ECONOMIC STIMULUS

HAWAI'I NOT GETTING FAIR SLICE OF THE PIE

The obvious praise bestowed on the stimulus package by Sen. Inouye and repeated in The Advertiser acknowledges that nearly $1 billion in Hawai'i spending is a huge amount of money, but never compares Hawai'i's share to that of the rest of the nation.

Not including the tax-cut portion, which should affect taxpayers relatively equally, the remaining $500 billion will be divided among the states. Hawai'i has about 0.44 percent of the nation's population. Based on that model, spending on Hawai'i ought to be around $2.1 billion.

Hawai'i's citizens should not be happy to go in debt for more than twice the amount of benefits received. Add to this the fact that Hawai'i will not gain any collective benefit from most Mainland spending projects due to geographic separation, and it is clear the Democratic "safe" state of Hawai'i got shortchanged by Obama in a big way.

KA IWI TRAIL

STATE WILL LOSE MONEY BY IMPOSING PARK FEES

The state will lose money by imposing user fees at Ka Iwi's Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail. And with user fees at Pali Lookout and six other popular visitor sites, we will be driving tourists away instead of welcoming them to Hawai'i.

Based on Hawai'i Tourism Authority data, 68,000 people hiked to the Makapu'u Lighthouse in 2007. But the Department of Land and Natural Resources is mistakenly using a much higher count of 251,000, which includes those who only made the quick stop at Makapu'u Lookout.

The proposed fees at Ka Iwi won't even cover the $85,000 cost of an attendant to collect the fees — yet alone a ticket booth and other "improvements." If two-thirds of the 68,000 hikers are tourists (approximately 45,000) who pay $5 per car or $1 per head (approximately $1.75 each, based on three per car), then the maximum annual take is only $78,750.

The only way for the state to make money on the lighthouse trail is to drive out residents (who don't pay) and replace them with more and more tourists (which has already happened at Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay).

Ka Iwi should be removed from DLNR's fee list. It should also be removed entirely from DLNR's Recreational Renaissance proposal, because it contradicts the existing Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline Master Plan and its aim to preserve the park's natural setting.

TARO

BANNING RESEARCH WILL BRING INDUSTRY DEMISE

The Legislature's proposed ban on genetic research of taro is again defying all logic. It appears that the politicians are again being influenced by the activists. The facts are apparently being ignored. Hawaiian taro is vulnerable to pests and plant diseases that have the potential to eradicate taro production from Hawai'i. For all practical purposes, there are no plant protection chemicals registered by the Environmental Protection Agency to protect taro from pests and disease.

There is really only one solution to prevent the demise of the taro industry and that is plant breeding for resistance. Genetic engineering, despite the rhetoric against it, is a method of plant breeding that produces a solution to these pest problems within a minimal time period. Banning this scientific research on whatever pretext is guaranteeing the demise of the Hawaiian taro industry. You can put your money on it.

CIVIL UNIONS

BILL ABOUT FAMILIES AND EQUALITY, NOT MARRIAGE

Opponents of civil unions say that it is actually about marriage and legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Hawai'i. They also claim that gays already have equal rights in Hawai'i. This is simply not true.

The civil unions bill, HB 444, would not change Hawai'i's marriage law that says marriage is between a man and a woman. But it would correct the inequalities in rights and protections for Hawai'i's same-sex families.

The civil unions bill would not be breakthrough legislation in giving legal recognition to same-sex relationships in Hawai'i. Same-sex relationships already have legal status under the reciprocal beneficiaries law. The reciprocal beneficiaries law gives same-sex couples some of the same rights as marriage, but there are serious inequities. Families of same-sex couples are left without the same legal protections that other families have in Hawai'i. And the reciprocal beneficiaries law cannot be amended to correct these inequities because family rights and protections are not appropriate for the non-family relationships also included in this law.

The decision to legally recognize same-sex relationships through the reciprocal beneficiaries law was made over a decade ago. Life in Hawai'i has gone on without the dire consequences that were predicted. Equal rights and protections for these families are long overdue.

FAMILIES NOW STRONGER IN MASSACHUSETTS

Kent Hirata got it right in his Feb. 16 op-ed, "Equal rights for all includes civil unions." I am from Massachusetts, and can vouch for the fact that same-sex marriage has had absolutely no negative impact on our state.

Indeed, civilization has not crumbled. Heterosexual marriages have not been attacked or devalued. Families have not fallen apart. In fact, after almost five years of same-sex marriage, Massachusetts retains its place as the state with the fewest divorces. Our families are now stronger, because same-sex couples have the same rights and responsibilities as heterosexual couples. I feel privileged to live in a place that respects my full humanity and allows myself and my spouse to fully participate in the social, economic, and cultural benefits of the institution of marriage.

EPA VIOLATION

CITY UNDERTAKING A FOOLISH, COSTLY FIGHT

Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann has proved again the old saying, "You can tell a Harvard man, but you can't tell him much." He knows what's best no matter the subject or concern. And he's willing to spend our tax dollars to prove it.

The upcoming legal fight that Mufi is going to wage against the Environmental Protection Agency will be a costly one. The EPA has the law on its side and when it's all said and done the city will have to upgrade the sewage outfall and we'll be stuck with the bill, in the form of fines for every day the law isn't met plus legal costs.

And the EPA isn't the "Bad Mainland Guy" sticking his nose in our business as some would like you to believe. The law is applied equally to all 50 states and it is there to protect all of us — equally. The city has been able to put off the inevitable for many years, but now the time has come to put things right. The timing isn't the greatest, but it's been put off for far too long. The releasing of pollutants into our ocean home must be stopped. It has gone on far too long.

POLICE TATTOOS

CULTURAL BODY ART PERFECTLY FINE TO SHOW

I retired from San Diego Police after 30 years. I'm visiting for a week and yesterday chatted with three HPD officers as they made an arrest.

One of the officers had visible tattoos. I must admit that at first I was slightly taken aback, since they were "full sleeve." Then I stopped and thought about it for a minute, looked at the officer, who was obviously a Hawaiian man, and his tattoos were definitely cultural in appearance.

I'm a very conservative person and was strict with my officers on their appearance.

I found no issue with an HPD officer displaying cultural artwork on his arms. I'd draw the line at a teardrop under the eye or double lightening bolts on his neck, but I was not in the least disturbed by his body art. He was professional, articulate and helpful in giving me directions.