MEDICAL SCHOOL

UH BLEW IT IN LOSING SHOMAKER TO MAINLAND

Hawai'i blew it once again by losing Interim Medical School Dean Sam Shomaker to the University of Texas Medical School in Austin. The University of Hawai'i administration could have encouraged Dr. Shomaker to stay put and consider him for the permanent dean position at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine. Instead the message to him was we need to look elsewhere.

Why is it that decisionmakers feel the need to look outside of Hawai'i to find the best candidate for key positions in our community when the best candidates are already here?

In the case of Shomaker, he is the first graduate of the John A. Burns School of Medicine to become head of the medical school, although in an interim capacity. This is a powerful statement to current students, faculty and alumni of the medical school. In addition, Shomaker's wife, a physician practicing at Shriners Hospital for Children, and his children are involved and committed members of our community.

Shomaker successfully guided the medical school through the devastating 2004 flood in Manoa, the unfortunate resignation of Dean Cadman, the extremely complex relocation of the medical school to the Kaka'ako campus, the budget issues surrounding the operation of the new facilities, as well as the day-to-day operations. The University of Hawai'i will now spend untold thousands of dollars on the search for a new dean, a process which likely will take at least a year, and result in a candidate from another state with few or no ties to the islands.

I thought we learned from the President McClain experience that the best candidate is often already in Hawai'i. Our loss is the University of Texas's gain. When will we learn?

TELEMARKETING

HAWAIIAN TELCOM NOT EARNING ANY GOOD WILL

Hawaiian Telcom strikes again. First it was the billing fiasco, which is still not fixed. Now included with the latest incorrect invoice is a "Customer Proprietary Network Information — Special Notice."

In short, to restrict Hawaiian Telcom from bombarding its customers with telemarketing calls for its many services we must register our restriction by completing this postage paid postcard form and return it within 30 days. The postcard requests, among other things, phone number, billing name and address and signature. Either Hawaiian Telcom has not heard about identity theft or figures this way no one will return the form and they can telemarket at will.

Hawaiian Telcom President Mike Ruley and his minions have a lot to learn about good will. His PR spin will fall on deaf ears if Hawaiian Telcom's bungling persists.

SENATE RACE

JERRY COFFEE CARES ABOUT HAWAI'I'S PEOPLE

Jerry Coffee is exactly the kind of person we need to represent Hawai'i in the U.S. Senate. Capt. Coffee embodies courage and honor. He cares deeply about the people of Hawai'i. Coffee has the proven ability to bring people together, with great leadership skills. It is indeed time for a change, and Jerry Coffee would be a great choice.

WAI'ANAE

PUT HOMELESS CAMPS NEAR PEOPLE'S JOBS

I have been following the homeless situation here on the Wai'anae coast and I cringe every time I read that the state is looking for a site only here on the west side.

There should be many sites all over the island where the homeless can be nearer to their jobs and family. Not all the homeless you see on the west side are from this area. They ended up in this area because they have been driven here.

To focus on a homeless camp only in this area is too much of an impact for one community. We need solutions that will help our community thrive and flourish. Shouldn't we all share the aloha?

SUGAR CANE

WHAT IS REALLY BEHIND INTEREST IN CROP LAND?

Everyone in Hawai'i thinks dependence on U.S. and foreign oil is foolish for an island state.

Now we have three large landowners who, dismayed by the slight drop in land prices, have proclaimed that "we have a lot of abundance on the land side." Really? Is that why locally born people have to move to Las Vegas to afford land for their homes? Is that why we have a growing homeless problem?

Finally, why is it that, after giving up on sugar cane and pineapple because of our inability to compete with lower wages in foreign countries, all of a sudden growing sugar cane can be done cheap enough to compete with them?

There is only one credible reason for this sudden interest in growing crops that couldn't be grown a few years ago because of over-priced labor. If the land is placed in crops for a few years, the land price will shoot up, the crops will next be deemed way too expensive because of labor costs, so they will disappear and the land will then be ready for some nice expensive houses for all those nice people from somewhere else, not Hawai'i.

MACADAMIA INDUSTRY

AIKO TAKITANI SET TRADITION OF LOYALTY

Hawai'i has lost a quiet innovator with the passing of Aiko Takitani, the founder of Hawaiian Host Chocolates along with her husband, the late Mamoru Takitani.

I first met the Takitanis more than 30 years ago, when they approached me about buying my macadamia nuts. She was the quiet partner, but you could tell that she was smart at business like her husband. They purchased macadamia nuts by developing relationships with more than 500 farmers from the Big Island and some, like me, still supply nuts to the company today.

For the Takitanis, business always was based on the honor system. There were no contracts; agreements were sealed with a handshake. Our cooperative, the Hilo Macadamia Nut Association, is now the largest supplier of nuts to Hawaiian Host.

Many of the old-time growers are now in their 60s and 70s and we can all honestly say that tradition of loyalty and support that the Takitanis had for Hawai'i-grown macadamia nuts continues with the current leadership at Hawaiian Host.