DESERVE SUPPORT

KEOLU SKATEBOARDERS WELCOMING TO ALL

The saying "Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are" applies to the magnificent people of Hawai'i. The open hearts and friendship extended by the keiki and their parents have made my son's tour of your skateparks a truly enjoyable experience. So many people in the world today make snap judgments about others and never get a chance to learn from someone new.

This is not true at the Keolu skatepark in Kailua. The skateboarders at Keolu are pretty advanced, but they do not exclude newcomers and beginners. These kids are truly good people and deserve all the support you are so generously providing them.

Your efforts to develop skateboard parks in areas that are not really useful for other purposes yet close to neighborhoods are very forward thinking. I have enjoyed watching the families and individuals who use the facilities. The Makiki skatepark looked a little rough, but the skaters and their parents were very welcoming.

I hope Hawai'i does not stop developing these parks. Hopefully, the people who do not understand the need for skateparks will take the time to watch who is using them and how well they are working. I look forward to returning to Hawai'i and bringing other skateboarders with me.

NEIGHBORHOODS

MOPED RIDERS ALSO ADD TO OUR NOISE PROBLEMS

Regarding the July 6 Tony Roberts' letter on radios and mufflers, I could not agree more. I must add mopeds, too. Why are those guys so selfish and disrespectful to others?

Disturbing others is not being cool. The sad part: I bet you that those guys do not read newspapers at all.

CONSERVATION

STATE MUST FOCUS ON ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PLAN

My wife and I recently returned from a cruise across the Pacific, from Australia to San Francisco. Such a marvelous journey reveals the isolation and fragility of our Islands and the vastness of the surrounding ocean in a manner completely missed when arriving by air.

The cruise experience came immediately to mind as I read the July 7 Advertiser reports of two more situations where state officials are again demonstrating a lack of urgency and common sense in issues affecting energy and the environment.

The first is the story about recyclable paper piling up in state offices because the company that had been doing it for free could no longer do so. In a typical response, Hawai'i state officials say it may be six months before a contract can be awarded or emergency measures may have to be taken. Well, "duh," as the young people say. Do the emergency measures now. Take the initiative.

The second article is even more dismaying in its discussion about yet another state-authorized study to develop a "comprehensive energy strategy" that is not emphasizing alternative, renewable energy sources. This, despite the goals of the state's energy policies.

Another "duh," and shame on state officials for wasting taxpayer funds on a study that does not focus on the implementation of alternative energy strategies. The scientific evidence of global warming and the necessity for conservation and alternative energy sources is overwhelming. Hawai'i, with its isolation and fragility can and should be a national leader in this vital effort. And Gov. Lingle must lead the charge. It would be a wonderful legacy for her to leave to Hawai'i's citizens

IRAQ

North Korea missiles the real threat to U.S.

The George W. Bush White House justified the war in Iraq with allegations that the Middle Eastern country had weapons of mass destruction. There was no credible estimate of Iraq's capabilities, no real knowledge of their intentions (George W. said Hussein had some ties to al-Qaida), and the supposed weapons were never actually found. Reports have recently surfaced that North Korea was aiming for Hawai'i on July 4th when they fired their Taepodong-2 missile. The United States, including the mainstream media, knows exactly what the Taepodong-2 can do. A real weapon of mass destruction was unsuccessfully fired at our country. Whether there was a warhead on the missile or not, it shows the North Koreans are directly threatening the United States, if not trying to imminently attack us. Will Washington drop its laid-back attitude toward North Korea, or will it remain gun-shy because our troops are already fighting a less justified war elsewhere?

MARINE RESOURCES

TOO MUCH OF ISLANDS BECOMING 'OFF-LIMITS'

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources supports permanent Marine Protected Areas. DLNR Director Peter Young, has described MPAs as a tool to help manage our Island resources.

In my opinion, it is a deceitful way to introduce permanent "kapu" signs to many areas within Hawai'i that are presently enjoyed by our Island residents.

No one will argue with Young that our natural resources, which include fisheries, need to be managed for the best interests of all who live in these Islands. His responsibility, as I see it, is to manage our resources with one main goal: to improve the quality of life for those of us who live near and within these resource areas that he is charged with managing.

It is the word "seasonal" that seems to be missing from every DLNR effort to impose MPAs to manage our island shoreline. Why? Many make the argument that the DLNR is not looking to take the responsibility for actually managing our resources by involving cultural, community and scientific feedback. The DLNR appears to find it easier to permanently shut down access to those areas that it has been accused of mismanaging by failing to use its important management tool: regulation enforcement.

