Convention center should have no secrets

It's weird that secrecy is needed to make more revenue from the Hawaii Convention Center (Star-Bulletin, April 20). The convention center is supported by public funds -- our taxes -- and therefore I would think it must follow all guidelines, rules, ordinances and regulations that the state and the city have on the books.

If such things can be waived by this secrecy bill for just the convention center, then all those rules should be stricken so that other entities are not affected also.

If passed, can we say the white elephant opened a can of worms?

R. Pang
Kaneohe

Isle politicians don't deserve big pay raise

We can't even pay our school teachers, take care of our handicapped, jobless, homeless and the abused properly. Yet we can call for a 21 percent pay raise for politicians. It's all backwards. What happened to public service for the good of the people?

Kent T. Tamura
Kaneohe

Makena Resort won't welcome regular folk

If Seibu Hawaii's Makena Resort vote keeps going in the direction it is taking, we lose our last wild area ("Maui panel approves rezoning for resort," Star-Bulletin, April 15). There is no protection from golf course chemicals and runoff that will pour into the ocean. The archaeological continuity of the Honoaula District will be destroyed with some sites being saved, mainly chosen by the developer and carefully chosen representatives who back development.

And the greatest insult -- they won't let regular folks live in the development. Of course, this would decrease Seibu's profit. Maui County Council members Joe Pontanilla and Mike Molina say they don't know of anyone who wants to live there. More than 60 percent of Maui's population rents, yet they don't know of anyone who wants to live in Makena Resort. They say there are no amenities for working families, like no one would be willing to drive to Kihei for groceries.

Council Chairman Dain Kane stated a vague resort employee poll reflecting only 20 desire to live there. This is a red herring. During debate the Council made it clear that this affordable housing is covered under a separate area of county law and has nothing to do with employees. Riki Hokama implied that affordable housing would just be handed to people.

Molina says the American dream is about building yourself up. Yet Council members are making zoning decisions to perpetuate you and your children as second-class citizens in your own county -- saying you are unworthy to live with the rich. And they gamble you won't vote.

Sean Lester
Haiku, Maui

Junked cars are blight on Ewa Beach

I am concerned about the abandoned vehicles at the intersection of Fort Weaver and Old Fort Weaver roads.

Sen. Willie Espero and other legislators of this district have been diligently trying to have these vehicles removed for months.

The numerous calls to city and state agencies imploring that these abandoned and unsightly vehicles be removed have been futile. As months pass, these vehicles are being stripped and vandalized, resulting in an even greater eyesore and embarrassment to the residents of Ewa and Ewa Beach.

It is now approaching three months that residents have been subjected to this unsightly dump. Why? When will the city or state take care of these abandoned and stripped vehicles so that Ewa and Ewa Beach can be a respectable community -- one that our residents can be proud to live in?

Kerry Britanik
Ewa Beach

Energy bill would utilize fossil fuel

With no fossil fuel resources, Hawaii relies heavily on outside fuel sources to generate energy. Unfortunately, this fuel dependence leads to higher utility bills. It is not uncommon for us to pay more than triple the amount the average citizen on the mainland pays in utility bills. These high costs deter businesses from coming to Hawaii and contributing to our state's ailing economy.

The energy bill being debated in Congress would provide Hawaii with significant resources and incentives for the continued development of renewable energy. Hawaii is a national leader in the develop- ment of hydrogen resources and the energy bill provides $2.1 billion for research and development of hydrogen as a fuel source.

The University of Hawaii is a national center for hydrogen fuel research. The bill would greatly expand and strengthen the important work scientists there are conducting to provide cleaner, domestic sources of energy.

The Honolulu Project of Waste Energy Recovery produces nearly 8 percent of Oahu's annual energy needs. This project alone reduces the need by 600,000 barrels of oil a year. In addition, the Puna geothermal facility provides nearly 20 percent of the electricity needs on the Big Island.

Hawaii's ability to reduce its dependence on outside fuel sources is critical to reducing energy costs and growing our state's economy. The comprehensive energy bill provides the resources and incentives to develop these cleaner and more efficient renewable resources.

Senators Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye have worked tirelessly to provide federal funds for the continued research and development of renewable energy resources in our state. Let's support their efforts and this legislation, which is so vital to the economic and environmental well-being of Hawaii.

Katie Dean
Waianae

Merrie Monarch needs hula interpreter

The Merrie Monarch Festival -- what an event for all of Hawaii and the world to see and enjoy. I watch and admire the beautiful people, music, dance, costumes and flowers. I appreciate the effort and energy that go into putting on the yearly event.

