HAWAIIAN AIRLINES

OUTSOURCING PROVIDED BENEFITS TO PASSENGERS

Mr. Yamashita's letter ("Hawaiian Airlines digging up local roots," July 31) is misguided in criticizing Hawaiian Airlines for outsourcing certain functions.

Any company in a business as dynamic as ours constantly needs to adapt to survive, let alone prosper. Outsourcing has helped Hawaiian control its costs, maintain low fares and grow faster than any other U.S. airline. In fact, Hawaiian employs more Hawai'i residents than it did one year ago before we began outsourcing.

Faced with rising costs and customers demanding low fares, many airlines have been forced to cut pay, abandon pension obligations and reduce the quality of their product. Not so Hawaiian.

We sought and reached agreement with our union to outsource certain activities in return for offering affected employees either a generous separation package or transferring within our company and having job security. Not many companies offer such a generous choice, but not many companies have benefited so greatly from the dedication of their employees as Hawaiian. We were delighted that the majority of affected employees elected to stay with the company.

As to the outsourcing of our Boeing 767 heavy maintenance, this function has never been performed in Hawai'i, and we do not have the capability to undertake the work. Selecting a new third-party vendor through a competitive bid process allowed Hawaiian to save money without sacrificing quality.

The benefits of lower costs flow to customers in the form of lower fares and to our 3,500 employees, who, I am certain, appreciate the savings we seek from our vendors to help maintain their standard of living.

GOVERNMENT

U.S. NEEDS TO BE PUT ON NATIONAL PRIORITIES PLAN

George Bush might consider adding a new mantra to his robotic "al-Qaida-speak."

Now that we know that our country's infrastructure is falling apart, we are reminded that we might be as much at risk from the bridge we are crossing as an attack by al-Qaida.

A federal report that was "coming out" in September states that there are 70,000 to 80,000 bridges in the United States that are "structurally impaired." Add this to global warming, a failed No Child Left Behind, immigrants pouring across our borders, our children being exposed to lead in toys from China, etc., and one wonders why we are spending $2 billion each week for a failed war in Iraq.

The presidential hopefuls might well run on a national priorities platform. Every family is governed by priorities. Why not our government?

PROPERTY TAX

BILL INCREASE IS ENOUGH TO BRING OUT EXPLETIVES

Our property tax bill for the 2006-07 year just arrived.

I had to pick myself up from the floor after noting a $596 increase (no improvements to justify this).

All I can say is I know who won't get my votes in the next election.

If this is the anticipated property tax relief seniors were led to expect, I have another name for it, but I am too polite to use the word.

CRITICAL RESOURCE

BWS COMMITTED TO CONSERVATION OF WATER

I was pleased to read a recent letter to the editor ( "Local, state leaders: Watch your own habits," July 31). The author was passionate about the importance of water conservation.

We agree that everyone, especially government, should do more to conserve our precious water supply.

However, we would like to correct some misconceptions in the letter.

The Board of Water Supply is a financially self-sufficient, semi-autonomous city agency. Its operations and projects are financed with revenues generated by water transmission and distribution, and it does not rely on money from the city or state.

We are committed to ensuring all water users, especially large water users like government, are educated about the importance of conserving water.

The board recently sent the governor, the mayor and the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command a letter requesting their assistance in conserving water in state, city and military facilities and properties.

We also work with them on a regular basis to address concerns ranging from broken sprinkler heads to watering on rainy days.

As much as we'd like to, we unfortunately cannot stop all water waste. But what BWS can and will continue to do is to educate water users to use all the water they need, but not waste it.

We need the help of all water users if we are to ensure a sustainable water supply for future generations.

Correction: This letter from the Honolulu Board of Water Supply should have been attributed to Cliff Lum, manager and chief engineer. A previous version of this letter was incorrectly attributed to Donna Kiyosaki.

WALK THE TALK, PROTECT HAWAI'I'S ENVIRONMENT

Now, more than ever, Hawai'i needs to consider banning plastic bags, especially at the supermarket. The grocery stores can sell cotton bags at a cheap price — Safeway did this many years ago.

Safeway in Australia sells these bags.

San Francisco banned plastic bags, and we should follow suit.

