Letters for Tuesday, March 6, 2007

• The pain of knowing

• Respect the Princess

• Others should carry out EIS

• Affordable housing,

socialist policy

The pain of knowing

I’m a friend of Wayne Rotstein who died in the Ka Loko Reservoir Dam breach nearly a year ago.

Wayne loved nature and respected, cared for, and lived off the land. I heard over and over again from friends and family “thinking he died in a natural disaster,” that he went the way he would have wanted. Knowing that it was quite to the contrary is like losing him all over again (“Network look at Ka Loko tragedy,” Front page, March 3). We had even planted a tree in Las Vegas’ Sunset Park in his honor with a plaque that reads: “Went with nature, to learn what it had to teach, so that he may truly live.”

The pain of knowing it didn’t have to happen will haunt us always.

Las Vegas, Nev.

Respect the Princess

In response to Edward Haleaaloha Ayau, of Hilo, Hawai‘i (“A true ali‘i acts like one,” Letters, March 4).

Yes, The Honorable Princess Abigail K. Kawananakoa, is the one who sat in the “Royal Throne” in the ‘Iolani Palace.

That is her “right” to exercise that choice as she is the descendant of our ali‘i, as well as the heir.

Would you have questioned our previous ali‘i’s?

Auw‘e, to you Mr. Ayau, who speaks out of ignorance, and to answer the question of what the Princess has done, more than you can ever imagine. I know that Princess Abigail K. Kawananakoa has helped so many, however, she requests to keep it confidential, and perhaps, all you know about the Princess is … probably what you read or see in the news.

Let’s change the focus to what the Hawai‘i state government is doing for the Hawaiians. Well, let us start with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, available to help the Hawaiians, and their ongoing battle to preserve the right to assist the Hawaiian people, as you are probably aware. The funding that is set aside to help Native Hawaiians is threatened every day by foreigners, “haoles” who claim that OHA is discriminatory because of the race issue, and their goal to help only the Hawaiians.

OHA, also has a division to help the Hawaiians, who require help with medical needs for Hawaiians who can’t afford the high cost of medical treatment.

How about the Queen Emma Hospital? Under the decree of Queen Emma, Queens Hospital is required to take care of the “Hawaiian People” free of charge. How about the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, under the direction of Micah Kane, who is striving to put Native Hawaiians on Homestead Lands and into homes.

I think you need to take your focus off of Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, and take a closer look all around you, as there are many available resources all around us that are set aside for the Hawaiian People.

Kapa‘a

Others should carry out EIS

First, let me say that I’m for the Superferry.

To require an Environmental Impact Statement for the Superferry alone is unjust. Sen. Gary Hooser is saying that government moneys are being spent to make improvements to the state harbors as the reason for this insistence.

Well, Mr. Hooser, aren’t the harbor improvements going to also benefit Young Brothers? … Matson? … the cruise ships?

I believe that these improvements should also trigger (as you say) an EIS from all these other companies who are using the harbors, don’t you think?

I believe that the arrival of the Superferry will benefit the majority of people who want to travel to the other islands, whether it be for visiting family or buying things which would be too costly to get to our island (shipping, etc).

I feel that one of the reasons for this delaying tactic maybe be due to the big three — shipping, airlines, rental agencies — who are silently behind some of the politicians.

To not require the cruise ships an EIS and require the Superferry an EIS is very unfair and unjust.

The harbor improvements were a long time in coming. Approved several years ago, but not acted on, till now.

In closing, I hope that the 6,000 people who opposed the Superferry don’t use the ferry. Go fly to the other islands.

That way, you won’t be hypocrites.

Kapa’a

Affordable housing, socialist policy

JoAnn Yukimura’s piece on the Sunday Forum page, “Strangers in exile from their own homeland,” is sad commentary on the fate of affordable housing on Kaua‘i. Yukimura, a politician from head to toe, and her ilk have had over 30 years to prove to Kaua‘i’s people that they can be housed by government.

Some 30 years of intervention, interference, regulation and control over land use and what has changed for affordable housing availability? Nothing.

So, what do the political animals have planned for us? Well, according to Yukimura, more … much more in fact, of the same socialist policy and rhetoric that delivers only expectations that are forever betrayed by the reality that force doesn’t work — after all government is force.

You will note that there is never an admission that when it comes to affordable housing, their meddling with property rights and individual freedom has been an abject failure all these 30-plus years. Instead they will blame greedy developers, the rich or some other bogeyman to distract and keep you under control. So far they have succeeded in doing just that and all the while taxing your property to the max.

What a great scam.

Simple observation should prove that sectors of the economy that are most politicized are where dissension, disagreement and disappointment are the rule. For example, do you see any calls for affordable cars, computers, toilet paper, TVs, music or any other of the thousands of goods and services available? Are any of them in chronic (30 year) short supply? Do you argue with your neighbors or turn them in to the government bureaucrats if you don’t like the car they drive or the music they listen to? Yet people will without second thought turn in a neighbor who they suspect is renting to the wrong people for the wrong duration. They will spend hours waiting for a chance to condemn and beg government to slam someone wanting to use their own property for their own best interest. Politicizing something, especially property rights, is a prescription for disaster; further politicizing a disaster like affordable housing will only make it worse.

One would think that politicians would really enjoy seeing affordable lots and houses available and therefore recognize that what they have tried up to now hasn’t worked. Perhaps they should try something revolutionary like letting the free market have a chance for a while. Something as simple as waiving all restrictions on re-zoning ag land to, say, R5 (8,700-square-foot lots) with generous tax incentives for selling at some price deemed affordable would make all the difference — and earn them the adoration they seem to crave. One thing is certain, more socialism will not work.

Kapa’a