NESTING BIRDS

KITEBOARDERS ARE OK, BUT WHAT OF KAYAKERS?

This is in regard to your article on complaints about kiteboarding at Kailua Beach in the Jan. 16 "Neighbors" section of the paper. I use the Kailua Beach Park entry by the Kalapawai market about twice a week to launch my one-man canoe. The kite surfers have always been pleasant and I have had no trouble launching my canoe, even when I had to roll it over their lines.

Of greater concern to me are the ever-increasing numbers of kayak tours. According to a tour leader whom I spoke to, these tours often land on Flat Island and view the nesting birds there. Since this island is a bird sanctuary, I am concerned about the potential harm to nesting birds from increasing visitations by people who do not live in the Windward area.

UPCOMING FIRINGS

JOE MOORE STAYING ON AT KHON? STAY TUNED

I respectfully point out that four very important little words were left out of one of my comments as reported in your Jan. 14 story regarding the mass across-the-board firings about to take place at KHON under its new owner, SJL Broadcast Co.

Your story quoted me as saying that I will remain at KHON under my current contract, which expires in 2009. My actual comment was, "As of this moment, I plan to honor the terms of my contract, which runs through 2009." Perhaps I should have emphasized to your reporter that "as of this moment" were key words in my statement.

Also not mentioned in your story was my comment that "I share GM Rick Blangiardi's vision for the future of KHON, so obviously it is deeply troubling to see a man with such high personal values and professional standards leave because SJL does not agree with that vision of how best to serve our viewers."

I believe it's fair to say that I, along with many of my fellow employees at KHON, did not swallow the Kool-Aid offered last week by the SJL comptroller during a question-and-answer session with our staff, and have adopted a wait-and-see attitude as to whether the new owners truly plan to operate KHON in the interest of the people of Hawai'i.

At this point, it is also fair to say that my fears for the worst exceed my hopes for the best.

As is so often said in the broadcast business, stay tuned.

MANOA ROBBERY

FACTS CLEARLY SHOW RODRIGUES INNOCENT

I am the sister of Shaun Rodrigues. Our justice system failed my brother. The facts of the case showed that the state of Hawai'i had no evidence to prove that Shaun was the Manoa home robber.

The fingerprint recovered at the home was not Shaun's. When first arrested, police informed him that the crime happened on July 7, 2000. My brother provided a shopping receipt proving he was at a different place at the time the crime was being committed. Later, police said they had the wrong date. Both Shaun and his mother passed polygraph tests, and no weapon was recovered to prove Shaun's involvement.

Victim Diane Sugihara stated in her police report that she could not positively identify the assailant because she didn't have her contacts in her eyes. Dawn Sugihara stated that she "really didn't really see him ... I saw his feet a lot." One of the descriptions given of the perpetrator was that he was a tall, dark-skinned Polynesian man. Clearly, this is not Shaun.

Through a faulty photo line-up, the Sugiharas identified Shaun as the assailant. Diane Sugihara had to be told that this was the same person who installed their home alarm system. She didn't even recognize that this was the same man she served an ice-cold drink to in her kitchen just two weeks prior to the robbery.

Our justice system failed my brother. This is a plea to the public; if anyone has information on this case, please come forward and do the right thing. Please contact attorney William Harrison at 523-7041.

A husband, father, son and brother had his freedom taken from him.

OPPOSITION

AKAKA BILL FORUM WAS JUST ANOTHER PR PLOY

The Jan. 12 article "Unity has Hawaiians hopeful on Akaka bill" ignores the reality of the ever-expanding, overwhelming opposition to the Akaka bill.

The recent $595-a-head "leadership forum" was yet another public relations ploy to foment the illusion of "a sense of softening in the resistance" against federal recognition of Hawaiians.

Was there "a shift"? No, just the same groups eternally hopeful of perpetuating their heavy funding from U.S. grants. Who else could afford to participate for three days at the Hilton Hawaiian Village?

Was there a "strong feeling of unity?" Perhaps, but once again, who was there? The article said: Native Americans and Alaskans; those already locked in the federal recognition dead end; and Maori, who accepted the guardianship of the British crown when the sovereign constitutional monarchy of Hawai'i was already internationally recognized.

The most important questions are, who wasn't there and why?

MORALS, VALUES

INTELLIGENT DESIGN IS NEEDED IN CLASSROOMS

Mr. Lou Zitnik's assertion that the teaching of intelligent design is being kept out of the classroom because it leads to less intelligent students is absurd, intolerant and close-minded (Letters, Jan. 16).

The random chaos that is the fundamental idea of evolution is at odds with the rationality and design that is observed in creation.

Many have accepted the evolution theory without question because it has been dressed up in false scientific integrity. Many of those teaching evolution have zealously become priests of their own religion and work with the energy of an evangelist to spread the faith of evolution.

This lie has had, and continues to have, terrible consequences, such as abortion, communism and other forms of violations of human rights.

If we continue to teach our children that human life is not more than a chance event, in essence worthless, our society will continue to witness such despicable events, such as homeless people being beaten with baseball bats for fun and boys as young as 10 and 11 raping young girls.

