Kawamoto shouldn't vote on reform bills

In light of the recent news stories in the paper about Sen. Cal Kawamoto's problems with the Campaign Spending Commission and his collection and use of campaign money, it has become a clear conflict of interest for him to be involved with any campaign-finance reform issues. It would seem prudent for him to recuse himself in that area and for the Senate president to back him in this.

If this happens, some serious campaign reform would have the opportunity to pass in the next legislative session.

Grace Furukawa
President
Hawaii Clean Elections Coalition

We must unite to eradicate 'ice'

Finally, it seems our communities will get much-needed, enforceable laws to combat the ice epidemic that many neighborhoods face. There are several "igloos" in our town that have existed for at least a decade. Their occupants do not care about other residents and the many children who have grown up in and around these homes. The children and caring neighbors have slowly become desensitized to the presence of this devastating and evil drug.

Still, there do exist in these times people who care for the community as a whole. I urge all such caring individuals to continue the push to melt down every "igloo" in our beautiful Hawaii. Our children deserve our best efforts and nothing less. Our warm and sunny state should not be the No. 1 destination for any drug as cold and hard as ice.

Sophie Mataafa

Bush's tax 'cut' is a phantom

James Ko needs to look at the total picture ("If you back high taxes, better pay every penny," Letters, June 9). Tax cuts favored by the Republicans will not reduce people's taxes. All they do is to redistribute taxes from the federal level to the state and county level. So while most people may receive slight reductions in their federal taxes, they can look forward to higher state taxes, higher property taxes and/or reduced services. Perhaps Ko doesn't mind potholes in the streets or having a poor education system.

I will consider it a tax cut only if there are no corresponding tax increases at the state and county levels.

Also, being a true conservative, I do not favor huge federal deficits as they weaken the country economically and make us vulnerable to other countries.

Peter Ehrhorn
Kailua

Dog-park discussion was one-sided

I attended a recent meeting of the Manoa Neighborhood Board hoping to participate in a forum about a proposed dog park. Instead, I found a mockery of the democratic ideal. A pair of zealots from one side of the debate monopolized the discussion until after 11 p.m., and only then was the floor opened to others. By then most of the audience (and even some of the board members) had left.

Worse, some board members had already made up their minds, since they were discussing the "next steps" to take in approving a resolution. Again, that was before anyone with another viewpoint was allowed to speak.

It's a shame that most of the people who had concerns left in disgust when their patience ran out. The ideas brought forward were good and deserved a fair discussion that might have built consensus in the community. Instead, the board disenfranchised all but a vocal minority of the people it represents.

Matt Dicksion

Why would Lingle veto contraception bills?

I believe the voters of Hawaii gave Governor Lingle a chance for change from the frustrations and pain of a political system that had given in to self-interest and corruption, not because she was a Republican and identified with the conservative right. Hawaii's crucial swing votes often have crossed party lines, and many voters felt they wanted to give her a chance. The issues were education, corruption, health care and the economy, not an endorsement of religious conservatism.

Lingle inevitably will have to reveal her beliefs, not only on budget and fiscal policies but also civil liberties and social programs. I do not believe the people of Hawaii will identify with Lingle should she follow the lead of the Bush administration in the rhetoric of supporting education, health care, and corporate and political ethics reform, while steadily enacting domestic policies that do the opposite.

The article "2 contraceptive bills face veto from Lingle" (Star-Bulletin, June 11) offers such a query. Why would Lingle suggest she might veto legislation allowing emergency contraception when she professes to be pro-choice? Of particular concern is that she might veto a bill that grants emergency contraception to victims of rape.

These bills clearly are intended to minimize unintended pregnancies. If the emergency contraceptives are not provided, the consequence in many cases seems obvious: abortion.

Governor, what are the reasons and values behind your possible veto? Hawaii needs to know.

David Miho

Wee-hour fireworks frightened residents

Thousands from Kalihi to Waikiki, from downtown to Punchbowl, Pauoa, Makiki and points farther, were jolted awake early last Saturday and Sunday mornings by loud booms. Frightened, some people thought it was a terror attack, others gun or cannon fire, others military aircraft.

The culprit instead turned out to be fireworks displays celebrating Cecilio and Kapono's 30th anniversary at their Aloha Tower concerts.

