Board member shows her disrespect

I must respond to Makakilo/ Kapolei/Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board Chairwoman Maeda Timson's response to the citizens of Makakilo ("Slower Makakilo growth is urged," Star-Bulletin, Nov. 15). She is quoted as saying that protesting the incomprehensible development plan makes her "laugh." I must assume that the rest of the board is laughing with her since she was speaking in that capacity.

Our neighborhood board laughs at the effort of citizens who were trying to make a better community. We are forced to do this because of the board members' apathy. The board can continue to smirk because it knows the obstruction of its own chairwoman at the neighborhood board meetings will continue. The board will continue to laugh because it simply does not understand that the members swore to represent the interests of the community.

The laughter and inherit disrespect feed my anger and in no way assuage my feelings. The irony is that I voted for Timson in the last election.

Bruce Schaper
Kapolei

Maui's public schools push kids to succeed

Everyone said "you'll have to put your kids in private school." We were told that the public schools in Maui were terrible. Having come here from one of the best school districts in the nation, we were a bit concerned. Our son, a sophomore in high school, has to attend public school because he needs to be in a special-education program. We decided also to put our fifth-grade daughter in public school.

I'm glad I went with my instincts and put both kids in public school. Our son is happy at Lahainaluna High School. He's getting more of an education there than he did on the mainland. On the mainland, he was on cruise control. He wasn't given homework and didn't do most of the in-class work that the other kids had to do. Here, he is actually doing the same work as his "regular ed." peers. He is being pushed. His teacher, aides and high school staff are interested in seeing him succeed. I can't tell you how impressed I am with Lahainaluna High School.

And our daughter's 5th grade teacher at King Kamehameha III is awesome. Our daughter has tested several years beyond her grade level and is encouraged by her teacher to work to her fullest potential each and every day. She is happier at school than I've ever seen her.

So, to all of you who moved to Maui and felt that your kids were too good for the public schools here, you based your decisions on ignorance. I have found the schools to be staffed with professionals who truly care about our children and their successes. Both of our children are happy and doing well in school. What more can a parent hope for?

Diane Kenyon
Lahaina, Maui

Lawmakers report many small gifts

After reading Dan Mollway's Nov. 18 letter to the editor commenting on a recent Star-Bulletin report, I went to the Web site mentioned in Mollway's letter to see what my representatives may have received in the way of gifts. To my surprise, my senator, who is Senate president, didn't receive one reportable gift. My representative received one reportable gift.

This prompted me to look and see what other legislators were reporting and I again was surprised.

Thirty-eight lawmakers filed reports. Eight reported receiving honorary memberships at the Honolulu Country Club. Not one placed a value on this membership. Many lawmakers apparently reported every item received, regardless of value. Others seemed to underestimate the value of gifts received. One senator, who seems always to be well prepared when she conducts government business, reported numerous gifts, the value of which she seemed to have no idea as she indicated "unknown." Two lawmakers reported receiving free parking passes for both the airport and the university. Neither one placed a value on these gifts.

Most of the gifts reported fell far short of the $200 criteria. It appears that the feeling is that it's better to be safe and report everything, but it seems to me that this record-keeping of minor gifts could become burdensome. Maybe it's a little easier with the new laptops we bought them.

Bill Nelson
Haleiwa

Peak-time toll would 'decongest' highways

Letter writer Peter Osbourne has the right idea with his proposal to charge driver-only vehicles a toll to use the freeways during rush hours, i.e, two morning hours and two afternoon hours on weekdays (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 16). This is only 20 hours per week, or 12 percent of the time. Existing freeways are adequate during the other 88 percent of the time.

To avoid congestion we need to shave the peak usage, as HECO is doing with its demand-side management programs to shave peak electricity usage. The idea to charge tolls only during peak usage would motivate drivers to use off-peak hours, give up driving alone for car pools or use subsidized buses.

Rather than using tollbooths that can create congestion, sensors along the freeway could identify driver-only vehicles by means of a bar-coded sticker on the front windshield. Cars with two or more occupants would use the HOV lanes and be exempt from the toll. The income from this program could be used to pay for the program, to add HOV lanes, make on/offramp improvements and subsidize commuter buses.

Such a program is what an economist might call "internalizing the external diseconomies." Or, in lay terms, the party causing the problem should be the one to pay to fix it.

Dick O'Connell
Honolulu

Photos of veterans were a good start

Thank you so much for your two pictures in honor of our veterans. Being a patriotic, humble and grateful American, I was touched by your pictures on Veteran's Day.

As is often expressed, "only those who know where they're at can acknowledge other people." I acknowledge you for acknowledging our national debt to our veterans.

Hawaii has many beautiful people who give their cash and time to charities, hospitals, our beaches ... how about acknowledging them in the near future? Thank you.

Dudley M. Wongham
Kailua

Normal babies will respond to parents

In Sunday's paper, in the article "Family activities ease boy's disorder," Daniel Ulrich, the boy's father and a medical doctor, is quoted as saying that lack of response and eye contact don't seem abnormal in children 1 to 2 years old (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 16).

This is highly abnormal, as most parents will tell you. At three months, babies can smile in response to a familiar face or voice and will track a parent's presence in the room with their eyes. If Ulrich is studying to be a pediatrician, he should start by being familiar with the normal stages of infant and child development.

Constance Kelsey
Honolulu