Letters for Sunday, December 2, 2007

• Cataluna: OHA isn’t asleep at the wheel

• Send cement to Kilauea

• Disappointed by Airbus order

• Study on invasive species has some interesting findings

Cataluna: OHA isn’t asleep at the wheel

This is my first letter to The Garden Island; also, I have never written letters to the Honolulu Advertiser or the Honolulu Star Bulletin. But the Nov. 25 letter in The Garden Island from Whitney Anderson compelled me to write this response.

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs agrees with Mr. Anderson that the Hawaii Superferry is a private company.

That’s why we fail to understand why Mr. Anderson attacks the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for not holding Superferry hearings on Maui and Kaua‘i. This on top of the hearings that were held on those islands.

OHA did testify before the Legislature that it supports a full environmental impact statement for the Superferry.

This happened even while OHA continued serving its constituents. A few OHA November highlights of service to beneficiaries include:

Launched the Malama Loan Program with strategic partner First Hawaiian Bank. The program features a five-year, 5 percent fixed rate up to $75,000 for eligible consumers and businesses. It can be used for home improvement and education and by businesses startup or growth. For beneficiary convenience, Native Hawaiians can apply at any of FHB’s 58 branches statewide.

OHA issued a detailed report “Correcting The Record,” which derailed some members of the Hawai‘i State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Certain HSAC members led by litigator H. William Burgess conspired to vote down federal recognition and provide opponents in Washington a powerful headline against the bill pending in Congress. The HSAC on Nov. 15 voted 8-6 to table the matter, thereby not responding to pressure to undo the committee’s prior support of the bill.

OHA trustees awarded $1.4 million in grants to 20 organizations. Some were statewide, including monies for a Biography Research Center and funds to support the protection and preservation of lands with cultural and historic value.

Three of the 20 grants directly impact Kaua‘i. OHA awarded $28,500 to Ho‘omana to support job training development for special needs young adults; $38,500 to Papa Laua‘e o Makana to support cultural learning activities related to the history and protection of Kalihiwai Bay; and $36,211 to Waipa Foundation on behalf of Team Challenge to support a mentoring program for at risk youth.

All of this could not have been accomplished without the help of all nine Trustees, the administrator and the OHA staff.

Mr. Anderson is entitled to his opinion about the widely publicized Superferry saga. But the facts point out that OHA is not asleep at the wheel in working for our beneficiaries.

Trustee, Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau

Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Send cement to Kilauea

It’s nice that so many are enjoying the new coastal walking path, but before they extend it perhaps they could send some cement up to Kilauea for sidewalks? There’s many streets here without, and one particularly needy area is lower Kolo Road. Anyone walking up to the stores or to catch the bus — and more importantly children attending Kilauea School — have to walk “on” the road or in the often overgrown easement. It’s worse when it rains and water pours down Kolo Road like a mini river between Liliuokalani and the school. Pedestrians then have the choice of walking in that dirty road water or on the muddy easement.

Add to that the many drivers who speed down this street oblivious to their surroundings like it’s an extension of Kuhio Highway. For example, I installed a mail box last year and even though it’s very visible (with reflectors) it’s already been hit five times! Twice this was done during the day, right after school let out. A mailbox can be replaced, people can’t.

And while they’re at it, maybe they could replace those rusty, bent-out-of-shape-from-so-many-accidents guardrails on the Kolo Road bridge. And perhaps some more streetlights so we can walk safely at night, too.

There’s plenty of young families in Kilauea, and too many streets without sidewalks. As the keiki population continues to grow, I sure hope some tax dollars can be used up here before someone ends up like my mailbox!

Laurel Kenney

Kilauea

Disappointed by Airbus order

I was saddened by the announcement of the multi-billion dollar order placed by Hawaiian Airlines with Airbus. There are only two builders of wide-body passenger aircraft — Boeing and Airbus. Boeing is an American company employing tens of thousands of union workers here in our country. Airbus, on the other hand, is a consortium partially owned and subsidized by the French and German governments. At this time in history, neither of these countries is our friend or ally.

Some of us consider Hawai‘i to also be part of the United States of America. We should support our own industry and jobs. I plan to boycott Hawaiian Airlines and limit my inter-island travel to go! and Aloha and my Mainland travel to United or other carriers using Boeing equipment.

Stan Godes

Hanalei

Study on invasive species has some interesting findings

Those who are concerned about the real and imagined invasive species that the Superferry will bring in should find this interesting.

The State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture did a study in 2002 at Kahului airport concerning only air freight coming into that airport to determine the volume of invasive species arrivals.

They determined that one invasive species per day arrived there. That was insects, plant disease, etc. The study did not cover any other type of transportation such as ships or barges by sea. Honolulu airport, being much larger, would be expected to bring in a much larger number of invasive species.

The study did not cover international air freight, as that was considered a federal matter. As indicated, the study did not cover cruise ships, tourist arrivals or barges. The study did not cover whether any of the invasive species became established or not.

For those who went berserk over the Superferry bringing in invasive species, it’s something to think about. The Department of Agriculture should have this study available.

Bob Yount

Kalaheo