• County appointments • Hawaiian point of view • GMOs • Excluding students County appointments As a former member of the Salary Commission I favor paying whatever it takes to get the job done in government and to reward the
• County appointments
• Hawaiian point of view
• GMOs
• Excluding students
County appointments
As a former member of the Salary Commission I favor paying whatever it takes to get the job done in government and to reward the dedication and competence of appointed officials. I do not subscribe to the notion that money guarantees dedication and competence.
In his appearance before the Charter Commission, County Engineer Donald Fujimoto was asked why the county has such difficulty finding, attracting, and keeping a qualified County Engineer. His personal view, he said, is that the position is “so political and it’s so unstable.” Later he was asked if money is the problem. He agreed that money is a factor but again emphasized that the position is “insecure” and “high risk.” Finally, when asked his views about having a commission appoint the County Engineer (as is the case with five other departments), he said that it would provide some political immunity.
It should be noted that Mr. Fujimoto was not recruited. He came forward, based on his desire to serve the community. Despite the fact that he holds a degree in business administration as well as being a registered engineer, his decision to apply was not based primarily on money but on his sense of responsibility to the community.
The Charter Commission chose not to explore Mr. Fujimoto’s comments about politics and instability. But anyone acquainted with the way our government works knows that there are two major realities. First, the Engineer is appointed by the Mayor and may be removed for any reason or no reason. He has no protection against mayoral interference in his management of the department, including his appointment and discipline of personnel, and no job security when a new mayor takes office.
Second, the Engineer must manage a complex and entrenched departmental bureaucracy. If he is to manage the department successfully, he needs the support of the public and elected officials if and when campaigns are his authority or his job security. From what I have observed, Mr. Fujimoto deserves that support, and both he and we deserve a commission-appointed Engineer.
In the background is the question of whether we need a professional county manager. It is not a question of personalities but a question of getting the job done.
Hawaiian point of view
The “Hawaiian Issues” letter to the Forum (The Garden Island, August 7) provides us all with a good review from the Hawaiian point of view. The Hawaiians have been harmed by the U.S. power and majority rule which began by what Congress has identified and decided was the United States’ wrongful participation in the demise of the Hawaiian Monarchy. Each item Mr. Acain cited was an example of the tyranny of the majority.
John Stuart Mills’ essay on Liberty states, “As like other tyrannies, the tyranny of the majority was at first, and is still vulgarly, held in dread, chiefly as operating through the acts of the public authorities.”
Regarding the recent Kamehameha Schools federal court decision, this is not a case where a minority child is trying to go to public school as in the rural south decades ago. The civil liberties of the non-Hawaiian child are not in jeopardy for this child is not being denied a public education.
It should be remembered that the Kamehameha Schools was established by Princess Pauahi before Hawai‘i became a part of the United States, and that the admissions policy provides preference for Native Hawaiians, the indigenous people of Hawai‘i. The school does not receive federal funding, so why should a federal court strike down its Hawaiian only admissions policy?
Most Hawaiians living today are descended from thousands of orphans who survived after their parents and kupuna had succumbed to terrible diseases brought by Westerners. The Bishop Trust sought to partially rectify that loss of heritage by creating a school for Hawaiian children. Once this goal is met, and the Kanaka Maoli are again the majority in this land, then the mission of the founders of the Bishop Trust will be met. Until then, allow Kamehameha School to have their Hawaiian-only admission policy.
GMOs
The article on GMOs in The Garden Island Sunday shows the huge puka’s in the biotech industries community outreach campaign.
This cell invasion technology, on our food crops, is entirely for the profit of chemical corporations and the patent holders. About 80% these synthetic crops are resistant to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide and enable farmers to spray entire fields. This does not benefit the consumer, and in fact has lead to a sharp increase in the application of Roundup.
This technology is failing to accomplish anything beneficial to the consumer. After 20 years, the only success is “Roundup ready” and “Bt” crops. They are not feeding starving people, the food is not bigger or tastier, and there is not one FDA drug approved. This science is fundamentally flawed. The application has gone public too soon, due to corporate greed for economic profit on seed patents.
By operating in our state, they are contaminating the image of beautiful Kaua‘i. Hawai‘i should not base its agricultural future on a failing technology. How much are we losing by not developing our organic crop production. Consumer’s worldwide are demanding organic food and paying a premium price for pure food. Japan and Europe only import food that is free from cell invasion technology, viral promoters and antibiotic resistance.
Where do you want to holiday? On an island where nature is respected, soil is rich and the people are healthy, or an island where leaders are betting the future on science fiction.
Excluding students
When we teach our children about injustices of the past, without also pointing out that there has never been a time or place without injustice, we are just giving “selective memory” history and teaching our children prejudice and hatred.
How many Hawaiians would feel comfortable with a school that excluded Hawaiians from enrolling because of their race?
There are no such schools anywhere in the United States. But Kamehameha School excludes Japanese students, excludes Caucasian students, excludes Filipino students, excludes Hapa students, Tahititians, Fijians, in fact, it excludes anyone it wants to, simply because of blood or skin. It’s slam dunk racism.
It appears some Hawaiians want a double standard, where they vehemently protest being oppressed, but they want the right to oppress others.
Healing comes when one sees the universal presence of injustice in all cultures, lands, and eras. Since injustice is everywhere, its foolish to carry a grudge. No grudge, maybe you won’t poison the minds of your kids.
