It's easier to ship off all of our problems
Lately, there seems to be so much talk about
shipping trash to the mainland versus recycling, it made me think that is how we seem to be looking at other "undesirable" elements in our society. It is becoming a choice between trying to reform these unwanted elements or sending them away to institutions on the mainland. Sounds harsh, but it seems the general outlook is: If you can't see them, they don't exist; if you can see them, then look away or walk around them.
Raj Bose
Waikiki
Keep HCDA away from Kewalo Basin
In a
letter to the editor Sunday, Bill Littell issues the challenge: "It's time to face the facts about Kewalo Basin." Well, here are the facts.
Kewalo Basin has always operated at a surplus. The money to maintain and repair Kewalo has been available all along.
The problem at Kewalo is not the money or the tenants. The problem at Kewalo is the landlord's neglect.
Since 1990, the Hawaii Community Development Authority has been the Kewalo Basin landlord. And for the past 17 years, HCDA has ignored Kewalo repairs. Why?
HCDA wants to privatize Kewalo. What better way to sell the urgency of this scheme than to let the harbor fall into disrepair and blame others?
HCDA wants to make Kewalo Basin a private, exclusive marina for the mega-wealthy yachting community. How much public access will remain for Hawaii residents? Likely not very much.
The authentic charm, traditions and history of Kewalo Basin need to be polished and preserved. HCDA is absolutely the wrong agency for this job.
Frank Mento
Honolulu
Catholic voters do not need bishops' advice
Reference "Bishops scan a new political landscape for '08 race" in the June 22 Star-Bulletin: According to the report, the bishops will decide at a conference in November about a broad range of issues such as abortion, immigration and poverty.
In the 2004 presidential election, Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis said he would deny John Kerry communion because he supported abortion rights contrary to church teachings. There are indications that a vocal minority of bishops will try to make abortion the dominant issue to the exclusion of other areas of concern. If they are the "good shepherds," the bishops should be aware that their flock is well informed and of good conscience capable of forming their own conclusions. This is not the medieval church where power was absolute!
Tony Locascio
Honolulu
Med school properly flies American flag
Our students, staff and faculty at the John A. Burns School of Medicine take great pride in our country. For this reason, it's important to correct misinformation about the display of our U.S. flag fronting our Kakaako facility (
Letters, June 24).
Contrary to the letter writer's assertions, our flags are correctly positioned. With three flagpoles of equal height, the place of highest honor is at the far left (facing the flags), which is where our American flag proudly flies. In descending order fly our state flag and the official flag of the medical school.
When a center flagpole is higher than the others, then the correct place of honor for the U.S. flag is in the middle.
Thanks for the opportunity to set the record straight.
Gregg Takayama
Director of communications
University of Hawaii-Manoa
Doctors should have fair reimbursement
Hawaii Medical Service Association has asked for another rate increase, which is understandable as the cost of doing health care business continues to rise. However, this rate increase should be tied up with the same increase in reimbursement to the health care providers.
This would provide enough income to private practicing health care providers to meet their expenses including malpractice insurance, office rent, employee salaries, health insurance and taxes, just to name a few. This also might encourage doctors to stay in Hawaii.
Inam Rahman
Physician
Honolulu
Don't let resorts take over the islands
I'm a student from Germany who had the great opportunity to spend half a year in Hawaii during a six-month internship.
You are living in paradise and you should definitely not only think twice but a couple of times before you give permission to or plan to build a resort on one of the most beautiful stretches of coast, along Oahu's North Shore.
One thing that makes Hawaii still special is the fact that it hasn't seen too much development compared to other tourist regions in the world. You should keep it that way.
On the island of Lanzarote, Spain, for example, they have a law that you can't build hotels, resorts and the like higher than a palm tree. The island benefits because they don't have these huge hotel complexes standing in everybody's way and making the landscape ugly.
Please reflect on this and also think about your kids who will not have the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful place like you and we have.
Holger Stripf
Munich, Germany