases pending (Let's say all Class C felonies, five years each). That would be another 40 years, totalling 85 years.

Not to mention the disposition on his 13 misdemeanor cases.

California has a "three strikes rule." What does Hawaii have, the "50 strikes rule?"

Willets is also a victim, because by getting released or by serving probation on all his various felonies, perhaps he thought that another felony would not matter. Perhaps even shooting at the cops would get him probation if he played his cards right.

Something has to be done to keep these career criminals behind bars.

Albert Lee

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More thoughts on Patsy Mink
and filling 2nd District seat

Mink carried torch for equality, justice

Since I arrived in Hawaii in 1969 from Illinois, "the Land of Lincoln,", Patsy Mink was always on the case promoting freedom, equality and justice. My family and friends have been deeply saddened by her death and the void in our lives -- political and personal.

I have experienced many of the great actions of Patsy Mink, but the one that was exemplary of her going the extra mile to stand up for what was right occurred in the late 1980s, the day Patsy was selected to chair the City Council during an all-night meeting at City Hall. The Council members announced her being selected about 5 a.m. She was slated about 10 a.m. to be a keynote speaker at a counselor's conference dealing with sexual minority youth that I had developed as head of the Gay Community Center.

Under the circumstances, we certainly would have understood her having to cancel at the last minute, but just 15 minutes before her scheduled time she came to give her very first speech after becoming Council chairwoman.

She opened saying, "There is no way I would not have stayed away from such an important event and issue."

She stood up for many people's rights. She has certainly stood up for mine many times over the years. Our world is better for her being here, but so very sad she is not continuing down the road with us to justice for all.

I have of course come to realize that Patsy Mink was my living and breathing Abraham Lincoln. I express my mahalo to Patsy for touching my life.

William E. Woods

Mink's seat may go to another liberal

I knew Patsy Mink when she was first running for office. She was an exceptionally bright, charming, knowledgeable and ethical woman. On a personal level, she was, therefore, a wonderful person to know.

She was also a strongly left-wing politician. She never saw a product or service she did not want to tax; she never saw a tax she did not want to raise; she never saw an economic regulation she did not want to expand; she never thought of the Second Amendment without wanting to change the Supreme Court; her Title IX effort emasculated many men's collegiate sports programs only to result in an expansion of meaningless, fringe women's programs; she consistently voted against larger military appropriations; she favored boundless foreign immigration; she thought the CIA and FBI were more civil-rights nuisances than integral parts of the country's security.

We are all saddened at Patsy's passing. Unfortunately, it is almost certain that a political clone will replace her.

W.G. Corley
Lahaina, Maui

Mink family acted with proper privacy

I found Mike Rethman's Oct. 4 letter regarding the late Rep. Patsy Mink to be offensive, especially at it was published on the very day of her state funeral. His description of an "aura of scandal that will forever dim her legacy" struck me as serving Rethman's own political agenda.

I believe any attempts to politically exploit an incumbent's illness, even unto death, should be a bane to any candidate and party in whose behalf such efforts are undertaken. Any candidate who accommodates such vote-garnering methods underestimates the intelligence of Hawaii voters and is not worthy of holding public office.

When faced with death, I believe every family has a right to maintain its bedside vigil in prayer and with undying hopes for recovery for as long as they choose to do so. Recollections of having read or heard of incidences of survival from the brink of death can be a constant for some faced with this most difficult of times.

I do not believe the Mink family or her political party owes voters any further explanation of her untimely passing. This was a very private family matter. The family's right to dignity and privacy reigns supreme.

At her most public state funeral, throngs of dignitaries and citizens of our state attested to her mortal life with us by their attendance, eulogies and final farewells. She is at rest now and in peace, with her soul beyond the reach of any mortal being who attempts to politically exploit her passing.

Teri Hayashida
Wahiawa

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Maui's 'new beginning' meant big government

Linda Lingle talks about the need to trim government waste and to be more efficient in operating government. Yet, as Maui's mayor, she increased the number of county jobs by 40 percent. County debt went from $50 million when she entered the mayor's office to $208 million when she left.