I have only one suggestion for improvement: For us non-Hawaiian speakers, please have subtitles during the performances so we can fully appreciate and follow along what is portrayed through the chants, words and beautiful motion of the dances. I can assure you that there will be a larger audience, people will watch longer and it will be a win-win situation for the people and the broadcasting TV station.

Michael Lum
Makawao, Maui

Econ-savvy lawmakers would repeal gas cap

Price controls do not work. They cause shortages and disrupt the normal cycle of supply and demand. Remember the gas lines of the Carter administration?

To learn the effect so-called gas caps will have on our local economy, our elected state legislators need to read just one book on economics, Dr. Thomas Sowell's "Basic Economics, A Citizen's Guide to the Economy." If that's too much econ, just read Chapter 3 starting on page 21. Then, armed with this knowledge, rescind the misguided gas cap legislation.

James C. Gilbert
Honolulu

Public should keep tabs on biotech

I wasn't surprised by the fierce, corporate resistance of Hawaii's biotech industry to resolutions introduced at county and state levels this month recommending creation of GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) Advisory Boards.

The biotech industry has resisted attempts by local regulators to learn specifics of open-air GMO experiments in Hawaii. Simultaneously, the industry puts on its brightest public relations face claiming it has nothing to hide. In elitist insider-style, industry employees repeatedly testified that the public lacks technical understanding of GMOs, and that the public is irrational and frightened.

Hogwash. The public lacks the industry's conflict of interest and investment of time and capital in GMOs, which are being rejected worldwide by informed consumers.

A survey of the principle insurance underwriters in the United Kingdom found none would cover GMO crops. Insurance spokespeople compared GMO crops to thalidomide, asbestos and acts of terrorism. The companies surveyed felt too little was known about the long-term effects of growing these crops on human health and the environment to be able to offer any form of coverage.

Yes, the unbiased public is able to look at the facts and recognize dangers. The industry, motivated by greed, has its nose stuck in a test tube and lacks the objectivity required to look at health, environmental or economic problems of agricultural biotech.

Eloise Engman
Makawao, Maui

OHA wants better schools for Hawaiians

I am writing to respond to a letter in your editorial pages by Keoni Willing (Star-Bulletin, April 18). Earlier, I had expressed the hope that the Office of Hawaii Affairs' board had considered the omnibus education bill, the Education Reinvention Act of 2004, that is now on its way to the governor for her review -- and that they had not simply adopted the proposals of the CARE committee.

As it turns out, OHA did not adopt the CARE proposals. Trustee Haunani Apoliona wrote me last week to say "[OHA's] motion did not include adoption of the CARE report." She went on to say that "OHA trustees remain open to options for transforming Hawaii's public education system to one where the Hawaiian community has a more direct say about the educational opportunities Hawaiian children receive."

I am in complete agreement, and I hope Willing and others continue to question any media reports or other public relation efforts that concern education in Hawaii, while asking educators and students what can be done to improve our public schools. This effort is ongoing, and it concerns everyone.

Norman Sakamoto
Chairman
Senate Committee on Education

Lingle needs our help to change Hawaii

In response to "Ms. Ima Ginary," whose "conversation" with Charles Memminger was reported in his column April 22, I would like thank her for her candid observations of our current state of affairs.

As she said, Hawaii has been under the control of one political party for 50 years and what has it gotten us? Crumbling schools, crumbling roads, crumbling sewers, illegal campaign contributions, unethical legislators, stifling of debate, not allowing the public to vote on education changes, not changing Act 221 to eliminate loopholes, phony gas caps, anti-business legislation, and I could go on and on.

If legislators would remember who they are supposed to be serving -- the public and not special interests and the unions -- then Hawaii would indeed become the paradise it is supposed to be. "Ms. Ima Ginary" wasn't optimistic. She thinks Iraq will have a representative government before we do. After 39 years of watching this farce, I must admit, she may be right.

But I'm going to do everything I can to help get rid of these obstructionists, and get some people elected who will help Governor Lingle accomplish the things she was elected to do. She cannot do it without help. In the words of Ms. Ima Ginary, those of you who are used to saying "Heil, Legislature," I ask you to wake up and give your allegiance to progress and change for our wonderful state.

Look at how your representative or senator voted this year and if you do not agree, take care of it at the polls. We can't keep electing the same myopic people and expect different results. Governor Lingle was elected with a strong majority because people wanted change. Give her the help she needs.

Shirley Hasenyager
Kailua

Gabbard will get votes of those who love isles

Robert Ristelhueber, who writes (Letters, April 18) that he has been involved in a homosexual relationship for 13 years, rhetorically asks, "Who would vote for Mike Gabbard for Congress?"

The answer is, anyone who cares about protecting traditional marriage and appreciates the leadership role Mike Gabbard played in getting the question of same-sex marriage on the ballot in 1998 would vote for Gabbard.

