• HCDA’s plan could privatize Kewalo Basin • Drinking is a “legal crime” • Equal protection under the lens • Denying reality HCDA’s plan could privatize Kewalo Basin In 2012, the state fulfilled its constitutional obligations to Native Hawaiians by
• HCDA’s plan could privatize Kewalo Basin • Drinking is a “legal crime” • Equal protection under the lens • Denying reality
HCDA’s plan could privatize Kewalo Basin
In 2012, the state fulfilled its constitutional obligations to Native Hawaiians by providing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs with fee simple title to lands in Kaka‘ako makai.
However, to our surprise, the Hawaiian Community Development Authority had agreed to lease the harbor in Kaka‘ako for 50 years to a California-based marina operator and increase the boats slips to 243.
Now, OHA is feeling heavy pressure from both entities to accept the harbor improvements, which include two “finger” piers that will extend from OHA’s Fisherman’s Wharf site.
OHA was not aware of the HCDA’s commitment to the finger piers prior to our signing the settlement agreement with the state.
OHA needs its oceanfront unobstructed to be able to master plan our area as a whole.
Cruise ships docked in front of our property would violate our promise to the Kaka‘ako community.
Rowena Akana
Trustee-at-Large
Office of Hawaiian Affairs
O‘ahu
Drinking is a “legal crime”
In response to the letter Feb. 10 (“Re-think legalizing marijuana”), I think Mr. Mickens should rethink what we are asking for. As a student fifty some years ago, I remember the propaganda of government (“Reefer Madness”) warning us of the use of marijuana as the leader to more powerful drug addiction and uses. Now after some fifty years of experience and its effects on society, states are now legalizing it and taking a road to control it and tax it to help make ends meet.
The stupidity of government and society is that we continually spend billions of dollars consuming and advertising alcohol.
Mr. Mickens, you seem to think that wanting to legalize a substance that, according to you, is altering to get a feeling of “vigor” or “high spirits” is insanity. You are right, there are plenty of idiots driving all over this country under the influence of alcohol, but I have never heard of a driver who has the feelings of “vigor or “high spirits” being the everyday cause of millions of families destroyed by the same likes of a drunk driver.
It’s mind-boggling to think we have lawmakers that would continually allow the legal use of alcohol showing the statistics of terrible losses to society. It leads me to think that it’s government’s way to help control our population and make a fortune for itself and the liquor industry while committing a legal crime to society.
Steve Martin
Kapa‘a
Equal protection under the lens
I confess to some sympathy for public figures caught in unattractive photos while vacationing in Hawai‘i and other places. I have particular sympathy for those who are aging, as I am.
However, some of these are people who have routinely and intentionally flashed or grabbed their crotches, bared their bottoms, shaved their heads, and otherwise provided spectacles while the cameras rolled, even when they weren’t performing.
One must therefore pause before enacting laws that set aside legal precedent and fly in the face of constitutional guarantees of equality under the law. If the so-called “Tyler” law is enacted, will it be illegal to snap a picture of a movie star but still be okay to put an unflattering photo of “nobodies” like your mother in law or your fat ex-wife on Facebook? Do you get arrested for taking a picture of a starlet but not for sending one of your naked former girlfriend to your buddies?
Perhaps a little compassion and an eye to avoiding intentional infliction of emotional distress should be applied to everyone, not just the famous.
Susan Kelsey-Brooks
Lihu‘e
Denying reality
I think that publishing Bob Bartolo’s letters (Jan. 30, “Idealists, it’s time to face reality”) on his view about communism and about his youthful involvement in socialist movements was a smart decision. We can see how people look at the same world with different eyes. He tried a few things when young and now he became a hard working successful businessman in a capitalist system. He considers socialism and communism crap. I would be more careful with the branding, because today’s reality is different.
People can lead a happy life in both systems, but not everybody. Strangely, it became a fact that the world leader of capitalism, the United States can no longer maintain its prosperity and carry out its military adventures without the help of those despised communist countries. As of Nov. 2012, the U.S. owes communist China $ 1.17 trillion and Russia $ 164.1 billion. If China stopped lending us more money, we could not buy the Chinese products that flood the U.S. market and we could not even repay our loans to our foreign lenders. What will happen when the lenders call the loan? Our children and grandchildren will have to pay it back no matter what. Unless, of course, the U.S. chooses a military option, which would be the ultimate mistake.
But how is it possible that a communist country with centrally planned economy can outperform its greatest capitalist borrower? It is very simple. They do not start and fight senseless and endless wars, and they increase the buying power of their population by increasing the size of the middle class while reducing poverty. Maybe this recipe would work for the U.S. too. Why not try then? Afraid of being blamed for learning something from the communists? Smart people learn the good things wherever they come from and bypass the bad ones. Branding does not help.
János Samu
Kalaheo
