SMALL BUSINESS

HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS LESS THAN ON MAINLAND

Curtis Lum's article in the Sunday paper ("Small business feels the squeeze of paying for healthcare," Page F1) heavily implies that Hawai'i's pre-paid health law is a burden and at fault for the problems of many businesses.

What he neglects to mention is that, even with raising rates, Hawai'i's premiums for a person or family are significantly less than charged on the Mainland for like coverage. As the cost of providing care is higher, one can see the benefit of everyone having coverage in reducing rates.

Also, do employers totally relying on part-time staff really think they are saving anything? Those staff will have less investment in the success of the company, and must still make enough somewhere to pay for their own costs — now possibly including healthcare, which may even be passed to the government.

Interestingly, the article only briefly addresses the benefits to King Co. of providing coverage for all employees including part-timers.

Walgreen Co., a major new employer to Hawai'i, has also committed to providing part-timers access to coverage in Hawai'i.

HAWAIIANS

AKAKA BILL IS ABOUT GETTING LAND TRANSFERS

It is now clear that if the Akaka bill becomes law, huge chunks of state lands that benefit all the people of Hawai'i will be available to benefit only those with at least a drop of Hawaiian blood.

The governor's agreement to transfer valuable chunks of waterfront property in Kaka'ako and on Neighbor Islands to OHA is just the first installment in what OHA plans to be a massive transfer of other lands from state ownership to Native Hawaiian ownership in "negotiations" required by the Akaka bill, between the state and a new Native Hawaiian government.

Now that the Hawai'i Supreme Court has ruled that the state must reach a comprehensive ceded land deal with Native Hawaiians, that negotiating process has been tilted in favor of Hawaiians.

And it has become clear what "recognition" of Native Hawaiians really means. As succinctly put by U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, the Akaka bill "is a bill about the control of assets. This is about land, this is about money... we're talking about 2.2 million acres of land..."

It's not just about "preserving Hawaiian culture." It's about getting land back from the haoles who "stole" it in 1893.

The big question now is — assuming the polls correctly predict we will have a Democrat president in 2009 who will sign the Akaka bill — how willing is the Legislature to give away these ceded lands.

If the Legislature accepts the entire current Lingle land transfer package, it will be a sign that under Akaka bill negotiations in 2009, it will give away at least 20 percent of the ceded lands, and probably a lot more.

The state Constitution and the federal government only require the state to use the ceded lands for any of five purposes, including public education and Native Hawaiian causes, among others. The Legislature chose the 20 percent figure itself. It could have decided on 5 percent or 1 percent.

This will be a hugely significant legislative decision for the 80 percent of Hawai'i's citizens who are not Native Hawaiian.

O'AHU ROADS

CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN BETTER IN PAST 3 YEARS

Larry Symons (Letters, Jan. 20) says the streets on O'ahu have not been taken care of since Jeremy Harris left office.

I seem to remember both mayoral candidates making the horrible conditions of our roads centerpieces of their campaigns in 2004.

Harris not only let the roads deteriorate, he didn't take care of what's under them — the water and sewer pipes.

Mufi Hannemann has filled more potholes and repaved more lanes than Harris ever did. And he has done the prudent thing in holding off repaving some roads if they are scheduled for sewer/water work.

Once the work is done, then they pave. Examples are Ala Wai Boulevard, Kalaheo Avenue and Beretania Street.

I, for one, have been quite pleased with the improving conditions of our roads over the past three years.

HAWAI'I

BEACH ACCESS SHOULD REMAIN OPEN TO PUBLIC

A huge thank you to all who rallied for beach access!

Homeowners who gate off accesses near their homes, citing vandalism, need to realize that vandalism is not unique to those who live on beachfront property. My house has been broken into and robbed twice in Kailua, yet I cannot gate off my street.

We are all affected by noise, crime and traffic. To deny access to the beach through designated paths is elitist and selfish. If they feel so strongly about protecting their homes, let them lock a gate at night, but it must remain open during the day.

