Alcohol was important in life -- and death

I read about the deadly car accident in Haleiwa with great sadness (Star-Bulletin, March 19). The photos that accompanied the story clearly show that family members and friends still do not acknowledge how much alcohol played in this tragic event. In fact, the beer bottles placed at the site of the accident only confirmed how important drinking was in their lives ... so important it took their lives.

Let there be no misunderstanding about it -- had these folks not been under the influence of alcohol, we might not be reading about it now.

Please don't let their deaths be in vain. My message to the family and those still suffering: There is hope, there is a way out -- it is called Alcoholics Anonymous for the drinker and Al-Anon for the family and friends.

Cecily Capelouto

Haleiwa crash could have killed even more

Our hearts go out to those who lost loved ones in the Haleiwa car accident early Tuesday that claimed the lives of five young men. However, we can be glad that they killed no other innocent souls in an attempt to race another car.

It is also sad to hear the mother of two of those killed say that they were drinking, but not drunk. That call no one can make from mere observation. Clearly, wiser decisions may have prevented such a tragic loss.

When will people wake up? But, as I stated earlier, I am just glad that they did not take anyone else's life.

Jimmy Gomes
Las Vegas
Former Hawaii resident

Malaekahana park needs its 'Friends'

I attended a meeting held by the Department of Land and Natural Resources to discuss options for developing the Malaekahana recreation area now being managed by Molly Maxwell-Stirbling and Friends of Malaekahana. Friends has maintained a peaceful, safe, affordable, country-style atmosphere. It is one the few places left on Oahu where locals can still enjoy a little bit of untouched Hawaii. We can swim, walk the beach, then sit around a campfire under the stars with friends and family. We are trying to teach our kids that some of the best things in life are still practically free.

Development always turns into gridlock, parking fees, $5 sodas and people hawking T-shirts and souvenirs. Residents have been priced out of outer island travel, and few of us bother with the disasters known as Waikiki and Hanauma Bay unless we have visitors.

Please help avert another disaster. Phone the DLNR's state parks division and encourage them to award a long-term contract to Friends of Malaekahana. They have a magnificent plan to upgrade that is environmentally, culturally and community sensitive and would make the park experience accessible to the disabled.

The state planner said the objective of development was to provide "quality recreational facilities." All the recreational facilities we need have already been put there by our Lord. No further assistance is required.

Leslie Garamella

Spending increases, but students still lose

In spite of much publicity about a $3 million cut to the education budget, Governor Lingle reveals that the education budget continues to increase (Star-Bulletin, March 15).

It is true that education spending increased from $134 million in 1970 to more than $1.3 billion today for about the same number of students with no marked improvement in student performance or teacher pay.

Meanwhile, House Education Chairman Roy Takumi and Finance Chairman Dwight Takamine seem to agree with the governor. Takumi stated, "It's like if you're at a job and you get a $50 raise and you're happy, but then the company says, 'Oh, by the way, we're going to take your desk away.' But the reality is that it is the district administrators who had their pay increased this year by about $30,000 to $115,000 each, resulting in even less money available to the students.

It is the teachers' and students' desks that are being taken away, figuratively and literally.

Takamine said, "You have to understand what is behind the numbers: The growth in the budget is in areas farthest removed from the classroom."

Exactly. Any governance plan must show how it empowers principals, teachers, parents and students, not bureaucrats.

Laura Brown
Mililani

Chairman deceptively changed Senate bill

The article "House panel OKs bill to curb city's powers" (Star-Bulletin, March 20) did not cover the deceptive manner in which SB 1468 was pushed through committee. Chairman Ezra Kanoho gutted Senate Draft 1 of the bill and inserted language to stop counties from using their power of eminent domain to help condominium owners acquire their fee interest. None of the parties directly affected were notified of this pertinent change, thereby barring them from the legislative process.

The hearing notice failed to disclose that lease-to-fee language would replace the innocuous language of the original bill. Thus, no lessees were present for Wednesday's decision-making, and the bill easily moved on to the next committee. Was this good government? No! With such a hotly contested issue, it is imperative that committee chairpeople disclose their intentions to insert lease-to-fee language in a bill.

The words etched across the executive chambers, E Komo Mai (welcome), ought to direct our actions here at the Capitol. Good government means full disclosure of information and always operating under principles of inclusion. The changes in SB 1468 were intentionally veiled and brushed quickly across the committee floor, a maneuver that contradicts the objectives set before this Legislature. This bill had no business moving out of Kanoho's committee, and should not be entertained by any other committees this session.

Rep. Cynthia Thielen
Assistant minority floor leader
Founding member, Good Government Caucus

Let's hope the Almighty is listening

Our commander-in-chief "prays for wisdom and guidance." Many of us pray he will receive it.

I wonder whose prayers will be answered?

Lloyd J. Soehren
Honokaa, Hawaii

How to write us The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813