FAILURE IN MAKING

LEGISLATORS SHOULD FIX PRICE-CAP LUNACY

We'll just have to see how quickly the legislative party in power takes to go into special session and end this gasoline price-cap madness.

Virtually every effort to control prices with regulation has ended in dismal failure and major unintended consequences. The sooner this one goes, the better.

ECONOMY

GAS PRICES NOT KEEPING UP WITH BEER DRINKING

After filling up my 1989 Toyota truck this morning, and doing some simple calculating based on my records of previous fill-ups, it turns out that I am spending $1 more per day on gas than I did a year ago.

I figured one way I could break even would be to cut back one Corona a day on my pau hana beers, until I also figured out, due to the bustling economy, that I was already averaging two more Coronas a day than last year.

If gas prices continue to escalate as they have, there's no telling how many more Coronas I will be able to afford next year.

RISING DEMAND

GAS-CAP LAW IS JUST ONE MORE DUMB MOVE

The ludicrous gas-cap law demonstrates the colossal incompetence of politicians ignorant of economics and history. This idiotic attempt to repeal the law of supply and demand could repeat the federal Energy Department's creation of huge gas shortages and maddening multi-hour waits for service at the gas pumps.

During the 1979 "energy crisis," DOE bureaucrats shortchanged Northeastern states by basing Sunbelt-state allocations on their bloated winter demand. Free-market allocation could never have resulted in such a catastrophic blunder. By interfering with the free market, Hawai'i's politicians have chosen the best way to create shortages and gas lines.

Rising gasoline prices are an inevitable result of rising world demand, aggravated by stupid governmental policies. Socialized, 90 percent federal freeway financing, initiated during the Eisenhower administration half a century ago, heavily subsidized automobile commuting and undermined mass-transit systems.

High, artificially stimulated demand plus limited supply equals high fuel prices. Cheer up, America, the worst is yet to come.

STATE SURPLUS

UH FACULTY SHOULD GET SALARY INCREASE NOW

If Gov. Lingle is looking for a great way to spend some of the estimated $473 million surplus, I have an idea for her: reopening contract talks for UH faculty who agreed to a paltry salary increase last year based on the dismal forecasts of state revenues.

The deal called for almost laughable increases of 1 percent, 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively, in the first three years, with increases of 5 percent, 9 percent and 11 percent for years four through six. We union members were told that the state did not have the money to pay us more for years one through three, and so, while many of us are barely eking out an existence in Hawai'i, the majority in the union voted to ratify the contract. Now that the revenue projections indicate a record intake for the state, why not adjust the faculty salary increase of a measly 2 percent for this year to a living increase? How about 9 percent now?

O'ahu's astronomical housing costs, and low faculty salaries, are forcing an exodus of many of UH's younger faculty. Many newer faculty can barely afford to rent, much less purchase, housing in Honolulu, and since most are recruited to UH from abroad, they lack friends and family to share housing with. I have lost many excellent colleagues in the past few years who grew weary of wondering where they could afford to live on low salaries, especially in the humanities and social sciences.

Gov. Lingle, the Legislature and the UH faculty union should take a hard look at those new budget projections and renegotiate our contract to begin to give the faculty the salaries they deserve, now.

REASON

LEE CATALUNA SAYS IT LIKE IT REALLY IS

It's great to have Lee Cataluna back. Often, her column is about the only thing in the paper that makes much sense.

For example, she asks why the state has nearly $500 million in excess funds when our public schools are in bad shape. The guv wants to give tax rebates, while the kids and teachers are in buildings in states of disrepair.

As usual, Ms. Cataluna expresses her educated opinion in a clear and articulate manner. I appreciate her voice of reason.

TRAFFIC

WIRELESS BROADBAND WOULD SOLVE PROBLEM

When I read W. Knox Richardson's letter on Sunday ("Tele-communications will bring work home"), I felt that light bulb over my head. "Of course!" I said to myself, "The future is less traffic, not more transportation."

There are several cities right now implementing citywide wireless Internet access — why not O'ahu? If it's technically feasible for San Francisco, Philadelphia and even Lafayette, La., to provide broadband access to all, why not here?

Islandwide wireless broadband would cost about the same as a rounding error in the mass transit scheme, yet provide thousands of employees a way to stay home and work. The City and County of Honolulu could even charge a little for it.

But the real result would be smaller, more efficient offices and a lot less traffic. How about creating a better future rather than projecting some 1980s traffic pattern?