Anyone who cares about improving education in Hawaii and wants an educator/teacher in Congress will vote for Mike Gabbard.

Anyone who cares about the environment and knows the leadership role Mike Gabbard has played in protecting Hawaii's drinking water and fighting for our "aina" will vote for Mike Gabbard.

Anyone who knows of Mike Gabbard's record rallying the community to fight "ice" and other drugs will vote for Gabbard.

Anyone who knows of Mike's role in supporting small business and working to reduce taxes will vote for Gabbard.

Finally, anyone who knows that it is Mike Gabbard's genuine spirit of aloha that gives him the courage to stand up for what's right will vote for Gabbard.

Who will vote for Mike Gabbard? I will proudly vote for Mike Gabbard and so will everyone else I know.

Thomas Wolski
Pahoa, Hawaii

Imagine, a politician fulfilling a promise

Sen. John Warner (R, Va.) reacted to Spain pulling its military out of Iraq by saying, "Apparently he (Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero) is keeping a campaign promise."

What a slap in the face to our politicians. Americans cannot tolerate a politician keeping his or her campaign pledge.

Breaking a campaign promise is a tradition in our country. I can understand why our politicians are so outraged. This is worse than not finding WMD.

Ronald L. Edmiston
Honolulu

President's 'war movie' may have sad ending

The Bush administration's version of a low-budget Hollywood war movie requires a revised plot and script. The Iraq scenario was a fantasy with a poorly prepared screenplay reflected in the current turmoil. Remember, the day "G.W." landed on an aircraft carrier and declared "Mission Accomplished?" It was a real John Wayne-moment with much applause.

We now desperately need straight talk from the president and the Capitol Hill mob, particularly with the deadline nearing for a sovereign Iraqi government and the unstable situation.

Tony Locascio
Honolulu

American money fuels political unrest

As the leader of our armed forces, President Bush has once again failed to take responsibility for lying to the American public and for the illegal invasion of a small impoverished sovereign nation, resulting in the maiming and deaths of thousands of Iraqis and for sacrificing the lives of hundreds of Americans.

The media reports that British commanders are now criticizing U.S. troops for displaying and using a Nazi mentality in Fallujah. Nearby in the Middle East, the apartheid state of Israel on a daily basis kills, maims and represses innocent Palestinians. Both illegal operations, in Iraq and Israel, are largely being sponsored by the American taxpayer. Yes, the country with the big guns can define in its propaganda who is the terrorist, and who is the freedom fighter. But the rest of the world knows, and the United States will continue to be isolated in the foreign arena as it pursues its quest at all costs to control key natural resources in the world.

Hector Valenzuela
Mililani

Bush disgraces office by lying to the people

Not since Richard Nixon has a U.S. president disgraced the nation's highest office like George W. Bush. He has continually misled American citizens to the point where even people once very close to him are accusing him of deception. He has allowed environmental safeguards to be sacrificed for wealthy corporations, and his unilateral approach to foreign policy has radically diminished our standing in the eyes of the international community.

He has cut health care for veterans, while being the first U.S. president to order an attack and occupation of a sovereign nation. He has taken more vacation time than any president in history. His actions and attitude are more reminiscent of a saloon-brawling cowboy than of a statesman. He has plundered the U.S. economy, and it will likely be years before the misdeeds of this administration are fully known and repaired.

John Kerry, with all his faults, will be eminently better than Bush. Until someone else is president, Bush will continue to discredit the office of commander in chief.

Tony Santoro
Kihei, Maui

Rules would infringe on free speech

The Federal Elections Commission is set to make a decision in the coming weeks that would profoundly affect the free speech rights of nonprofit organizations that work to hold our government accountable to the people -- and, in effect, change the rules in the midst of an election year.

The proposed rules go far beyond the new McCain-Feingold campaign finance law and could transform overnight many nonprofit groups into federally regulated political committees for merely expressing an opinion about a federal officeholder's policies or views.

Many nonprofit organizations from corporations to charities, advocacy organizations and labor unions, would be forced to choose between ceasing normal operations or facing crippling restrictions on fund- raising. Advocates on a wide variety of issues from across the political spectrum -- abortion rights or restrictions, cancer research, gun rights or restrictions, tax reform, the environment, civil rights -- would be severely limited. The rule changes would impoverish the political debate and could act as a gag rule on public policy viewpoints just when we need them most.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game would unfairly penalize those who already have worked hard to comply with election reform rules now on the books. Given the profound effect that these proposed rule changes pose to First Amendment free speech rights, Congress -- not the FEC -- is the proper body to consider such changes.

Therefore, the FEC should reject the proposed rules, deferring instead to congressional action on the matter.

Dillon Naber
Wahiawa