In addition to banning plastic bags at the supermarket, the people of Hawai'i should start changing their way of purchasing things. Stop buying small bottles of water, buy by the gallon and pour it into smaller bottle and re-use it until it breaks.

Buy frozen juices, which are better for us anyway, then pour them into small containers to carry around and for the kids to bring to school.

It is abhorrent to see all those plastic bags and water bottles strewn all over the street, beaches, parks and into the ocean.

We continuously talk about preserving the 'aina, but let us walk the talk.

It takes people to change and to preserve our environment.

HEALTHCARE

SCHIP SHOULD FOCUS ON LOW-INCOME CHILDREN

Press reports may be raising fears that American children will lose their health insurance because of a debate in Washington over renewing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

President Bush supports reauthorizing this important program for low-income children with enough new funding to ensure that no one currently enrolled loses coverage. His budget also calls for enough funding so that eligible children not already enrolled can be covered. But the Senate and House are proposing bills calling for a massive expansion of the program to those in higher-income families, moving them from private insurance onto public assistance.

The president does not support those proposals, which would more than double SCHIP spending and extend eligibility to millions of children who already have private insurance or whose parents earn enough to afford private insurance.

Congress should stop trying to use SCHIP to provide coverage for those who can afford it on their own and concentrate on keeping its commitment to the low-income children SCHIP is meant to help.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

CAMPAIGN PROMOTING CYCLISTS' RIGHTS NEEDED

The Advertiser's front page story on July 30, "Push for a better bicycle commute," was nice to see, but the whole debate is missing a key ingredient: actual and aggressive public education/promotion.

The recent Pedestrian's Rights in Crosswalk media and enforcement campaign blitz was powerfully effective in changing the general public's attitude.

A similar campaign on bicyclists' rights could have an equally significant impact.

It is crucial for everyone, especially vehicle drivers, to clearly understand that the convoluted language of the law (Hawai'i Revised Statutes Section 291C-145(a)(2)) gives a bicyclist the exclusive right to the entire traffic lane when that is necessary for his or her safety.

AKAKA BILL

LLC PROPOSAL AT OHA NOT A 'PLAN B' STRAEGY

I would like to clarify comments attributed to me in The Honolulu Advertiser's July 31 editorial, "Hawaiian trust ideas bear careful watching."

While I am a proponent of using a business model like the limited liability company to protect assets, I did not want to leave the impression that I support applying that model to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as a whole.

OHA has previously indicated publicly that the LLC model is being reviewed to address issues related to certain projects but it is not a "Plan B" strategy aimed at protecting OHA itself should the Akaka bill fail.

Native Hawaiian beneficiaries should always be vigilant in watching out for how OHA cares for trust assets, but this oversight also applies to any other custodian of the public's trust.

Your editorial correctly states that federal recognition of Native Hawaiians through the Akaka bill "still represents a viable approach" to protect Hawaiian programs and funding.

OHA will continue to assist Hawai'i's congressional delegation in pushing for the bill's passage.

TRAILS

SACRED FALLS, HA'IKU HIKES SHOULD BE OPEN

As an avid hiker and science educator, I feel compelled to write after reading yet another story about the Ha'iku Stairs hike.

Hawai'i's most valuable resource is its natural beauty. It's why people come here and spend the money that keeps our economy running.

The state should be doing everything it can to perpetuate people's love for the environment. It defies reason to have trails like Ha'iku Stairs or Sacred Falls closed. Yes, these trails — like many others that are currently open — are dangerous.

I have completed both, illegally, and can honestly say I have also done much more dangerous trails that are legal and open. By limiting the public's access to these resources, we are stifling people's desire to experience the beauty that is Hawai'i.

All that's needed are signs that warn of the dangers, and clear language that says the state will not be responsible for any accidents that may occur.

Sacred Falls is one of the best trails on the island, but remains closed because of an unfortunate tragedy that occurred there.

There are ways to responsibly manage dangerous areas such as this and Ha'iku Stairs, while still allowing the public the right to have access to Hawai'i's most inspiring treasures.

Until then, people will continue to break the law. Why?

Because they want to be active, outdoors and experience some of the most beautiful places these Islands have to offer. Is that so wrong?