WAIPI'O

PARK IS A GATHERING PLACE PAR EXCELLENCE

I visited the Central O'ahu Regional Park once a couple of years ago, enjoying a Frisbee outing in a spacious open area. Then late yesterday afternoon, after dropping my granddaughter off for a gymnastics class in Waipi'o, I decided to cross Kamehameha Highway and run in the park rather than my typical meanderings around the residential streets in the area.

What an experience!

For 90 minutes, I explored the network of running/walking paths, enjoying the gorgeous weather and admiring the numerous birds (mostly tiny finches), abundant trees and acres of general greenery. I also passed many fields where folks young and older were playing soccer, baseball and archery.

The tennis and aquatics complex tempted me to stop and ogle the fabulous Olympic-size pool where swimming teams were in training. People were numerous throughout, with plentiful open areas for parking, whether the use be sporting, spectating or picnicking. The park is a gathering place par excellence.

Nowhere was the name Harris in evidence, but I believe the park is a principal legacy to us from Mayor Jeremy Harris. Those who seem to delight in badmouthing him should fling down the TV remote and go visit a world-class people facility.

Mahalo, Mayor Harris!

SYMPHONY

SAVE BALCONY SEATS FOR LOYAL CONCERTGOERS

Count me and my wife among those put off by the Honolulu Symphony's drive, launched this year, to force concertgoers from the balcony to downstairs by the power of pricing. I refer to letters from Jean Toyama (May 23) and F. David Wagner (May 30).

When we received our bill to renew our two balcony seats, it showed a tripling in price for the 14 concerts, to $1,624. Balcony seats are so important to us that no way were we going to move, I said in a lengthy letter to the Symphony, adding: "You have lost us as season-ticket holders."

However, at the season's final concert on May 14, we had at least a temporary change of heart. We were inspired and impressed (as usual) by the Symphony's performance. And when guest conductor JoAnn Falletta at concert's end took the mike and urged the audience to support this important community asset, we were moved. We do love fine music and don't want to lose it!

So, we have signed up for an 11-concert series in our precious Row R seats in the next to last row of the balcony — paying as much per ticket as folks in the most expensive seats downstairs. Meanwhile, I am trusting that the Symphony, before 2007-2008, will move to treat more equitably devotees of the balcony, who I suspect rank among the most loyal and enthusiastic customers in the hall.

Together, let's think positively and creatively. We can fill those empty seats, wherever they are.

COURT RULING

WHISTLEBLOWERS MUST KEEP COMING FORWARD

I disagree with the recent U.S. Supreme Court 5-4 ruling that would inhibit free speech for whistleblowers.

What if a potential whistleblower witnessed a supervisor committing a crime? Shall crimes by supervisory personnel in the public sector all be covered up nowadays?

I want to encourage these potential witnesses to come forward and contact the courts if their supervisors go around doing illegal things.

DROPOUT RATE

STUDENTS SHOULD BE REACHED EVEN EARLIER

The idea of targeting freshman-year students in an attempt to lower the high school dropout rate is a somewhat good idea.

The heavy social issues that we see threatening today's youth have become more overwhelming, as opposed to things that were happening, say, 10 years ago. Today, peer pressure is more common in drug and/or alcohol use; teenage pregnancy is also a major factor.

These are a few examples of the issues that may eventually build up to a freshman dropping out of high school later on. The idea of targeting students once they hit their freshman year could possibly reduce the dropout rate, but only modestly. However, targeting these students even before they leave the seventh or eighth grade would be better.

This means that the idea of going to (and completing) high school will need to be continuously reinforced, and instead of promoting a fantasy of getting higher on the social ladder, it needs to be replaced with promoting the idea that students will need to work harder and experience a new curriculum and responsibilities.

Granted, students will have some dread about the idea of more responsibility; however, if they're informed in advance that transitioning to a higher educational level is the main priority as opposed to drinking and doing drugs and getting pregnant, then the dropout rate would be a lot lower, as opposed to addressing the problem after the effects are already beginning to take place.

PAUOA

CROSSING GUARD IS TRULY AN UNSUNG HERO

Honolulu has many unsung heroes. I know about one.

This morning I watched the last of three children graduate from Pauoa Elementary. For 10 years, I've dropped off kids at this little school tucked up behind Punchbowl. For 10 years, I've passed this same friendly crossing guard on Pauoa Road. Day after day, year after year, rain or shine (and there's plenty of rain in Pauoa), Eleanor Deponte has stood there with her cap, gloves, whistle and red sign, I don't know how long.

For at least 10 years, though, she's helped the little ones across the street, kept them safe from harm, and still had time to wave at parents like me on their way to school. She's as regular as clockwork and as dependable as the morning sun.

Politicians, judges, doctors, teachers — none of them work harder, or have a more important job. I'll miss her.

AMNESTY

AKAKA, INOUYE VOTES ON IMMIGRATION AWFUL

Hawai'i's U.S. senators have voted to pass a monstrosity of an immigration bill.

The Senate bill does not put border security first. It adds a few feeble enforcement provisions, and even kicks those five years down the road.

It ignores enforcement of immigration laws within the interior of the country.

It grants illegal aliens and their employers amnesty, not only for the immigration violations themselves, but for Social Security fraud, tax evasion and identity theft.

It makes illegal immigrants eligible for past earned income tax credits (up to $20,000 per illegal), further rewarding them for breaking the law.

In other words, the bill Sens. Akaka and Inouye voted for grants illegal aliens more rights than American citizens have.

Would it be possible for a citizen to revoke her citizenship and re-enter the country illegally? I'd be a lot better off.

Senators, please do not continue to insult the intelligence of your constituents with these ridiculous bills and compound the insult by putting lipstick on a pig and telling us it's Marilyn Monroe. And I'm supporting Ed Case.

PRO-CAPITALIST

GAS CAP LAW WAS FREE MARKET AT WORK

Rep. Colleen Meyer pretends not to understand the intent of the gas cap law (Advertiser Island Voices, May 30). There never has been a free-market force at work in Hawai'i! Two oil refiners have a quasi-monopoly.

Sen. Ron Menor is to be commended for his political courage, and credit goes to the Democratic Legislature for passing one of the most sweeping pro-capitalist laws in a long time. By tying gas prices to outside market prices, the law put into practice the "Invisible Hand," which Adam Smith, known as the father of economics, claimed guides all free markets and causes market prices to go up and down based on supply and demand.

The Democratic Legislature simply ensured that the Hawai'i-based oil companies abide by the "Invisible Hand" of the global free market.

The suspension of the gas cap law will now remove any price relief brought on by the free market once gas prices drop on the Mainland. Without the cap, gas prices here will always be kept artificially high.