Brainstorm! Challenge

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Aiwohi deserves a second chance

My family is saddened by the prosecution of Tayshea Aiwohi for the death of her newborn baby nearly two years ago ("'Ice' baby's mom pleads not guilty/The defense says that the Kaneohe woman has overcome drugs since her child died," Oct. 17).

I am sure that she has been remorseful over this tragedy every day since it occurred. Since then she has made positive efforts to straighten up her life by being a teacher's aide and a counselor for drug-rehabilitation programs to help other addicts, of which our daughter is one.

Why is the legal system trying to punish someone who is obviously making a positive contribution to her community? What is going to happen to her other five children? Where is mercy, understanding and compassion in this situation? Or are we strictly to abide by the letter of the law?

Robert Mandap
Kapaa, Kauai

Closing UH-West Oahu will dash many dreams

I am writing in response to the Oct. 19 article regarding the possible closing the University of Hawaii-West Oahu. I am a Maui student of the West Oahu campus. I am finishing my business degree via distance education, utilizing Maui Community College and West Oahu. I take classes that are broadcast via satellite from West Oahu.

This is the only way I will be able to complete my degree because Maui may not ever have a four-year university. This option is helping students on Maui, Molokai, Kauai and Kona complete their degrees without having to leave our homes. We are getting our education while still working and living on our home islands.

If this campus is shut down, then more than money will be lost; the future of many outer island students will be lost. If we cannot get a higher education on our home islands we lose out, the state loses out and we will read about more islanders have leaving to pursue their dreams elsewhere.

I work two jobs, am married with two children and I am very close to completing my degree. I sacrifice a lot to pursue my dream of finishing my degree, and I know my fellow students are in similar situations.

Please let my voice be heard.

Eyke L. BrathHurdman
Lahaina, Maui

Bush soaked Hawaii in record time

Your headline on Friday should have read "Bush mugs Hawaii." While not listening to anyone without a deep pocket, President Bush did not meet with anyone in Hawaii who does not view the world as he does. Many of us without deep pockets took time off from work and out of our busy lives to send Bush a message, but rather than face us Bush ran away ("President bypasses protesters," Oct. 24).

So much for Bush's "role" as commander in chief. As a Republican, I am ashamed to say he is a member of my party.

Bush's layover drove one point home; the only thing that matters to him is money. While on Oahu only 12 hours, he removed $600,000 for his election campaign from our struggling economy. I can think of a dozen local nonprofit service agencies that could have used a fraction of those campaign funds to help the people of Hawaii that Bush has forsaken.

Hopefully your readers will remember Bush's smash-and-grab on election day.

Michael Golojuch Jr.
Makakilo

Who complained when Clintons came to visit?

Keith Haugen (Letters, Oct. 23) must believe no one in the state of Hawaii voted for George Bush, or else he wouldn't have written his latest, predictable anti-Bush missive. I voted for Bush and, despite what Haugen and other America-bashers in the native Hawaiian community believe, Hawaii is one of 50 American states. Get used to it.

It is important that our state get a presidential visit every so often. I wonder if Haugen protested President Clinton's visit, for that event certainly did muck up road travel on the island. He shouldn't use "inconvenience" as a reason to bash the president.

James Ko
Honolulu

Ex-insurance chief was in the wrong

Former state insurance commissioner Linda Chu Takayama may not have personally committed the misappropriation of funds from the defunct Hawaiian Insurance Group, but she should nevertheless be held accountable for allowing the misappropriation to occur.

She was placed in a position of public trust to protect the people against insurance company failures, but having failed she should not then have been allowed to profit from it.

The facts recounted in the Oct. 22 story show that this is precisely what occurred.

The failure of HIG occurred during her watch as insurance commissioner. She was responsible for hiring Jerrold Y. Chun as liquidating attorney. She joined Chun as a partner in his law firm, whose principal business was handling the liquidation of HIG. She seems to have had herself appointed as deputy liquidator, where she was responsible to provide oversight of Chun's work.

Takayama should never have been appointed as deputy liquidator. Her relationship with Chun clearly conflicted with her ability to be objective. The misappropriation having occurred, she is now precluded from using the personal enmity that came about between herself and Chun as a defense because she is solely responsible for creating this situation. She should therefore be held accountable for Chun's misappropriation.

The reason we have rules concerning conflicts of interests is to guard against cases just like this. If you choose to disregard those rules, then you must bear the responsibility.

Roy Yanagihara
Kaneohe

New 'cure' for dyslexia is a cruel shibai

Local viewers may have seen a segment of "60 Minutes II" on CBS titled "Dyslexia." CBS reported on a new exercise program to "cure" dyslexia, developed in Britain, and now becoming available in the United States. This program is not supported by current neurological research; rather it is simply the most recent misleading product marketed to desperate parents and promising them a miraculous quick fix.

As parents and educators who work with dyslexic learners, we urge parents, students and fellow educators to look instead to teaching strategies that are based on sound scientific research. There is no quick fix; but dyslexic learners can learn to read, write and spell if they are taught with a structured, cumulative, sequential, multisensory approach.

Talk of "curing" dyslexia misses the important talents that often accompany this learning difference: Dyslexic learners are frequently creative, visionary individuals whose ability to think in images rather than words gives them significant advantages in certain areas such as art, science, engineering and computer technologies.

The Hawaii branch of the International Dyslexia Association encourages those who are concerned about dyslexia to contact us for further information at P.O. Box 61610 Honolulu, HI 96839-1610; phone: 808-538-7007; fax: 808-566-6837; e-mail: info@HIBIDA.org.

Kathy E. Ferguson, Ph.D.
For the HIDA Board of Directors

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Historical markers? Other cities have permanent markers signifying historic sites or locations. Shouldn't Hawaii be equally accommodating to students and visitors? What should such markers look like in Honolulu? Design one! Remember, markers on walls require the owner's permission, but markers in the sidewalk belong to the city. Send your ideas, drawings and solutions by Thursday, November 13 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 Fax: Brainstorm! c/o Burl Burlingame 529-4750