PADDLING

280 MILES IS NOTHING

In your story "Paddlers to power 280-mile voyage" (Aug. 14), it was incorrect to state the canoe journey "will be the first conducted entirely with human propulsion." They are paddling 280 miles supplied by escort boats. Truth to tell, there have been many rowboat ocean voyages of far greater length (across the Atlantic) and with no escort or relief crews. Check out www.oceanrowing.com/statistics.

TRANSIT

THE RIGHT DECISION

Congratulations to the City Council for taking a positive step forward to solve congestion on the beautiful island of O'ahu.

Keep moving forward to provide congestion relief to the residents.

HAWAI'I

'ASKED' FOR UNION?

William M. Stephens claims Hawai'i "asked" to be part of the U.S.A. (Letters, Aug. 18). Just like Iraq "asked" for a U.S. invasion, occupation and the resultant catastrophic mess we find ourselves in?

MAKIKI COMMUNITY LIBRARY NEEDS ALL THE HELP IT CAN GET

Makiki Community Library is one of the best-kept secrets on this island. It has operated for 27 years with a volunteer board and a handful of dedicated and caring volunteers, mainly retired librarians and members of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.

The volunteer library board wants to open a computer lab as a way to attract local youth, many of them from Micronesia, and establish programs such as reading hours that will attract mothers with young children.

For years, Makiki Library has offered the community a reading room/community center that addresses the growing needs posed by a surrounding community of young, often immigrant, residents who gravitate toward the park but who would benefit from more than simply sports activities or hanging out. The library also wants to attract their parents and siblings and make going to the park attractive to as many members of the family as possible.

Presently, vandalism has reduced the building to a ghetto zone. The city is about to start work to make the building usable, with working windows, an elevator and one ADA-compliant ground-floor bathroom. However, the $1.7 million the city will spend will only address the bare structural necessity of having a "safe" building. Much more is needed to convert this empty shell into a fully functional community center we all need, especially youth, young families and seniors. Crime and vandalism are constant concerns in this heavily populated area. More programs can only be added if the facility is safe and suitable.

It is difficult not to be shocked that the governor would not release the $4.5 million in state money, appropriated by the Legislature, to transform this historic shell into a much-needed community center. Other communities have received state monies for such projects. Why not Makiki?

GUEST SURVEY

PARK LUNCH WAGONS APPRECIATED

Thank you for your recent coverage of the mobile food concession program we recently implemented. However, please let me correct misstatements and misrepresentations in your article.

The issue of concessions was the subject of a prior Land Board public meeting, as well as several press releases, announcements and public notices for the state parks mobile food concessions.

Last year, the Hawai'i Tourism Authority conducted a guest survey at state parks. The survey revealed that about one-third of state parks guests are Hawai'i residents and about two-thirds are visitors.

Contrary to your headline and initial part of your story, the HTA survey showed it is actually the Hawai'i residents who were dissatisfied with the lack of food and beverages at our state parks.

When asked to rank satisfaction with park experiences, the HTA survey showed all park guests ranked food quality and lack of availability as the most dissatisfying aspect of their park experience.

I note that at the end of the article, you recognized that several park guests (residents and visitors) were satisfied with our recent mobile food concession action. Even an apparent critic bought something from our vendor.

Food concessions are not new to our 69 park locations, but they are very limited, and we don't plan to have them at every park. Prior to the recent request-for-proposal process, we only had food concessions at Koke'e State Park-Waimea Canyon State Park and Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area.

The HTA survey recommended review of food concession quality and availability (particularly in high utilization but remote parks).

Coupled with the findings and recommendations of the survey, we had received inquires from people interested in operating mobile food concessions at our facilities.

The fact that we have both the vendors and the public interested in park food concession opportunities made for a win-win situation.

Mobile food vendors are successful all over the state, and they provide a convenient, reasonably priced service. We are attempting to expand this concept to areas that have the demand but are not currently serviced in some of our parks.

The food concession concept is only being looked at for a limited number of parks; we are not looking to do this at all facilities.

Contrary to what is suggested, this issue is not focused on the money; however, the money will be used to support our parks. We are satisfying a stated need (by residents and visitors), and we are getting added benefits in doing so.

Daily, concessionaires are required to clean nearby park restrooms; in the event restrooms are not available (as is the case at the Pali Lookout), the concessionaire is required to provide luas for public use; and concessionaires clean up around their locations. In addition, their presence deters inappropriate behavior by others in the parks.

I note in your online poll that two-thirds of your readers support continuing the operations.

Information about DLNR's Parks Division is available at http://www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/dsp/dsp.html.