The beaches belong to everyone and accesses should remain open and with reasonable distances between them.

It is very upsetting to see how Hawai'i is gradually becoming so much like California with a gated community mentality, which only serves to further destroy aloha and the sense of community.

This is not the Hawai'i I grew up in, and I applaud the groups for trying to protect its specialness.

NORTH SHORE

SUPPORT URGED FOR TURTLE BAY PURCHASE

I strongly urge support for Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to purchase Turtle Bay Resort so as to preserve the 850 acres of land around the hotel and prevent expansion of the resort.

This is a long-term visionary use of taxpayer dollars, and will be seen by future generations as foresighted and wise.

Once land is developed, it never goes back again.

With every development, our paradise is disappearing.

ALOHA STADIUM

CRAZY TO CONSIDER GIVING STADIUM TO UH

What is going through the minds of our legislators? The University of Hawai'i can't even maintain its facilities, can't even oversee the construction of a level softball field and now our legislators are considering handing over Aloha Stadium operations to UH.

Please stop wasting taxpayers' money, and concentrate on more important bills and matters.

HPD

INVESTIGATIONS MUST BE EFFICIENT AND TIMELY

Assistant Police Chief Karl Godsey's Jan. 28 letter concerning the freeway closure during a homicide investigation said that the investigation should take precedence over the inconvenience to motorists.

I don't believe that anyone is suggesting that HPD do anything other than a thorough investigation of major accidents or homicides that occur on our roadways.

However, I believe it would be worthwhile for HPD to convince us that it is doing the most efficient investigation possible; that it has sought out, reviewed and has implemented the best practices of other major metropolitan police departments in the U.S. with regard to traffic investigations and related highway closures.

If HPD is doing so, that's all we can ask, and we must be patient. Please, Assistant Chief Godsey, convince us that HPD is doing all it can to conduct efficient and timely investigations.

SAFETY

HAVING GUNS IN HOMES JUST PLAIN DANGEROUS

Would the people of Hawai'i be safer if a majority of us had guns in our homes? That's the opinion of Ryan Garcia (Letters, Jan. 28), but I disagree.

Having a gun in your house is just plain dangerous. Study after study shows it leads to accidental shootings, shootings during moments of anger and suicides. These guns also can wind up in the hands of criminals after home burglaries.

A good solid baseball bat is a better choice for self-defense. Just ask any policeman.

TEACHERS

DRUG TESTING IS IN BEST INTEREST OF CHILDREN

I could not believe what I read in the paper on Jan. 25 "Random drug testing for teachers rejected").

As a parent, I'm horrified to think that teachers' drug testing will be put on hold. What is wrong with our state? Gov. Linda Lingle can propose buying the Turtle Bay Resort. And yet there's a problem with the funding to drug-test teachers?

There were actual statements in the paper stating, "Some board members expressed reservations about whether teachers should be subject to random drug tests at all." You have got to be joking!

We entrust our children to the school and leave them in the hands of teachers. It is not a safe environment and is a liability to have a teacher who may be using drugs.

Obviously, from the past incidents involving teachers using and selling drugs, there is a need for random drug testing. Other professions test their employees.

The scary thing is there are people on the Board of Education who do not think it's necessary. And that's very upsetting as a parent.

Obviously they're not thinking of the best interests of the children of Hawai'i.

Stop making excuses of violating their constitutional rights. Why are all these people so hesitant? Are you afraid of what you might find?

CHOLOS

RESTAURANT APOLOGIZES FOR TIPPING COMMENT

This responds to the Feb. 6 letter to the editor, "Many in the military are not good tippers."

Cholos has always been an ardent supporter of the military, and we have nothing but respect and admiration for the sacrifice, devotion and courage of those who serve in the defense of this nation.

No customers are more important to us than our service men and women, and Cholos unconditionally rejects the negative and hurtful sentiments expressed in the Feb. 6 letter.

We apologize for any offense that may have been caused to our patrons by this letter, which we do not agree with, condone or endorse.