On Molokai, she allowed resort-type accommodations to be built on agricultural-zoned land by cutting out community input. These same types of developments on other islands go through rigorous review.

She mentioned in a newspaper insert during her last bid for governor that her platform is to stimulate economic development by cutting out community input. She's already done that on Molokai.

Her record as Maui County's mayor speaks for itself. If this is her idea of a "new beginning," then I don't want any part of it.

Glenn Teves
Hoolehua, Molokai

Dems are to blame for education failures

When life hands her lemons, Mazie Hirono tries to make lemonade. She did it by claiming that Linda Lingle was insulting the people of Hawaii when she called attention to the failure of Hawaii's schools. By doing so, Hirono missed the focus of the real problem: Our children's poor test scores are the result of the Democrats' lack of commitment to education.

Lingle was not insulting us. If we want to fix our schools, we can begin in November by voting for the candidate who will really work to fix our schools -- Linda Lingle -- and not for the one who stands for the perpetuation of the status quo.

Lucy Gardner

Lingle will represent Hawaii, not mainland

A commercial by the Democratic Party says that since Linda Lingle is getting money from mainland contributors, the people of Hawaii should be concerned about whose interests she will represent.

I have donated money to a mainland campaign this year because I strongly support the candidate and his platform, not because I expect anything in return. Isn't it entirely possible that people on the mainland are impressed that for the first time ever, a female Republican has a very strong chance of winning the governor's office in Hawaii?

Granted, I don't know exactly who has donated what, but I guess the Democrats assume Linda is going to represent mainland interests because whenever a Democratic candidate receives money or an endorsement from a special interest group here in Hawaii, those groups tend to get special treatment.

From my perspective, any decisions that Lingle will make as governor will affect people in Hawaii, not those on the mainland.

Rosiana (Nani) Azman

Lingle doesn't support UH-West Oahu campus

Linda Lingle refers to the University of Hawaii-West Oahu as the "West Oahu College." The Board of Regents officially changed the name in 1989. It also serves the west side of Oahu, with a population of almost 360,000 residents in the 2000 census.

She has repeatedly voiced her disapproval of building the new campus in Kapolei.

UH-West Oahu will be able to accommodate approximately 3,000 students. Twenty-five percent of the current student body population is comprised of long-distance students, and the total enrollment could reach 4,000 students. It also caters to non-traditional students -- ones that would like to further their education after joining the work force but are forgotten by most universities.

An educated population is the key to fixing the state's economy. Skilled workers will attract businesses. UH President Evan Dobelle is doing an excellent job in implementing the new banner system, and is well on its way to becoming world-class. The West Oahu campus is necessary and long overdue. Please find out the facts before succumbing to propaganda. Then cast your votes.

Lawson Nakano
President
Associated Students of the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.

Hirono tarnished by Cayetano's legacy

I became a registered voter this year. Many voters around my age think that candidates will do nothing for them because they haven't done it in the past. This mentality leads them to choose not to vote.

When I voted in the primary, I had not even heard of many of the candidates. I wish that I had been more informed and less lazy when it came to finding out what these people planned to do for Hawaii.

The big competition was between Linda Lingle and Mazie Hirono. I saw commercials on each woman, some glorifying what they had done, some indirectly talking trash about the other, and one even asking you to pick up a brochure on her plans for the future.

My vote came down to who I thought would be best. I voted for Linda Lingle. She was a new beginning, a new start, and a new face for Hawaii.

Mazie has been on Ben Cayetano's team and they've done apparently nothing. If Mazie was such a good leader, where was she when Cayetano was making all the mistakes during his eight years in office? They were a team, weren't they?

I know that what I am saying will probably upset people, but this is how I feel. I did not read up on each candidate or take into consideration what their plans were and that is my own fault. I am 18 years old, a freshman in college and a newly registered voter. I voted the way I did because of what I know. In my eyes, Mazie has been ruined by Ben Cayetano's ineffective nature as governor.

Jennifer Zavala
Waipahu

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