The Fire Department had issued a permit for the aerial display for both nights, between the hours of 9:45 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. On Saturday morning the display ran from 12:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m., in violation of the permit.

This must never happen again. Performances at the Waikiki Shell are required to end by 10 p.m. There is no excuse for booming fireworks displays to take place after 10 p.m., when the noise code becomes more restrictive.

Those requesting and those granting permits must consider the impact the noise will have on residents of the community. Just because someone wants to have a good time or celebrate a special occasion does not give them the right to disturb and frighten the community at large.

Lynne Matusow

Fill your tank and fund Bush's next campaign

Although the United States has conquered a small, militarily weak, oil-rich country in the Middle East and now has control of untold oil resources, our gasoline prices remain the highest ever -- averaging more than $2 per gallon on Oahu, more on the neighbor islands.

Is the Bush regime or the Bush/Cheney oil cartel intentionally keeping our prices high to help the financially strapped energy companies, like Halliburton, Harken and Enron? How long will this continue? They've already recovered the $100 million they gave Bush/ Cheney for the last campaign, but I suppose we'll have to wait until they come up with the $250 million Bush has said they will need to put up for him to run for re-election.

Keith Haugen

Child services agency needs major overhaul

We would like to respond to Sarah T. Casken's article, "Fostering children takes enormous caring and work" ("Gathering Place," Star-Bulletin, May 8). From her position as executive director of the Hawaii Foster Parent Association, one can surely understand her concern for the need for good foster parents and homes for abused children, but her opinion supporting Thomas Haia in his questionable motives and actions in the procurement of the two Valdez children is another matter. She tries to justify one by the other -- what he is doing from his heart so these children can have a "good home." One has to wonder how she obtained so much confidential material to postulate her overall expertise in this case.

Rather than commending Haia for his compassion and caring for others, we believe he should be called to account as an officer of the court system of Hawaii for recusing himself as the children's guardian ad litem after the Valdez's parental rights were taken away. To recuse oneself long before the outcome of a case is one thing, but to wait until after the end of the case is quite another. This must be investigated beyond the letter of the law.

Child Protective Services hides behind the confidentiality that has been granted them by the state of Hawaii. Injustices must be brought to light, corrected and people held accountable. We're glad there will be a statewide audit of CPS. The entire system needs to be investigated and reworked to make it more effective in its major responsibility of restoring children to their parents along the Waianae Coast. CPS has all too often made it a practice to place children permanently in foster homes or for adoption.

Harry and Faye Simons
Waianae

Kamaainas should fly interisland for less

Interisland air fares should be reduced for kamaainas. If round-trip fares to the West Coast and Las Vegas can be priced at $299 and to Japan for $399, the cost for interisland travel should be around $100 or less round-trip. Many islanders have relatives living on the outer islands and constantly travel for one or two days to attend weddings, funerals, graduations and sporting events. Cheaper coupons should be made available for us kamaainas. Until another mode of interisland travel is introduced, such as the ferry system, there is no other alternative than to travel by air.

Toshio Chinen
Pearl City

Past abuse no excuse to commit murder

I continue to read about how Petty Officer David DeArmond, who admitted to killing his wife and mother-in-law, was horribly abused as a child. My heart does go out to any victim of child abuse, but that is not an excuse to kill. Sixty percent of boys who grow up either witnessing or experiencing abuse repeat the behavior. And yet 40 percent of them do not. Those young men make the conscious decision not to abuse.

Everyone feels angry, frustrated and afraid at some point in their lives, but not everyone commits murder because of it. DeArmond made the choice to kill.

The "I was poor as a kid, I couldn't help myself" excuse is a disgrace to the memory of those women.

Amelia Woods
Waianae

City plots to drive motorists crazy

Driving in Honolulu is like driving in the Dole Pineapple maze -- no left turns allowed, just stay on the road, going around in circles until you eventually get where you are going. Another ploy of the Cheryl Soon/Jeremy Harris effort to get support for Bus Rapid Transit.

Another thought: If Mayor Harris was waiting all these years for the utility companies to resurfaced the roads, why didn't he have Hawaiian Electric throw in some rubber pipes and lay down the electric lines when the infrastructure from Kahala to Aina Hina was uncovered some years ago? That most obvious stretch of the road is still the only part with the obstruction of ugly electric wires!

Linda Wong