Recently, a monument status was given to the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. While we, the silent majority, weren't looking, almost two-thirds of our state has become permanently off-limits to the average Island resident. More recently, the DLNR has made moves to create a like status for the sandbar in Kane'ohe Bay. Many have noticed that the DLNR has asked for total autonomy and an all-sweeping authority with which to manage this resource. Many are afraid that Young would then be allowed to close the resource (the sandbar and the waters around it) to everyone forever.

If you love these Islands as I do, please get involved with the ocean and land decision-making process in this state. Otherwise, others with louder voices, better-lined wallets, perhaps not even residents of these Islands, will determine how your island resources are managed and used.

MASS TRANSIT

FORGET RAIL; SKI-LIFT IS SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE

Playing with choo-choo trains was great fun when we were children, and I admit I'd still like to stand in the engine and pull the cord for the steam whistle, scattering folks and dogs as we pull into the train stop.

Trains are an economical means of transporting huge amounts of cargo and large numbers of people over long distances. But, this is an island. And not a very big one at that.

Is a rail system really what we want for Hawai'i? These things are noisy, cumbersome behemoths of iron and concrete and once built will be here for ages. They are efficient only in carrying and dumping pools of folks at a few locations, most of which are inconvenient for our needs.

Given our year-round friendly climate, our dependence on tourism and the dire need to get cars off the roads, the solution is not to build a train that transports folks by the hundreds to and from a few locations, but to employ a more futuristic transportation system in line with our unique situation.

Imagine an islandwide ski lift with stops every block or so, going to every major shopping center, every industrial park, every beach, every school, where every ride is a scenic view of this beautiful island. You ride in a Plexiglas computerized pod that seats two to four people, suspended near tree-top level. There's no stopping to pick up other folks since you ride direct to your destination. As you approach your stop, just push a button and the pod leaves the main line and slides to a stop at ground level. Go shopping, to work, school, visit friends, beach, Aloha Stadium, Pali Lookout, a concert, out to dinner.

This will be a huge draw for tourism. No more crowded buses, and easy access to all the sights, shows and shopping. Families won't need that second or third car. The savings the average family will get on purchasing another vehicle, auto insurance, gasoline and maintenance can be diverted to obtain higher education for the kids. Traffic deaths will be rare. We'll save hundreds of millions on road improvements and repairs. Air and noise pollution from existing traffic will be drastically reduced. We could tear up many existing roads and put that land to better use.

Leave the freight hauling to the trucks. People need freedom to come and go as they please. We don't need to comply with a schedule, be herded into cattle cars and dumped all at once into a waiting crowd at the train stop. Forget the choo-choo train as mass transit.

The future could mean hopping into a glass pod, floating above the trees, relaxing in the silence and enjoying the view. Let's step forward into the future and build a transportation system that will be the model for generations to come.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS WON'T SOLVE STUDENT DISCRIMINATION PROBLEM

Recently (on June 27 and July 7), two writers suggested that Kamehameha Schools should consider offering scholarships as an alternative way of continuing to discriminate against non-Hawaiians. One of those writers (a retired attorney from Guam) refers to an equitable principle referred to as "cy pres" as permitting a court to reinterpret Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop's will to allow for this.

However, the doctrine of "cy pres" only applies if it has become impossible or impracticable to carry out an express directive of a trust. In the case of the trust created by the princess' will, there is no such impossibility. The will does not set forth a preference in admissions to the Kamehameha Schools for Native Hawaiians. The decision to consider the race of applicants has been made by the trustees premised upon their purported beliefs that this was the princess' intent.

Thus, a decision by the trustees to abide by the Ninth Circuit's ruling and cease using race as the determinative factor in excluding non-Hawaiians from attending its schools would not require the will to be reinterpreted. Rather, were the trustees to eliminate consideration of race in admissions to the schools, they could include a set-aside of a certain number of slots for disadvantaged Native Hawaiian (i.e., "indigents" and "orphans") and be in compliance with both the literal directive of the will and the U.S. Constitution.

Ignoring the will and continuing to discriminate through the use of scholarships does not provide a solution. While purely private scholarships that use race as a determinative factor have not yet been widely challenged, the Kamehameha Schools is not purely private. Both its purpose and receipt of tax-exempt status make it public. As such, its use of race to exclude applicants from attendance or from receiving benefits (including scholarships) is unconstitutional and needs to end.