OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS COULD HELP SAVE LIVES

I have had close calls with sharks while snorkeling and dogs charging me while riding my bicycle and while jogging. I was on a mountain hike and became lost for almost two hours, but found my way back out. What prompted me to write this letter was the recent shark attack off Ka'a'awa, the numerous shark sightings in our islands in the past weeks and the missing elderly male hiker.

I would like to suggest the following to those who partake in these activities as a way to protect yourselves from these incidents. For those who enjoy the ocean, have a diver's knife strapped to your leg or carry a poke stick with you to discourage shark attacks. For bicycle riders, joggers and walkers, a light cane, walking stick or a strong wooden dowell can keep loose dogs at bay.

Hikers should wear bright clothing and fluorescent vests, and carry a cell phone, a flashlight and a flare gun, especially for mountain explorers.

Many victims of shark attacks and dog attacks and lost hikers may have been without these lifesaving devices. I encourage all to practice safety when doing these activities.

HEALTHCARE

STATE HOSPITAL SYSTEM REFORMS ARE NEEDED

The Lingle-Aiona administration appreciates the critical role our 13 state hospitals play in ensuring access to healthcare for Hawai'i residents.

That's why the administration recently advanced $11.8 million in operating funds, the second quarter allotment for the hospitals, to ensure vendors can be paid on a timely basis and hospitals have the supplies they need. This allotment is part of the $53.6 million subsidy the hospitals will receive from the state this year.

Even after receiving this subsidy, the hospitals face a projected $62 million funding gap. Current law limits Gov. Linda Lingle's oversight of the health system's budgets. However, the governor recognizes she cannot wait for the Legislature to deliberate on possible action while the hospitals' fiscal difficulties continue. The Legislature has been holding hearings since July and has not signaled what, if anything, it intends to do.

The Lingle-Aiona administration strongly believes the Legislature must make fundamental reforms to the operating structure of the state hospital system, including allowing it to operate like a privately managed corporation, independent of civil service system and procurement rules. Such reforms have been discussed for years. Now is the time for the Legislature to work together to make the tough decisions necessary to reform and strengthen this critical health care system.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

GRANT PROGRAM WON'T REPLACE EXISTING FUNDS

Your Sept. 18 editorial states that Special Olympics Inc. will be giving grants for a National Youth Activation project and suggests that these funds can be used to replace the Special Olympics Hawai'i funds that were cut by the Board of Education.

Unfortunately, that information is incorrect. The Project UNIFY grants that will be issued through Special Olympics Inc. are for new programs with their own budgets and requirements, and will not be given to states to fund already existing services.

If Special Olympics Hawai'i has to cut current services to the Department of Education, we may potentially not be eligible for funding through the Project UNIFY grants.

Special Olympics Hawai'i serves more than 2,000 children and adults in Hawai'i with intellectual disabilities. More than half of them are in the DOE school system.

We do agree it would be wrong to reverse the decision to cut Special Olympics on the basis of emotion. This is not about emotion. It is about giving equal opportunities and rights to all students in the DOE.

REX JOHNSON

OFFENDED BY COMMENT IN FORWARDED E-MAIL

This letter is in response to Russ Boyer's Sept. 17 letter.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I sincerely doubt if the Hawai'i Tourism Authority CEO would have been forced to resign 150 years ago, especially since people of color basically had no rights back then.

As far as private utterances — they are certainly "private" on your own home computer or personal laptop; not on a computer purchased for business use by someone allegedly representing the people of the state of Hawai'i.

Personally, this "coon" was offended, and I do have a life.

VOTING

CONCERNED ABOUT BALLOT INFORMATION

There was an article in The Advertiser concerning the Charter amendments, and the Web site was given for further information. The article also mentioned that the job of educating voters on the pros and cons of each won't be conducted by the City Clerk's Office. There won't be a pamphlet or anything like that.

This is highly irregular. I'm sure The Advertiser will step forward and provide some additional information on what the Charter amendments actually say. I went to the Web site and it was quite confusing.

When you go to the Web page, you must click on the 2008 General Election Ballot Question, which is in the middle section of the page. This takes you to another page that requires you to click on each ballot question. When you click on the question, you are taken to a page that provides the background of the issue before the City Council. This is several pages long and contains the actual wording that will be used to change the City Charter.

I have concerns that many voters will be confused over the Charter amendments, and most likely those who do not speak English may not be able to answer the question correctly.