• Bottomfishing methods need regulation • Disappointed with portrayal of young sex offenders • Sex predators not all men • Orwell dancing in his grave Bottomfishing methods need regulation The state’s new bottomfishing restrictions are the dumbest thing that I
• Bottomfishing methods need regulation
• Disappointed with portrayal of young sex offenders
• Sex predators not all men
• Orwell dancing in his grave
Bottomfishing methods need regulation
The state’s new bottomfishing restrictions are the dumbest thing that I have seen for a long time. It is the methods of bottomfishing that require control.
Before World War II, the Hawaiian fishermen of Japanese descent used to fish as deep as 1,200 feet for ehu, onaga and other bottomfish. They didn’t have GPS. Instead, they used landmarks to locate their fishing holes. Non Japanese, such as my friend Johnny Abreu, learned from the Japanese. During the war, when fishermen of Japanese ancestry were prohibited from fishing from boats, locals such as Abreu were the fishermen. The lines used in deep bottomfishing were of hand laid linen, tanned with shibu (persimmon juice). They were sent to the bottom with 5 pounds of lead and a leader which contained as many as 10 Hawaiian hooks.
Pulling up 1,200 feet of line, fish and hooks took strength and stamina. It is impossible to fish out the bottomfish stock using this method. First the state has to distinguish between sportfishermen and commercial fishermen. Almost all fishermen today locate the fish by depth finders and GPS. Commercial fishermen use methods ranging from deep trawls to deep lines, which they retrieve with electric winches. The results, unless controlled, can be devastating. Sport fishermen may also use electric winches. For them, a bag limit might be the answer to overfishing particular areas.
The state, instead of blindly following certain federal regulations, should discuss these matters with the feds, who I have found to be sincerely interested in tailoring their regulations to local conditions.
Harry Boranian
Lihu‘e
Disappointed with portrayal of young sex offenders
Editor’s note: The following is in response to an editorial decision to remove a sentence that included a name in a letter that was published yesterday. The letter writer is convinced the omission changed the entire tone of the letter. TGI agreed to run this letter to clarify and because the name is on record in the original article referenced.
I am deeply disappointed in what happened to my letter I sent in (“How can we live like this?” Letters, April 11).
I was inspired to write to The Garden Island because I was disturbed by the fact that Renae Hamilton, the director of the YWCA in an article on April 6 was referring to girls 13, and 14 years old as “young adults” and that legal aged, raping molesting perpetrators were referred to as “young people.” Additionally she expressed concern about the jail sentences these “young people” might get for their crimes as being “trouble.”
My concern is that some of the ways child abuse is perpetuated is a problem of perception — unfortunately even by those who are directing agencies which are supposed to be helping the victims.
Sunday’s article drove that thought home and that is why I wrote my letter to the newspaper. By removing my response to how she referenced the above, it saddened me that the opinion I sought to share lost an important point. Perception can perpetuate tolerance of something and minimize what should be revolting to most communities. I am a Guardian Ad Litem for family court here on the island of Kaua‘i. I have spent years helping child victims. I am sad that what the public got yesterday in the Letters section was a very diluted view that didn’t say much and didn’t offend anyone.
I have no personal beef with anyone who tries to help the ills of our society including Renae Hamilton whom I am sure has good intentions and works very hard. Just be careful what you call young girls, and what you call a rapist, no matter how old they are. There are those who will take it as an opportunity to legitimize their sick behavior.
Shari Pilaria
Koloa
Sex predators not all men
I just read and reread the letter by Shari Pilaria (“How can we live like this?” Letters, April 11) and was a bit bothered by it.
While I agree that abuse of any kind against a child should never be minimized or tolerated period, I felt as if Shari thinks that this is a “man” problem. Her numerous references to men as the source of the problem feels like it has a slight “hate men” edge to it.
Sorry, but that is what stuck out to me.
Am I offended? Not really.
Perhaps the point of Shari’s letter would have had more weight if she had been more neutral in her reference to the abusers as sexual predators instead of him, he, men, etc.
Again, please do not misunderstand what I’m saying. Sexual predators come in both genders and neither should ever be tolerated. By the same token, justice should also have no reference or preference to gender when dealing with these despicable individuals. And yes Shari, I agree with you. He did get off too easy.
Stephen Shioi
Kapa‘a
Orwell dancing in his grave
I would like to quote two paragraphs in a Washington news release that appeared in The Garden Island morning briefing section on March 29:
“Washington — Deadly mortar fall in the fortified Green Zone. The U.S. fires a Hellfire missile in Baghdad. Fighting escalates in Basra, where the mettle of Iraq security forces is being sorely tested.
To President Bush, this could spell progress in Iraq.”
Sigh. Those who fall for this are most surely true believers. George attracts them by the bundle. Or else they played a little too much follow the leader when they were kids.
George Orwell must be dancing in his grave.
Bettejo Dux
Kalaheo
