RHODE ISLAND DONATION

DEMS SHOULD CONDEMN MISUSE OF PARTY FUNDS

As a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, I was shocked to read that the Hawai'i Democratic Party contributed $5,000 to a U.S. Senate candidate in Rhode Island.

Why would my party, which is always struggling to raise funds, send $5,000 to a candidate in Rhode Island instead of using the money for party-building activities at home in Hawai'i? And, whether it was for a primary or a general election, is irrelevant. It is still a misuse of Democratic Party funds.

I do not know Jane Sugimura, treasurer of the Hawai'i Democratic Party, but I do not for one moment believe that she wrote that check without being authorized to do so by someone in a position above her.

That person should step forward and take responsibility for this ridiculous use of state Democratic Party funds.

I call upon Hawai'i's Democratic elected officials and Democratic candidates to condemn this shameful, if not illegal, act.

We expect better from our state party and all Democrats should send that message loud and clear.

DEVELOPMENT

WE NEED TO BALANCE ISLE CIVIC INTERESTS

Dean Uchida (Letters, March 14) needs to revisit his civics lessons, perhaps starting with a good read of the letters to the editor.

The "political science" of letters will instruct him that there is no single civic interest but rather many special interests, such as fishermen's rights, tax refund rights, North Shore traffic rights, over-70er's rights, even charter school and spaceport rights.

Neighborhood boards are full of developers who don't want "it" in their backyards and they are entitled to that view.

But, Mr. Uchida, just keep in mind that politics is about policy, about brokering among these diverse interests through charters, councils and even legislatures.

Sure, get involved, just don't get miffed if you don't get "what belongs to you."

EMPLOYMENT

WORKING POOR STRUGGLE TO COVER BASIC COSTS

The headline in the business section of your March 11 edition trumpets that Hawai'i's "Job rate at 15-year low."

The article goes on to say that we have led the nation with the lowest unemployment for 21 consecutive months. Quotes include "remarkable," "across the board good times," "its just crazy."

The article also points out that median wage is rising and is now $12 an hour. Let the good times roll, right?

But wait. Half the people in Hawai'i make $12 an hour or less? That's at most $1,450 a month after taxes.

Rent for a studio or a modest one-bedroom apartment starts at $1,000 these days, assuming you can find one and win the lottery required to be the lucky tenant.

Add $150 for utilities and you're paying out 80 percent of your income for housing, leaving you a whopping $75 a week for all your other expenses.

So now its official. Just because you have a full-time job in Hawai'i doesn't mean you can afford a place to live.

EMERGENCY ROAD

WAI'ANAE RESIDENTS SICK OF 'EMPTY PROMISES'

Once again, the Wai'anae Coast is held hostage by circumstances beyond the residents' control. Once again, the much-promised secondary route is unavailable to us.

Once again, we hear promises that those who can will make sure that this does not happen again because someone is going to emphasize prevention instead of intervention.

Let's see! Not in any particular order, we could not get out because someone maliciously burned the old wooden bridge that connects Makaha to the rest of the island.

Another time we could not get out because of a huge sink hole by the Wai'anae Methodist Church.

Oh, it's not just about being able to get out. How about the oil spill in front of St. Rita's Church or the hostage situation at Nanakuli Avenue?

And now we have telephone poles downed over the only way in and out.

In every situation we, the residents have heard promises. The only thing delivered so far is a $2 million bridge to nowhere.

Our coastline can take the island's trash. Our coastline serves as a place where the homeless camp because they are hassled wherever else they try to get by.

Our coastline is so used to empty promises. We are so used to waiting and being patient I think we have forgotten how to get damn mad, mad enough to rise up and say we are not going to tolerate another day of taxation without effective representation.

We are waiting, all right — for election day. Actions speak louder than words.

POSITIVE REFORMS

LAWMAKERS SHOULD PASS TAX RELIEF BILLS

I hope the state Legislature passes tax relief this session. Hawai'i's citizens are among the most overtaxed in the nation.

Gov. Lingle has again presented to the Legislature a tax relief package. Instead of rejection, the legislative majority should negotiate with the governor.

There has been some change in opinion. Senate President Bunda has looked favorably on tax relief. Other Democrats have ignored this issue and focused only on funding programs of their choice.

Even though the state has a substantial budget surplus, the legislative majority appears uninterested in tax relief.

Gov. Lingle and the legislative Republicans have presented a positive alternative: Fund a package of lower and fairer taxes and needed programs such as education and affordable housing.

Unlike Democrats in the 1960s, many Democrats seem uninterested in positive reforms.

Voters should re-elect Governor Lingle and elect more Republicans to the state Legislature if they seek positive change.

