REMINDER OF POOR SWIMMING SKILLS

I agree with Peter Apo (Island Voices, April 14) that our natatorium should be restored. Which reminds me that the last statistics I saw showed that more than 50 percent of Hawai'i residents do not know how to swim; i.e., they cannot swim 150 feet (two laps of a 25-yard short-course pool).

Years ago the DOE "drownproofed" all students — students had to swim or stay afloat for 30 minutes. No longer. So instead of kids grabbing their surfboards, bodyboards or swim fins after school to enjoy the ocean, they instead head for their bedrooms for video games, Facebook or MySpace. Very sad.

GOING GREEN

WHY TAKE AWAY ENERGY TAX CREDITS?

The Hawai'i Revised Statutes (Chapter 226-18) clearly states that Hawai'i's energy objectives are to "promote the use of renewable energy sources." Why then is the Hawai'i Legislature trying to pass a bill that is in direct opposition to this objective?

Last year HRS 235 was passed, which gives tax credits to all those who install solar thermal, wind-powered or photovoltaic energy systems on their residences. Many green-minded residents, my household included, cheered that we would finally be able to afford to install such systems and personally support our state's forward-thinking energy objectives.

No sooner did we get our system installed than we learned that the Legislature is trying to take away the bulk of those tax credits (via SB 199), essentially changing the rules in the middle of the game. Yet we notice that the revised bill includes many exceptions, including the tax credit for motion pictures and the tax credit for research activities. Surely the tax credit for renewable energy systems is just as important to the overall health of the state as these other exceptions. Legislators, please reconsider!

TOURISM, ECONOMY

HIGHER TAX WOULD BE SMALL PRICE TO PAY

As a regular Canadian visitor to the beautiful islands of Hawai'i, it saddens me to read of the financial difficulties the state is facing due to the international economic problems.

I would just like to say that if it is necessary to raise the accommodation tax to deal with the financial situation, I would have no problem with that. It is a relatively small consideration in the overall cost of our vacation, and we are happy to pay a tax that benefits that gracious and hospitable people of Hawai'i. Until our next visit, mahalo.

O'AHU TRAFFIC

RUDE DRIVERS ARE MAJOR PROBLEM

The real problem with O'ahu's traffic isn't too many cars on the road, it's that there are too many inconsiderate drivers!

I'm talking about the last-second lane changers, the people who signal their intentions after they already started their lane changes or turns, the people who get on the road and don't even know what destinations they are going to, the in and out lane weavers, etc.

Have you folks ever considered that you are causing traffic to back up just as much as the slow drivers and the cell phone talkers? These people need to think before they drive because there are other people on the roads both behind, on the side, and across the intersections from you!

RANDOM KINDNESS

THANKS FOR THE GIFT OF STRAWBERRIES

I had just finished my walk at Kailua Beach last Saturday a.m. and stopped at the local Don Quijote to buy some items for a later gathering. When I got to the cashier I realized I had changed purses and had only cash enough for the ice cream so I would have to leave the strawberries behind.

The gentleman behind me asked the cashier, "How much are the strawberries?" He then quietly indicated to the cashier that he wanted to buy them for me. I was totally taken by surprise. I believe I thanked him but I was rather stunned so I hope this little story finds its way to him through some serendipitous fluke.

So, Mr. Strawberry Man, whoever you are — you made my day! I will strive to do the same for another very soon.

Thank you for the lesson — a delightful random act of kindness. At a time when it appears the whole world is going berserk, this lovely individual renewed my faith in mankind.

CAMPAIGN DONATIONS

ISLES SHOULD BE PROUD OF OUR LAWS, OPENNESS

The Hawai'i Campaign Spending Commission would like to comment on the April 14 editorial, "There's time to fix corporate donations law."

Commission staff and a volunteer committee of 17 attorneys worked over nine months to recodify the campaign finance laws. Currently HB 128 HD1 SD1 includes the recodification and the law impacting corporate contributions which maintains the same wording in the current statute.

It is apparent that the Legislature has varied opinions on what the limit on corporate contributions to their noncandidate committees should be. We applaud the Legislature's efforts at this point to save the recodification (that will help candidates and the public to understand campaign finance law going into the 2010 elections) and to wait for the appellate court decision before deciding whether to adjust corporate limits any further.

Secondly, the statement that "Hawai'i has endured too long with campaign finance laws that impede transparency and accountability to the public" is wrong.

The Pew Charitable Trust has funded a national survey of the 50 states' campaign finance laws and transparency. The study, conducted by the Center on Governmental Studies, UCLA School of Law, and the California Voter Foundation, ranked Hawai'i No. 7 in the nation overall in 2008, as well as No. 5 in the nation for its campaign finance laws, and No. 1 in the nation for its electronic filing system (tied with 11 states).

Hawai'i should be very proud of its laws and transparency. Do we have more work to do? Absolutely. We will always strive to provide the public the information it needs to be an informed electorate. As the U.S. Supreme Court has stated, sunshine (transparency) is the best disinfectant. Visit us at www.hawaii.gov/campaign.