Brainstorm! Challenge

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Boat barrels through Waikiki tranquility

I was enjoying my first return trip to Hawaii since 1999. Loving the warm water that contrasts so much with the cold water of San Francisco, I questioned why I ever left Hawaii.

Suddenly, a large catamaran was coming right at me, full engine power and all, the crew blaring their horn for me to get out of their way.

So much for the relaxing time in the water of Waikiki.

Are the interests of a few who pay to sail aboard the catamarans so important as to endanger the lives of those just looking to relax in Hawaii's waters? While I did not pay extra to ride a catamaran (I parasailed instead), at more than $355 per night for the hotel room with my wife and daughter, I wasn't being a cheapskate to the local economy.

I'm left with the stinging impression that big hotel vendors get preference over the safety of those who choose to just lie in the water and forget about their mainland work worries.

I'll head to Costa Rica instead of Hawaii this December.

Christian Asnieres
San Francisco, Calif.
Former Waikiki resident

Public should debate genetic engineering

A bill before the state House would create two advisory boards to study occupational, health and environmental questions about genetic engineering of plants in Hawaii. You'd think residents would be well served by such public-minded boards.

Yet biotech, university and state representatives testified in droves against the bill. A spokesman for genetic-engineering giant Monsanto said, "There are always those who lack faith and trust in business and government." Maybe that's because our government pronounces products safe until proven otherwise, then allows corporations to do their own testing. Years later, when birth defects and cancer are linked to a product, it declares a ban.

Other governments assume food products are unsafe until proven safe by independent testing. This "precautionary principle" guides scientific thinking outside the United States. It explains why Japan refuses to buy Hawaii's GE papayas. GE proponents in Hawaii fear public debate could lead to what just happened in Sonoma County, Calif. Voters there approved a ban on growing GE crops until they are proven safe for consumers and the environment.

The industry's PR agent, Biotechnology Industry Organization, testified that creation of the advisory boards "may send a signal that is contrary to the economic objectives of the state." Our representatives are being taught that what's good for business must be good for the public.

Paul Lerman
Honolulu

Proud to be Council's fiscal watchdog

I welcome scrutiny of my views and I proudly wear the label of "fiscal watchdog." Your March 26 editorial, however, contained several errors.

First, you admonished me to "come up with the numbers to back up (my) contention" that Honolulu needs to hold the line on spending. I did; I released my proposed legislative budget on March 25, before your editorial appeared.

Second, you said I "challenged the elections appropriation" for the city clerk. I never made such a challenge or proposed anything but fully funding our elections. Indeed, the Star-Bulletin accurately quoted me stating that the public should expect the clerk's budget to be skewed upward because of the need to fund the election.

Third, you stated that "an $815,000 appropriation to organize a conference next year of the National Association of Counties also drew Djou's protest." I never made such protest. I agree with you that Honolulu must fund its contractual obligations. I disagree, however, that I should disregard my duty to scrutinize an $815,000 appropriation that does not facilitate the provision of a core city service.

How the city approaches spending is the real issue. I know the government has unlimited desires, but taxpayers do not have unlimited funds.

Charles K. Djou
Honolulu City Councilman
District IV (Waikiki-Hawaii Kai)

Hawaii gas prices are where they should be

Recent letters exemplify how seductive it is to believe that gasoline prices and price controls are a simple issue. The fact is, Hawaii prices are not any higher than they should be. Go to the American Automobile Association Web site (the most cited source) and look at gas prices all over the country. Then you need to find the appropriate gas taxes for the places you choose, which vary from 26 to 60 cents. I'm sure we can all agree that taxes are not a part of the "price" we should be complaining about. If you do that, it should persuade you to rethink what you've been hearing about Hawaii gas prices.

On April 12, this exercise revealed that, after subtracting taxes, Honolulu prices were 10 percent higher than the national average. One of the lowest prices west of the Rockies (Portland) was 7.5 percent higher than the national average. Many locations were 20 percent (or more) higher than average; none were at or below it. The neighbor islands were 20-25 percent higher than the national average. If you subtract more for shipping and the higher cost of doing business here, Hawaii prices start to look like a bargain.

To expect a law to force prices lower makes no sense. Hawaii prices are stable and about where they ought to be. But if you want to live in a world of conspiracy theories, then listen to those who ignore the facts and fuel public outrage with "simple" conclusions.

Brian Barbata
President
Inter Island Petroleum

Bush is accountable for the mess in Iraq

I recently found myself reflecting on the bravado with which our president carried himself on the deck of the USS Lincoln, beneath an enormous banner reading "Mission Accomplished." I reflected upon this when I first saw the image of cheering Iraqis standing beneath the charred corpses of American contractors hanging from that bridge in Fallujah.

I reflected upon this when I read about the 31 GIs killed in one weekend in combat with both Sunni and Shiite mobs. I reflected upon this when I read that our attack in response slaughtered eight women and 16 innocent Iraqi children. I reflected upon this when I saw that our death toll had passed 600 young American men and women. I reflected upon this when I read that the Iraqi civilian death toll had topped 8,000.

I reflected upon this when I realized that I had been lied to by a regime bent on war with Iraq under any pretense.

I am left wondering how we have let this go on so long without calling George W. Bush to account for his arrogance, his deceptions and the harm he has caused.

Chris Linn
Kalaheo, Hawaii

Naysayers don't get it; this is a real war

One has to wonder on what planet the anti-war-on-terrorism crowd lives on. Just what do you use on people who kill, incinerate and parade around with dead bodies?

The conflict in Fallujah and the scattered fighting in Iraq show the toxic nature of the jihadi mindset. Would John Kerry or Ted Kennedy use a feather duster on Islamofascists who revel in death and destruction? Would we want the butcher of Baghdad and his two demon offspring arming the suicide give-me-my-virgins kooks with weapons-grade ricin or the technology to manufacture it?

They really, really do want to kill us! Yes, even in Honolulu or Waianae or Kaneohe. This war is not optional; it must be fought or we're dead.

Paul Mossman
Kailua

Let us begin process of Bush impeachment

In early 2003, John Bonifaz served as lead counsel for a coalition of U.S. soldiers, their parents and members of Congress in a federal lawsuit challenging the authority of President Bush to launch a war against Iraq absent a congressional declaration of war. The suit failed to prevent the invasion, but Bonifaz' arguments about the constitutional violations inherent in Bush foreign policy are still politically potent.

Bonifaz lays out his case in a new release from Nation Books, "Warrior King: The Case for Impeaching George Bush." He writes, "President Bill Clinton was ultimately censured over alleged charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. But no one died as a result of the Monica Lewinsky affair.

"President George W. Bush's offenses to the Constitution are far more serious and have resulted in the deaths of thousands. It is time for Congress to investigate whether the president's offenses constitute high crimes worthy of impeachment."

Douglas Kouka Allen
Waianae

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Hawaii is popularly known as "The Aloha State." What might be a better slogan? To get started, think about what you might see around the islands -- rainbows, waves, sand, traffic jams, homeless orangutans ... Send your ideas by April 21 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750