• Keep politics, religion separate • Lawsuits and advisory opinions • Mahalo, veterans Keep politics, religion separate The Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i would like to thank The Garden Island for printing the letter by Bishop Okano and Alton Miyamoto on
• Keep politics, religion separate •
Lawsuits and advisory opinions • Mahalo,
veterans
Keep politics, religion separate
The Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i would like to thank The Garden Island for printing the letter by Bishop Okano and Alton Miyamoto on October 30, 2010 (“Respecting the role of religion in our community”), addressing the relationship between religion and politics in Hawai‘i.
At our meeting on November 5, 2010, the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i unanimously voted to endorse and support the views of Bishop Okano and Alton Miyamoto.
Now that the election is over, we hope that we can continue discussing this crucial issue in the public forum.
We encourage all citizens of all faith communities to stand strong for the foundational principle of the separation of church and state and to bring about change wherever necessary within their own church, synagogue, temple or mosque.
We also appeal to our elected officials, who have taken an oath to represent and serve all citizens of their state, county or district, to acknowledge the diversity of peoples on our island and in the state, act inclusively and compassionately, examine their ethics and probe into the integrity of their practices within the framework of our Constitution.
As we move forward, we all need to support our political leaders and pray for them in the difficult task of guiding our island and state on the path to an ever better future.
When we stand strong for these principles we ensure that our political administration remains free and unencumbered by special interests and empowered to nurture the precious heritage of ‘ohana and aloha, family unity and love for everyone on our beautiful island.
This is the heritage of all Kauaians.
As Bishop Okano stated so well, “The values of compassion, love, respect and tolerance that make Hawai‘i so special are universal and not limited to any one religion.”
We urge each individual to incorporate into his or her life the separation of religion and politics as consistent with the principles on which this nation was founded.
Let our actions be our teaching to our children and our grandchildren, who will be the future leaders of our community, to respect one another, whatever their beliefs.
Monroe Richman, Acting chairperson, Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua‘i
Lawsuits and advisory opinions
According to this Friday’s (today’s) agenda, the Board of Ethics has been asked separately by members of the Liquor Control Commission, Director Eric Honma, and Deputy County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask to render advisory opinions regarding whether there is a violation for the commission to hear a liquor-license application from an applicant who is suing the county and the commission, and if there is no violation, is there a conflict of interest in hearing and processing said application.
The commission had been ordered by the court to place on its October agenda a liquor-license application it had previously denied, following which the requests for advisory opinions were sent to the Board of Ethics.
Details about the lawsuits are posted online with the board’s agenda (www.kauai.gov).
As I see it, the public has an interest particularly in two questions.
First, will the Board of Ethics allow itself to be drawn into long-standing and ongoing litigation and, if so, on what grounds?
Second, where might the board turn for expert legal advice about its own decision-making, given the fact that it is usually advised by the county attorney’s office, which is a part of the political structure and which in this matter is one of the parties complaints have been filed against?
The Board of Ethics is attached administratively to the Office of Boards and Commissions, but it is not a part of the administration.
Its primary function is to represent the public interest independently by interpreting and applying the Code of Ethics.
At the state level and in Honolulu the Ethics Commission is authorized to employ its own legal counsel.
It is past time for the Charter Commission to offer a charter amendment authorizing our Board of Ethics to employ independent legal counsel when appropriate.
Horace Stoessel, Kapa‘a
Mahalo, veterans
This Veterans Day, as I remember the sacrifice the veterans of America have made for each of us over the years, and the many people who have laid down their lives to protect our freedoms, I want to say thank you.
Thank you, to those who have served at home and abroad and to their families, to brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, grandparents and grandchildren, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, and friends.
I quote, “Greater love has no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13).
I have not forgotten your love or your sacrifice.
This year I will not be silent.
This year I want you to know that I am grateful, thank you for your love, may God bless you richly for the service you have rendered me, in the service of America.
Alison Thain, Koloa
