Hawaii should fear U.S. more than Iraq

The U.S. government now "speaks with one voice" -- the threat of a chemical or biological attack by the Middle Eastern state of Iraq is so great that the United States is prepared to wage a unilateral war against it if the president of the United States deems it appropriate.

I would like to point out that the threat of chemical and biological attack against the people of the United States has materialized in the past, as illustrated by documents released finally by the Pentagon (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 9). The people of Hawaii were attacked by the U.S. government.

This reality begs two questions: Where is the "one voice" of the U.S. government in addressing the concerns raised by this chemical and biological attack that has already taken place against the people of Hawaii? Should the Hawaiian people fear the designs of the state of Iraq or the U.S. government in greater portion?

Ruwan Hulugalle

Let the person, not the party, be your guide

I am hoping that the voting public of Hawaii will cast its votes for the individual nominee regardless of his or her party affiliation. We need legislators with imagination and foresight, especially when the state is in dire economic straits. National publications have perceived Hawaii as being unfriendly to business, and cite some of the causes: oppressive regulations; a tax structure that is hard on business; and legislators overly eager to satisfy the interests of labor unions over entrepreneurs. These unhealthy business conditions have caused a tight budget, which in turn culminated in the present inferior educational system.

We need legislators (regardless of their political parties) who will address these issues and other problems, such as traffic, housing and jobs. The rich and government workers, it seems, can always withstand the vicissitudes of a shaky economy; the rest of us must suffer unless we go to the voting booth and change it.

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City

Mink's daughter right to speak out

My heartfelt thanks to Gwendolyn Mink for coming forward and speaking the truth ("Mink's daughter blasts Dems," Star-Bulletin, Oct. 9). I agree, the only way to uphold her mother's legacy is to take our time in choosing an appropriate representative. Patsy Mink and her hard-working staff served the people of Hawaii for 24 years. The least we could do is take the time to carefully field a list of qualified candidates. Let's not make any hasty decisions. We owe it to ourselves and we owe it to Patsy.

Socrates Buenger
Kihei, Maui

Closing small airports is short-sighted plan

The governor's office and the state Department of Transportation have proposed closing or privatizing five general aviation airports: Dillingham Airfield, Port Allen airport (the original Kauai airport), Upolu Point airport and Waimea-Kohala airport on the Big Island, and Kapalua airport on Maui. Conspicuously absent from the list are Hana airport on Maui, Kalaupapa airport and Kalealoa airport, which used to be Barber's Point airport, on Oahu. Hana and Kalaupapa are not on the list probably because they serve remote areas where the state might get sued if, in an emergency, someone could not be med-evaced. The rest of our GA airports are not so lucky.

Two million dollars to operate five airports for one year seems like quite a bargain. The economic activity at these five airports surely generates more than $2 million in state taxes. Part of the federal funds for airports received by the DOT is intended to support general aviation.

Many of the passengers and users of these airports are tourists who want to see our islands not through the tiny window of an airliner at high altitude, but from the bubble canopy of a glider, helicopter or small airplane. Tourists look for something fun to do while on vacation and it's hard to beat a bird's eye view from a light airplane. Also, many tourists come to Hawaii to skydive at Dillingham, and many repeat skydivers are ex-military who have settled in the islands.

Dumping these airports is penny wise and many dollars foolish, and it will harm the communities that depend on them.

Brian Daniel

Get going already on West Oahu campus

The state of Hawaii needs to get a move on with the construction of the new UH-West Oahu campus. It has been pondering this idea for quite a number of years now. The Board of Regents has already given approval for the 500-acre site in Kapolei. Why are they now considering a temporary campus? A temporary campus will waste time and money that can be used for the new permanent facilities.

Students who attend West Oahu have been in temporary classrooms since the beginning. Moving them from one temporary campus to another, then to the permanent campus seems more of a burden than waiting in the facilities they now occupy at Leeward Community College. If the state will just start on the new project, with the assistance promised by Campbell Estate, the new campus can be built a lot faster.

The opportunities that this site will provide will benefit many Hawaii students who desire higher education and/or advanced job skills. It will allow many of them the convenience of not traveling into the downtown area, leveling the traffic going in both directions. It will also make available more spaces in Honolulu-area schools like Hawaii Community College and Manoa.

The vision for the new campus has already become a reality. Now all that needs to be done is the building.

Shani Matt
Waipahu

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