Letters for Sunday, December 10, 2006

• Kamehameha ruling positive

• Will Lingle preserve and protect Koke‘e?

• Make ‘em wear pink underwear

Kamehameha ruling positive

Last week, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that our 120-year old admissions preference policy is a permissible remedy for the “severe socio-economic disadvantages” to the indigenous people of Hawai‘i that began with Western contact more than 200 years ago. The ruling is an important affirmation of our mission and recognition of our schools’ unique history and purpose.

We are grateful to our legal team for their superb representation. We extend our gratitude as well to the groups and individuals who stepped forward to support our legal arguments. More than 40 organizations participated in filing 12 amicus briefs on our behalf, including our Kamehameha alumni, parents and staff — through the ‘Ohana Council — numerous Hawaiian organizations, our Hawaii Congressional Delegation, state Attorney General Mark Bennett, Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann and the City Council, the Hawaii Business Roundtable and the National and Hawaii Associations of Independent Schools. Gov. Linda Lingle and former-Gov. George Ariyoshi were among the community and business leaders who submitted declarations of support.

Many more individuals provided their expertise and guidance as we pulled our case together. Thousands spoke publicly on our behalf, wrote letters to the editor, helped organize and attended rallies of support here and on the Continent. Our faculty and staff kept focused on their work and our students continued to make us proud. The unity displayed — from Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians alike — sent a message that resonated powerfully: Our policy helps thousands, and harms none.

We know our fight is not over, but together we will persevere. Mahalo to all for your steadfast kokua.

I mua Kamehameha.

Board of Trustees:

Robert K.U. Kihune, Chair

J. Douglas Ing

Constance H. Lau

Nainoa Thompson

Diane J. Plotts

Dee Jay Mailer, Chief Executive Officer

Will Lingle preserve and protect Koke‘e?

Two encouraging events happened last week.

First, on Monday, in her inaugural address for her second term, Lingle declared: “Continuing to base our economy and future on land development is foolhardy because land is finite, and because land often causes deep rifts in our island community, a community that depends so heavily on harmony among our people.”

Then, Peter Young, chairman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, instructed the consultants for the Koke‘e Master Plan to retract some of the developments proposed for our treasured Koke‘e. I thought that we had at last reached common ground.

However, in a recent radio interview, although Mr. Young stated that he has decided to retract some of the developments planned for Koke‘e, such as a 40 to 60 room hotel and paving over Porter’s Bluff, he was vague in explaining other scheduled development and commercialization issues and items. For example, he stated that they still intend to “upgrade” the lookouts to “accommodate” visitors, and to install a toll booth (but currently proposing to exempt Hawai‘i residents from a toll). Those familiar with the master plan know that these “upgrades” envision hordes of future visitors to Koke‘e, coming by full-sized bus loads, not only to the Waimea Canyon Lookout, but to the much smaller Kalalau Lookout, all the way at the top of the mountain. The intended “upgrades” include not only the entry toll booth, expanded lookout “amenities,” expanded parking, widening roads, and even additional lookouts, but also concession stands (such as at Spouting Horn) to “accommodate” these busloads of tourists. Is an “upgrade” a veil for development? Are we taking care of the tourists, or the mountain?

As in her inaugural address, Lingle has repeatedly spoken out to protect and preserve our environment and natural resources. For example, on Sept. 7, Lingle emphasized to the White House Council on Environmental Quality and representatives from the state, federal and private sector the importance of preservation and highlighted steps her administration has taken to protect Hawai‘i’s natural resources. Then, on July 26, speaking before the largest gathering of those actively involved in the protection and management of Hawai‘i’s natural environment, she spoke of the progress her administration has made to conserve and preserve Hawai‘i’s natural resources, and the importance that Hawai‘i’s resources be preserved for future generations.

Let us not parse words. How do you, the people of Kaua‘i, define: preserve, protect, maintain, enhance, upgrade? The people of Kaua‘i have been spilling their guts out about how they feel about Koke‘e. How do the governor and Mr. Young propose to preserve and protect our natural resources, our precious Koke‘e?

We need the governor and Mr. Young to clarify and define exactly how he and the DLNR intend to “upgrade” Koke‘e. On Thursday, Dec. 14 at 5 p.m., Mr. Young will be addressing the Governor’s Kaua‘i Council of Advisors at the Planning Commission meeting room No. 2A/2B, which is located in the mall area between the Mo‘ikeha (round) building and the Civic Center. There will be opportunity for the public to offer testimony. So come, come respectfully with your words and reverence for Koke‘e. Ask that the governor and her administration honor and uphold the very words she so eloquently speaks of: “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”

“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.”

Come, with your mana‘o and na‘au.

Lawai

Make ‘em wear pink underwear

If the animal abuser from Anahola lived where I do, he would experience the wrath of our world-famous sheriff, Joe Arpaio. Animal abusers are put in the tent city for felons and wear pink underwear and pink uniforms. Any animal that has been abused, if not requiring hospitalization, is sheltered in the air-conditioned Maricopa County jail and treated with kindness.

Hawai‘i needs to look closely at their laws to protect your dear four-legged friends. They do not deserve the cruel treatment.

I say return the treatment to the beast involved.

Peoria, Ariz.