EDUCATION

PARENTS HAVE KEY ROLE IN EDUCATING CHILDREN

What is going to help the children of Hawai'i the most when it comes to their education?

1. Give another increase to the already bloated annual budget of the BOE — more than $2 billion a year.

2. As a separate entity of the state government, allow the BOE the right to tax the people of Hawai'i directly — an action that had been previously sought by the BOE.

3. Drug test all of the teachers — to what end?

4. Increase the pay for both full-time and part-time teachers — something that should be done.

5. Purchase school books for the children.

6. None of the above.

The answer is: None of the above.

Hawai'i's public educational system is not going to get any better until the people of Hawai'i recognize the root cause of the problem: parents who, for whatever reason, do not take a positive, active interest or role in their child's (children's) education, from Day 1 in the child's life.

We have read the same story for more than half a century, and nothing is done.

Remember, you can lead a horse to water but...

BARACK OBAMA

A TASTE OF HAWAI'I IN THE WHITE HOUSE

What's going to happen if Barry makes it into the White House? If he does, this is what we, as a state, will want to see happen. Aloha Fridays in D.C. We're tired of seeing the same color suits over and over on TV. His two daughters wearing slippers on their first day of school in the capital.

"Slow down, this ain't the Mainland" bumper sticker on the presidential limo, along with surf racks. When he goes overseas for the first time and a White House press corps member records him meeting someone from Hawai'i asking, "What school you went?"

He answers the critics after flying home on Air Force One for the weekend, "Get mean waves!" Sam Choy is appointed White House chef and builds an imu on the lawn. He pulls strings and gets UH to play at Georgetown in basketball, so he can have a reason to wave ti leaves.

He says, after using his first veto, "If can can, if no can no can." He signs an executive order abolishing the practice of "shipping to the U.S., excluding Alaska and Hawai'i."

JELLYFISH

STUDY SHOULD BE DONE ON DEVELOPED COASTLINE

In response to J. Pettibone's letter ("Overfishing creates jellyfish proliferation," Aug. 14), I feel that there is a correction in order. First off, to blame spikes in jellyfish population on overfishing of top-level predators is a complete joke, and then to extend it to the conditions in Hawai'i is even more ludicrous, when creatures like jellyfish are at the mercy or benefit of ocean currents and other human impacts besides fishing.

As opposed to Pettibone's casual observations, fishermen know that sea turtles eat jellyfish. I am quite certain sea turtles have not been sighted in the Ala Wai for a long, long time, while outside of Honolulu and around the Islands they are proliferating.

Ironically, when Pettibone mentions that "Tourists and locals like to play and swim in the ocean," it is completely lost on people that the same like to do other things in and near the ocean, like running jet skis and tour boats through fish nurseries, paving over estuaries, ponds and spawning grounds, diverting freshwater outlets and dumping sewage, garbage and storm runoff.

Perhaps a study should be done as to why in particular the box jellyfish is now a problem most significantly along O'ahu's south shore, one of the state's most developed coastlines.

BULKY TRASH

CITIZENS, CITY CAN WORK TOGETHER ON PROBLEM

I agree with Lisa Hogg's letter (Aug. 12) pointing to illegal dumping as a problem on O'ahu. However, I disagree that the sole burden lies with the city.

Before 2005, the city collected bulky items outside of the Honolulu district on an appointment basis only. When the Hannemann administration took office, he recognized the problem and elevated the frequency to once-a-month islandwide pickup and, in some high-density neighborhoods, added a second, unscheduled pickup.

Unfortunately, in apartment complexes there is a lot of turnover with tenants. Many times tenants abandon numerous bulky items when vacating their units. In these cases, landlords, property and resident managers could play a key role working with our refuse district superintendents in establishing collection points within their properties. This would keep tons of bulky items off the curbside.

The city will continue to be persistent in seeking a means to curb illegal dumping and encouraging residents and property managers to be more responsible and report illegal dumpers to the Honolulu Police Department.

NAVY SONAR

POOR CHOICE TO ALLOW SONAR USE ELSEWHERE

I just got through reading your article titled "Navy can use sonar system near Hawai'i, court rules," (Aug. 13) by William Cole.

Although the decision was to exclude using sonar system(s) near places such as Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, I also think it was a poor choice to let the Navy continue using them everywhere else.

Now I know this issue doesn't really affect people per se. However, it affects something much more fragile and helpless than humans: whales and dolphins. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, "The low-frequency sonar blasts vast areas of ocean with levels of underwater noise that are harmful to whales and dolphins."

That being said, I realize that the Navy needs a place to perform these sorts of sonar experiments. I also know that the article says that the Navy and the government have come to an agreement that will protect the wildlife.

But is using sonar really that necessary? And if it is, how do we, the people, truly know that the new agreement is safe for our marine life?

I think the Navy (and the government, for that matter) should show us the cold, hard proof and facts about this issue, and ban any sonar usage until then.

VACATION RENTALS

HPD NOT PRESSURED BY KNB TO ENFORCE ZONING

Josh Rubino's recent letter (Aug. 12), stating that the Kailua Neighborhood Board is pressuring the Honolulu Police Department to look into the legality of Kailua vacation rentals, is misleading.

Minutes from the KNB meeting confirm that the board did not ask the HPD to enforce zoning laws, and the HPD does not provide the board with addresses or any other information on vacation rentals. While HPD officers are not "zoning enforcement agents," as Mr. Rubino points out, we do attend neighborhood board meetings and try our best to address concerns raised by the community.

DICK ADAIR

LOCAL CARTOONIST ADDED SOMETHING SPECIAL

I cannot believe you really let your editorial cartoonist, Dick Adair, go! He was such a critical part of what the community was talking about and doing.

One of my proudest moments occurred when my cause (a park at Bayview in Kane'ohe, Nov. 16, 1991) appeared in his cartoon two days in a row! My husband secured the cartoon from Mr. Adair and I have it hanging on my wall. I'm sure there are many others who have done the same. What are we to do in the future?

You usually had an editorial that complemented his cartoons and it really got the point across. Are we to have no local cartoons — just the same old, same old ones from the Mainland? You already have one of those on the facing page.

Please, what are you thinking? Just dumping people is not going to save your paper. You need people who want to read your paper. Don't follow the stupidity of other companies who think that just letting employees go is the answer to all of their economic problems. You all are smarter than that! Bring back Adair, bring back Adair!