UTILITY LINES

PROTECT COAST DRIVERS FROM FUTURE ACCIDENTS

There is only one way in and one way out of Nanakuli, Ma'ili and Wai'anae unless you have access through Kolekole Pass. Not many do.

How about HECO, Oceanic and Hawaiian Telcom getting together with the mayor, make a commitment to the Leeward side and put the utility lines underground along Farrington Highway?

CONSERVATIONISTS OUTMATCHED

FISHING INTERESTS HARD TO TOP

Tony Costa wrote an impassioned letter (March 14) representing "Hawai'i's near shore fisherman."

However, Tony Costa is the director of foreign sales for Pacific Ocean Producers. Every time a fishing boat leaves the harbor in Hawai'i, Tony makes money!

POP is a huge company which operates over 125 long-line fishing vessels in Hawai'i and another 75 in other areas including Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Saipan, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Australia and California.

Pacific Ocean Producers has played a major role in developing fisheries in the South Pacific islands. Pacific Ocean Producers provides longline fishing equipment and supplies throughout the Pacific region.

It sells most of its catch to the Mainland, Asia and Europe. They also claim to "regulate themselves" through Wespac and do not seek any outside observers, guidelines or management.

As a partner in the largest U.S. long-line fleet operating in the Pacific Ocean, Mr. Costa's opinions have nothing to do with the protection of aquatic resources or local fishermen's rights, and everything to do with promoting a political agenda of ensuring the ongoing success of his billion dollar industry.

On the other hand, Suzanne Case, director of the Nature Conservancy, tries to appeal to those few informed environmentalists (letter, March 8). She believes in using "good science" and common sense as a measure to create a seasonal moratorium in the yet to be defined marine reserves.

Unfortunately, history shows us that big commercial fishing companies have more money and more clout in Hawai'i than any other concerned groups combined. It's like the big tobacco companies claiming that cigarettes don't really pose a health risk. Good luck, Suzanne.

Peter Young of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (letter, Feb. 20), might as well just throw in the towel on this battle to defeat special interest groups like Mr. Costa's from swaying policymaking. All of the conservation management agencies involved are no match to his big-bucks pillaging of the Pacific! Peter's only a little fish swimming upstream.

Just like the Pacific Northwest timber industry through Weyerhauser found sanctions and support from the Bush administration to continue logging in areas that will never again sustain a rate of new growth, so it goes with the fish populations here in Hawai'i being regulated by WesPac.

Without public awareness and consistent intervention there are no checks and balances to overfishing, either.

As a licensed PADI SCUBA instructor since 1976, I warn you that Hawai'i's residents are about to miss the boat completely on saving our most important natural resource — fish!

The Hawaiian expression is "'a'ole hiki i ka i'a li'ili'i ke ale i ka i'a nui" or "a small fish cannot swallow a big fish."

Gulp.

BANYAN, OTHER TREASURES LOST IN TURTLE BAY DEBATE

I have been following the dialogue concerning Oaktree management's proposed Kawela Bay development, and I notice that much of that dialogue centers around things like market impact, economic effects, the tourism industry, traffic congestion and job growth.

Not as prevalent in these discussions are the environmental effects of this development. In the midst of the fight to save Kawela Bay, there are innocent creatures caught in the crossfire who seem to have no advocate.

Who is there to defend the endangered sea turtle, the dolphin, the seals who occasionally beach themselves along the coast and even the human surfers, from the loss of a priceless habitat?

Where else will the sewage of 3,500 hotel and condo units go? And who will fight for the pristine, majestic forest behind Kawela Bay that management and economist seem to have forgotten?

Why doesn't anybody mention the ancient banyan tree rooted in the center of this mysterious forest? Have any of these tourism officials ever even laid their gaze upon that particular tree?

It is enormous and utterly breathtaking to behold and I count myself lucky to have seen it at least once before it is mercilessly cut down, never to be seen again. It is true; no pricetag could ever be put on such a thing.

So I'd like to propose a question for the people to ponder: What is it, then, that is so precious about Hawai'i?

I will give you a hint. It is something in the air, something more precious than any economic benefit and something that people can only feel.

Give up? It is the mana, or the spiritual power of this land that the people love about Hawai'i more than anything, though many who may notice this essence may not realize what it really is.

The only tested and true money maker of Hawai'i has been and always will be its lovely environment.

So to ensure Hawai'i's future economic viability, the long-term solution should not be to build more hotels at the expense of simple beauty, but to protect this mana for the benefit of future generations to enjoy.

So I urge you to go to Kawela Bay and visit that tree before it is too late. Perhaps then you will understand what I mean.