Human beings are unique; we are more than a body and mind. Human beings have souls, which allow them free will to choose between right and wrong. This is what distinguishes us from the animal world.

No, Mr. Zitnik, the real reason intelligent design is being kept out of the classroom is the fear that through the admission of a higher power, morals and values will become teachable in our classrooms, something we desperately need to get back into our schools.

IT BELONGS TO ALL

MANY CAME TOGETHER TO SAVE WAIMEA VALLEY

The North Shore Outdoor Circle was ecstatic to hear the news that our beloved Waimea Valley will once again be protected in its entirety.

We must preserve this cultural, ecological and botanical 'aina, which belongs to all people.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the state DLNR, the U.S. Army, the National Audubon Society and the City and County of Honolulu are to be commended for working together to bring this agreement to a fair conclusion for all concerned.

There have been many supporters from all sectors of life and politics in Hawai'i who deserve credit for helping to put the future of Waimea Valley back on the right track. As a member of the coalition to "Save Waimea," I feel the people have truly come together to protect this ahupua'a in perpetuity.

WAIKIKI

STREET PERFORMER PROPOSAL A BAD IDEA

Mayor Mufi Hannemann's veto of the bill to ban street performers in Waikiki was the right decision.

There's absolutely no doubt that the ACLU would spend as much money and time as it takes to have the law overturned as unconstitutional, even if it meant taking it to the highest court in the land. In that case, a municipality already facing tough financial times would have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend a proposal that should never have been approved in the first place.

Why Councilman Charles Djou and his colleagues had to cave in to big business in Waikiki is beyond me. Why they couldn't fashion a compromise is unfathomable.

The state of the city tells me that we need courage and vision and sacrifice from our leaders and our community. If the actions of the City Council are any indicator of these qualities, Honolulu is in big trouble.

SAFE SPORT

DON'T WORRY ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL SURFING

High school surfing is the best sport and safest our kids can compete in. Safer than a knee operation from football, a broken neck from a trampoline, a baseball to the head, and on and on and on.

It's been proven scientifically that your chances of getting hit by a car or lightning are greater than a shark munching on a surfer.

So, Satoru Handa's paranoid letter to the editor is way off the real world. Kids who surf are better drivers, healthier than most and appreciate mother nature more than your average athlete.

RON SORRELL | WAIKIKI

ALL THE HGEA REQUESTS IS BARGAINING TABLE FAIRNESS

The Hawai'i Government Employees Association is barely starting preparations to negotiate the 2007-2009 contracts, when — BANG! — we get sideswiped by David Shapiro's accusation (Dec. 28) that we are already using our "political clout" with the legislators to "hog" all the money for hefty pay raises.

Absurd as he may be, Mr. Shapiro requires a response. If the Legislature determined pay raises, then there would be no need for Gov. Lingle and the HGEA to negotiate or arbitrate. Both sides would simply lobby the Legislature, and what a true test of political muscle that would be. But that exists in Mr. Shapiro's world, not the real world.

In the real world, each of HGEA's seven bargaining units will use the coming months to develop a package of proposals that includes a fair pay raise. We will analyze the state's financial health, economic forecasts and other factors, including the proven fact that HGEA members, like the university faculty members, are underpaid when compared to our peers in West Coast states and cities.

Our goal is to settle at the bargaining table. However, this administration has never followed the law and bargained in good faith.

Mr. Shapiro should focus his criticism on the governor, and not those he refers to as "HGEA's army of bureaucrats" — which, we'd like to remind him, includes the lifeguards who brave big waves to rescue swimmers and surfers; the chemists who test our drinking water for toxins and carcinogens; the social workers who protect the poor, the young and the elderly.

HGEA's 27,000 members deserve greater respect and appreciation from Mr. Shapiro. Our members — clerks, engineers, doctors, nurses, principals, 911 dispatchers, health inspectors and many more — are essential to ensuring the best quality of life for every resident and visitor in our beloved Hawai'i. In return, all we seek is fairness.

RISE ABOVE POLITICS, WORK TOGETHER FOR PEOPLE OF ISLES

Editor's note: This is another in a series of letters from previous Advertiser Community Editorial Board members on the 2006 Legislature.

Across the United States, politicians at all levels have a very low approval rating. Many feel that politicians are out of touch with the problems and concerns that everyday people deal with.

Politicians seem preoccupied with petty politics and protecting their jobs. These criticisms have also been made about politicians in Hawai'i.

The governor and legislators will consider how to spend the budget surplus. This is an opportunity for them to show that government can work and be responsive to the needs of those who elected them.

The governor and members of the Legislature have already talked about how they will spend the surplus. They would do well to continue to solicit input from the community.

The price of gasoline continues to be high, affordable housing is less available, property taxes are rising, and travel to the other islands is increasingly a luxury many cannot afford. Many schools are long overdue for repairs.

Across the state, quality of life is suffering as commuters spend more time stuck in traffic. These and other realities confronted by the average citizen present many choices for the governor and legislators.

It is rare that politicians have the chance to show that they can do the right thing. Let's hope they will rise above politics and work together to serve the people of Hawai'i.