Several questions, but no answers

Things I wonder about:

» Will the gas cap law be as successful as the bottle recycling law?

» Hawaii is the most beautiful place on earth. Why are our airports so ugly?

» If the state is collecting more and more tax revenue, why are we still poor? Wait a second, I think I answered my own question.

» Will the new light-rail system be as well maintained as our roads and parks?

» Which is better, pounding your head against a brick wall or being a Republican in Hawaii?

» What do cops think when they arrest the same guy for the 48th time?

» Why do the people we entrust to run our public schools send their children to private schools?

» Why is it when banks make money it is good for the economy, but when insurance companies make money it's because they're a rip off?

» If no one can afford to buy a house, why are so many being sold?

» Why do attorneys drive really nice cars and live in big houses, while doctors are closing down their businesses?

Misinformation gets around about coquis

Regarding Charles Memminger's column "An explosive idea to blow away the coquis" (Star-Bulletin, May 1): Paranoia and misinformation about the coqui has spread much faster and further here in Hawaii than the frog itself has. Organizations trying to eradicate the coqui have been successful in brainwashing the public into believing a whole range of untruths that they irresponsibly present as scientific facts.

Without knowing any better, the local media spread the misinformation. Since it isn't trendy right now in the sciences to show appreciation for non-native species, biologists in Hawaii haven't bothered to come to the coqui's defense.

But here's the truth: 1) Unlike you've heard, the coqui does have natural predators here in Hawaii; rats hunt them here just as they do in the frogs' native habitat. 2) The coqui does not sing at 90 decibels. Real scientific studies have put the coqui's maximum volume at about 75 decibels -- the same volume as your average songbird. 3) Just because the coqui eats Hawaiian insects and spiders doesn't mean it's a threat to the native ecology. Many non-native bugs compete with and eat native ones, and coquis eat them too, so the overall net affect of the coqui is unknown.

Whether or not you like the coqui, it isn't right for anyone to make false claims and present them to the public as facts.

State retirement headed for disaster

As 30-year Fellow of the Society of the Actuaries, the former actuary for several of Hawaii's largest private retirement plans and for several Pacific Nation Security Systems, and a 25-year resident of Hawaii, I'd like to warn taxpayers about the State Retirement System that is waiting to blow up again.

I said "again," because the system entered the millennium with $10 billion until trustee losses took it to $7.6 billion in 2003. That set huge contribution increases in motion. Hawaii entered the millennium with $100 million system costs that have grown to more than $300 million, and that under prior law should be $400 million, headed to $600 million. (The law change eliminated the actuarial cost calculation method used since the system's inception, and replaced it with a lower, government-specified cost cap.)

That law change bet that the system will average an 8 percent investment return for the next 20 years or so. Lose that bet, and taxpayers will have to pay even more than the increases the governor and Legislature ducked with their law change.

So, the trustees' claim that a -0.9 percent return beats its benchmark is misleading, because the law change bet requires an 8 percent benchmark, e.g. 0 percent is not a "no-loss" but an $800 million taxpayer loss on this bet.

Government employee benefits are not affected by assets. The system is not a 401(k) plan, so not one penny of retiree benefits, or the future benefits promised to current employees, is lost when assets are lost. Employee benefits are guaranteed by a full faith and credit promise, so only taxpayers lose.

As the assets grow, the chance of even larger losses grows; i.e., larger costs that were hidden by the new law.

Windward residents won't benefit from rail

Oahu residents are now facing tax increases to cover rail transport. My question is who going to ride it?

No one on the Windward side will ever benefit from it, however, we will help pay for this system. I doubt that anyone from East Oahu will support this transportation joke. People on Oahu need to be free to choose the way and time they travel to and from work. A rail system is just another excuse to raise taxes to fill the city coffers.

Many people need to go with POV (privately owned vehicle) travel, because of doctor appointments, going to special luncheons, picking up children after school, and a thousand other family events that rail transport cannot be made to cover.

Mr. Mayor, please take note of things that need to be done for the entire island of Oahu, not just the eastern or western side of the island. Remember that it took the entire island to elect you mayor, so please don't forget the Windward side.

Visitors are grateful for Pearl center

I wholeheartedly agree with the writer of a May 5 letter wherein he states we should honor the heroes who gave their lives defending our country. Amen.

Where I disagree is the comment regarding the Pearl Harbor Visitors Center tent.

I am one of the vendors at the center who has invested money into my first entrepreneurial endeavor. My American dream.

There was a need and we filled it. Visitors thank us daily for providing shelter from the blistering sun and at times refuge from the rain. We provide seating where people can eat and rest comfortably.

The tent is a place to get a hot meal, snacks, cold refreshments and, if the mood strikes, do some shopping. The bag check service allows visitors to enter the memorial together; no one has to miss out because they have to watch "the bags."

If the writer believes our prices are outrageous, visitors can purchase food from the vending machines and shop for souvenirs at the memorial stores. We simply offer them a choice!

"Why are we being condemned for creating this oasis in the midst of what used to be a crime-ridden parking lot?"

UH jazz ensemble gets mainland honors

The University of Hawaii Jazz Ensemble's recent performance at the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival was an overwhelming success. Festivals such as this provide a unique performance experience as our students are adjudicated by a panel of world-class jazz musicians.

This year we were also honored at the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival to be the featured ensemble, serving as the opening act on the first night of the festival, then joining legendary vocalist, Marilyn Maye, to close the evening.

This is the fourth year our ensemble has traveled to perform at major collegiate jazz festivals and none of this would be possible without the help of our many supporters.

I want to thank Kirk Matthews of KHON for taking the time to do a feature on our program. He is truly the consummate professional.

Most of all, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have supported our efforts over the years by attending our concerts and generously donating to our program. Your continued support makes all that we do possible.

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