Brainstorm! How should Honolulu celebrate its 200th birthday? Send your ideas and solutions by June 5 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or mail them to: Brainstorm c/o Burl Burlingame Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or fax: Brainstorm c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750

Big Isle smoking ban will damage economy

Hawaii County's proposed smoking ban, the broadest in the state, will only heighten the unemployment rate and the number of welfare recipients. The County Council committee, which approved the ban to be presented before the full council for a vote, is proud of its decision believing this is what the people want. However, should it pass, bars, nightclubs and restaurants with bars would be forced out of business. The economy of Hawaii cannot sustain such a loss in revenue.

Those who favor the ban do not realize that the Big Island's economic situation is unique, and cannot be treated like the other counties. Supporters of the ban say that it is for the health of the community. If this is so, then fireworks would also be banned from the island.

Should the council pass the measure, it would be a shame. It would also be a shame to have a council not properly educated about the economic recession Hawaii faces.

Drew Kosora

Contracting based on merit, not politics

Your May 14 editorial "Contracting method should be scrutinized" gave the public the impression that there is corruption in the awarding of city contracts. As one of the people involved in this process, I am offended by this innuendo because it is simply not true. During the past nine years, the city voluntarily has used a merit-based selection system using the same qualifications-based criteria cited in the new procurement law recently signed by the governor.

Here's a brief review of the city's non-bid consultant procurement process:

>> Once a year, an advertisement is placed in the local newspapers inviting professional service providers to submit letters of interest and statements of qualifications.

>> An annual workshop is held with service providers to outline the process.

>> A committee reviews the applications and establishes a list of candidates for the various categories.

>> As the need for professional services arises, a screening committee is convened to determine the 10 most qualified applicants for the service required.

>> The list of 10 is sent to the city's chief procurement officer for final ranking.

>> The final ranking is sent to the department overseeing the project to negotiate a contract.

>> Once a contract is executed, all related selection documents, including the names of all participants, are included in the contract file and are available for public scrutiny. In addition, the contract name and the contracted consultant are posted on a state Web site, as required by law.

We are never pressured about whom to include on our lists. Elected city officials have no part in the process, nor do political considerations play any role in the selection and contracting of our consultants.

Eugene C. Lee
Civil Engineer City and County of Honolulu

Let 'Sunset' create memories, not be one

I have moved back to Hawaii after many years on the mainland. Sunset on the Beach is something I had only heard about. I regularly go to the movies on the beach now and have enthusiastically told my children, ages 14 and 11, about it since I got here. They will be coming out from the mainland this summer.

Some of my favorite memories with them have been at outdoor concerts and other activities: safe, clean, family fun. Everybody wins. My 11-year-old daughter asked me just last week, "Mommy, will we be going to the movies at the beach?" I would hate to have to tell her, "They don't have movies at the beach anymore."

I ask the City Council to seriously reconsider funding this program. Many people will be disappointed if Sunset on the Beach becomes just a memory rather than something memories are made of.

Michelle Walther
Waikiki

Nationalism helps America cope in crisis

Nationalism becomes much more visible when countries are in a crisis situation. After 9/11, Americans came together to show that they would not tolerate terrorist acts. Flags and flag pins, stickers and clothing were everywhere.

Displays of nationalism are very important. The men and women fighting for the United States need to know that the people they're fighting for are supporting them.

This strong sense of American nationalism may play a role in the eyes of other countries as well. A foreign country may not want to get into a confrontation with a country that has such a strong sense of unity.

The opposite also applies: Countries that are internally divided are weaker than countries with a strong sense of nationalism.

Sheena-Marie K.M. Shimose
Ewa Beach

Expect more drama from Bush campaign

The Bush administration produced a Hollywood extravanganza in the president's recent announcement of the "victory" in Iraq, skillfully staged on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

The president, dressed in a flight suit, landed on the ship with a Navy band playing and greeted the sailors. Truly a Eureka moment! Hollywood's best directors could not have improved on the impact of this spectacle. It was showmanship worthy of an Academy Award.

Check the movie show times for future blockbuster political campaign productions from the Bush Studios.

Anthony Locascio

Case's idea won't help special-ed situation

As a taxpayer, Department of Education teacher and parent of a special-needs child, I am troubled by Rep. Ed Case's amendment to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Star-Bulletin, April 22), which would base attorneys' fees for representing disabled students on rates set by the governor of each state.

Apparently I have more confidence in our court's discretion than Case does. One wonders why the attorney general's lawyers representing the DOE are not prevailing. Perhaps the governor should seek legal advice from the private sector.

The federal government, which updated IDEA in 1997, must cover a substantially higher percentage of the costs. Case would do well to redirect his carte blanche issue toward the feds who need to provide more financial support.

I have 20-25 percent special-ed students in my high school classes.These students add much to the class environment because they want to succeed. Disabled students do not misbehave and disrupt classes more than regular-ed students.

Finally, those of us parents who have severely disabled children and continually live in a survival mode, would certainly prefer not to seek legal advice. When trained and knowledgeable DOE personnel provide programs that include the necessary educational services provided under federal law, there will be fewer due-process hearings.

Mary Taylor

Ideal weight means little without exercise

The Star-Bulletin is to be congratulated for publishing Paul Campos' column, "Weighty Mistakes" (May 4). But obesity is only part of the equation. Individuals who are somewhat obese but exercise are at lesser risk for disease than are sedentary individuals who are closer to their ideal body weight.

Some studies have shown that obesity truly becomes a major risk factor when it interferes with one's ability to exercise on a regular basis. Lack of exercise, then, is actually a more powerful predictor of disease, morbidity and mortality than moderate obesity.

The recent epidemic of Type II diabetes in adolescents confirms this. These individuals are obese, but their obesity is secondary to lack of physical activity. If one looked at those teens who are somewhat overweight but active, such as soccer players or those participating in the other fairly exhaustive sports, one would find that Type II Diabetes is no more prevalent than (and perhaps less) in the standard population.

Just adding a little more "food for thought."

Jack H. Scaff Jr., M.D.
President Hawaii Sports Foundation