So, how does Honolulu come out ahead?
Regarding the story "Honolulu a controversial convention destination/Politicians attending a county conference here are under heat," Star-Bulletin, Feb. 5:Let's see, the Honolulu City Council is spending more than $800,000 to plan, and probably more than $2 million to host, this event in a state-owned building that cost more than $300 million to build and maintain, while paying a tourist board more millions to promote Hawaii as a tourist destination.
Reminds me of the old joke: Mrs. Murphy says to Mrs. Flynn, "Now I'll do your laundry for $3 a week and you do my laundry for $3 a week and we will both have extra spending money."
Waikiki
Radford unfairly disparaged by media
I am writing a letter to the editor because I am so angry;Angry because a confrontation between two students escalated into accusations that Radford High School was a "war zone";
Angry because concerned parents called in the media and the NAACP to allege that our school was negligent in handling the situation;
Angry because the media made this a front-page story when other schools handle fights without any coverage;
Angry because our school was locked down because of confrontational parents, not because of students;
Angry because our students, our administration, our school have been disparaged when we have been doing our jobs all these years without major incident until last weekend.
But most of all, I am angry because this is my school. I have always felt safe here in my 21 years of teaching because we have an administration that demands discipline, respect, responsibility. Radford parents have always been cooperative and willing to listen and help.
I have always taught creative, respectful and responsible students, not perfect, but for the most part, a joy to teach.
Our academics and extra-curricular activities are outstanding. Did the media notice that on Monday, our student council was hosting 300 Japanese students, and that our visitation program is excellent?
The school's reputation has been maligned by media frenzy and emotional reactions. This confrontation was blown out of proportion and diminishes the excellence of my school. Yes, I am angry.
Radford High School teacher
Kakaako waterfront should be park land
The Kakaako waterfront is urban Honolulu's last remaining large state-owned oceanfront property, and it should be developed all the way from Ala Moana Boulevard to the shoreline as a recreational park area.Anyone can see that Ala Moana Beach Park is maxed out. The Kakaako waterfront is the logical area to enlarge the present park and keep the area as open space.
The proposed development of the Kakaako waterfront with a new cancer hospital-research complex and other sprawling bio-research laboratories along with several huge oceanfront residential towers for millionaires crowding the Point Panic surfing site is appalling. The societal problems caused by such waterfront development in a growing urban area are so easily seen by the intelligent forward-looking person.
Filling in that tsunami-prone area with more structures is beyond insane. It is simply urban terrorism for the profit of a few politicos and their multi-millionaire developer patrons.
Honolulu
Real goal is to change ideology of America
You have to wonder why President Bush has moved the Social Security problem that arises decades in the future to the front burner now. The answer: ideology! I watched a TV program where former Texas Rep. Richard Armey debated a Social Security economist.What Armey really wanted to do was to reduce the role of government in this "welfare program" for ideological reasons. The outcome of the debate was that changes proposed for Social Security will not change the economics of it, but rather the nature of our society. As it is now, all workers contribute to supporting the retired. The alternative, when carried to its conclusion, will be everyone saving for his/her own retirement. Do we want to make this ideological change?
If we do, the transition will cost perhaps $2 trillion over a 10-year period. This money will be borrowed, increasing the national debt. Is this bad? It depends who you are. If you are a holder of the debt, then you have a steady flow of money (the interest) from the current taxpayers. So increasing the debt is actually a service for the richest class of our society.
Honolulu
Will divided nation ever come together?
I am of two minds on the elections in Iraq. On the one hand, I found myself tearing up at the thought of how it must feel for these people who have been oppressed for so long to finally have their voices heard. This will be President Bush's saving grace in the face of all the criticism he has received.On the other hand, I am worried about how liberals and Democrats will try to put a negative spin on this. They will demean President Bush's accomplishment or outright deny him credit.
After democracy has taken a strong foothold in Iraq, will the Democrats celebrate with the Republicans and Iraqis, or will they continuously ask if it was worth it?
Kaneohe
Drug rehab program is welcome in Hawaii
I was very interested to see the Star-Bulletin's Feb. 1 coverage of the recent fund-raising efforts of Hawaii-born actress Kelly Preston in support of the Narcanon drug prevention and rehabilitation program.As an emergency physician practicing for 20 years in Hawaii, I've seen on almost a daily basis the havoc that drugs can cause on people's lives. The more help we can get in drug prevention and rehabilitation, the better!
I really wish to applaud and thank all those involved in the private fund-raising efforts in support of this program.
Honolulu
Keeping ‘Lost’ in Hawaii
serves the common good
I appreciate the concern and the views expressed by James Ko (Letters, Jan. 31) regarding ABC's television series "Lost." Ko is probably right: When the DVD sales kick-in, ABC will likely, but is not guaranteed to, make its money to offset the deficit it is now incurring. Those DVD sales will probably start many years from now. The issue we face now is what to do about the real prospect of having this successful series move its production elsewhere in order to reduce its costs (and thus deficit) until those potential DVD revenues kick-in.
There should be no mistake about the prospect of losing "Lost." As reported by the Star-Bulletin, other U.S. states have better production incentives than Hawaii. And when faced with the opportunity of luring an already successful TV series, as opposed to a "pilot," these states and other foreign countries are actively courting "Lost" with deals that go beyond what their incentives already provide.
The reason? "Lost "spends more than $2 million per episode shot, and a season consists of 20 to 22 episodes. But more important than the cash infusion into the local economy, "Lost" provides local creative talent, technicians and professionals with the rare opportunity to work on, gain experience from and exposure to a rapidly growing "clean" industry highly sought by all economies that seek diversification and higher-paying jobs. In Hawaii, "Lost" employs several hundred people paying local taxes. Even the employees brought in from the mainland spend their money locally. "Lost" reverses the brain drain as it provides opportunities for many of Hawaii's talented sons and daughters seeking the chance to come home.
The producers of "Lost" are doing a cost/benefit analysis in the here-and-now. Hawaii's incentives are being compared, in the here-and-now, with those of other states and countries competing for its business.
The crux of this issue for Hawaii is whether the common public good is served by keeping "Lost" here. We do not live in a vacuum. If we believe that the real and tangible benefits of "Lost" outweigh the costs of any state support, then we need to compete for that business.
Director
Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism
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