Letters for Sunday, February 10, 2008
• Is this necessary?
• Dear Kaua‘i
• Time for bag limits
• Traffic solution is less cars, not more roads
• It’s a good thing that Obama wasn’t a CEO
Is this necessary?
I worked along side two of the three officers for several years, and know personally how dedicated, and honest they are (“‘Maui trip’ officers plead no contest,” A1, Feb. 7).
It’s a shame that something like this has come to the public’s eye, just to fullfill one’s political agenda, when it could have easily been handled administratively and not destroy three dedicated officers’ lives. I’m sure this sort of thing has happened in the past, but was handled in an entirely different way, as to not put yet another blemish on KPD’s record.
God bless Wes and Channing, you both are in my prayers.
Robert Ford
From the Web
Dear Kaua‘i
On behalf of the Smith family, I apologize to the community of Kaua‘i. I feel your pain. It’s not OK for inidividuals to bring drugs to Kaua‘i. It hurts our people, our families. I do hope this will serve as a lesson to all. I will do what I can to get in touch with my nephews. I do love them.
Kalamai people of Kaua‘i.
Rhoda Smith
From the Web
Time for bag limits
If you are a fisherman, when was the last time you caught an abundance of kumu, moana kali, munu or uhu?
Do you remember the spots you used to see or catch a lot of these fish as you dove or fished the reefs around our island?
Sadly, as a recreational spearfisherman here on Maui, I now see most of these fish only in the various fish markets; even the Maui Ocean Center does not seem to have a viable population of these fish.
These popular fish are swimming with crosshairs on their backs, as they command a very high price in our markets and restaurants. The state of Hawai‘i recently raised the minimum sizes for the kumu and uhu, but these new regulations alone will not be enough to facilitate the recovery of the stocks if the prime market size is also the allowable minimum size for capture. What good is a minimum size to the resource if one can take as many as he can? How many kumu or uhu does a fisherman need to feed his family?
It is time now for fishermen to unite on this issue and voice support for House Bill 3260. This bill proposes a bag limit for the aforementioned fish in an effort to protect the remaining stocks in a way that we can still traditionally and sustainably harvest them for tonight’s dinner — and hopefully discourage the commercial harvest of these fish from Maui’s reefs.
HB3260 currently pertains to Maui only. If the other islands such as Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau want the bill modified to include them, let your lawmakers know about it! In the meantime, we need to let Rep. Ken Ito of the House committee on Water. Land, Ocean Resources and Hawaiian Affairs know that you support this bill. Call him at 586-8470, or e-mail him at repito@capitol.hawaii.gov
Additionally, let Rep. Mele Carroll know that you support her initiative in hearing this bill. You can reach her at 586-6790 or repcarroll@capitol.hawaii.gov
If you are seeing less of these fish now and we do not make any changes to the way we continue to allow the taking of our resources what do you think your children will be able to catch in a few years?
Brian M. Yoshikawa
Wailuku, Maui
Traffic solution is less cars, not more roads
The solution to the traffic problem is not more roads. It is less cars. It is time taxpayers stopped subsidizing cars by building more and more roads for them.
The solution to the energy problem is not ethanol, albizia or wind power. It is solar.
For those who argue about higher costs, subsidies and lack of storage, I submit that you are shallow, short-term thinkers. You should all sell your houses and rent. It’s cheaper in the short term.
The solution to high costs of government and high taxes is less of it. While there are many hard-working, dedicated folks working in government doing their best, government is basically a monopolistic service industry that functions primarily in its own interest. Most services provided would be more efficient and less costly if subjected to competitive bidding from the private sector. Many services provided by government are simply unnecessary, such as seminars on how to eradicate pakalolo! Being held in bondage to a government union is no longer acceptable. For starters, close all government offices on Fridays and let the employees take a corresponding pay cut. It’s about time they tighten their belts along with the rest of us who pay their salaries.
The solution to the trash and landfill problem will require a total change of thinking. First, manufactures must be required to produce bio-degradable packaging. For now, all containers — including liquor, wine and any glass or plastic package or bag — should be included in the redemption program. The government should love this since it makes a penny from each container.
Next, mandatory curb side recycling should be implemented NOW. A monthly fee for trash pick up is not unreasonable.
The solution to “affordable” housing is more land to build on with less government restrictions. Look to Habitat for Humanity for a model. If the large landowners on this island — including Steve Case, McClosky, and the Robinsons — would sell or lease some of their acreage at reasonable prices, perhaps in return for tax credits, there could be plenty of affordable homes for locals.
Michael Wells
Kapa‘a
It’s a good thing that Obama wasn’t a CEO
This is in response to Gordon Oswald’s Feb. 8 letter disparaging Barack Obama (“Is this a dream?” Letters).
Considering the recent track record of the CEOs of many big corporations, I consider it an asset that Obama has never run a company. Perhaps that gives him a better understanding of the real world, where hard-working people are often at the mercy of such companies. The comment about “the proverbial black man with dark glasses in a dim-lit inner city bar” is a racist stereotype and comparable to the Don Imus comment about the Rutgers women’s basketball team.
However, Gordon, you don’t need to worry. Whether the Democratic candidate for president is Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, they will have such small shoes to fill that there is little doubt that either one will be successful!
Linda Estes
Koloa