PUBLIC SAFETY

SENATE SHOULD CONFIRM WHITE FOR CABINET JOB

As Honolulu's prosecuting attorney and a member of the Corrections Population Management Commission, I've learned much about challenges facing the Department of Public Safety. For years, the department has had a series of interim or short-term directors.

After an extensive and difficult search, Gov. Linda Lingle nominated former Family Court Judge and First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Iwalani White to join her Cabinet as director of the Department of Public Safety.

The Senate should confirm her appointment.

Iwalani worked with me as first deputy prosecuting attorney. For a decade, we faced grievances, sexual harassment complaints, hirings, firings, budget woes, investigations, lawsuits, public appearances, media interviews and all the other attendant joys and scrutiny that come with running a high-profile government office.

Most importantly, we went through the difficulties of "regime change" in the prosecutor's office.

When we walked into the office in 1997, there were groups who had supported other candidates for the office and were disappointed and even bitter that their candidate had lost.

We were given the usual "that is just the way things are, some things will never change." We were tested with requests for perks and benefits as well as complaints.

Iwalani stayed with the office for a decade, and left it in far better shape than when she arrived. For these reasons, she is tested and ready for the Department of Public Safety.

Iwalani grew up in Kuhio Park Terrace, attended McKinley High School, went to the University of Hawai'i and finished her education at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai'i.

Iwalani White can think, listen, evaluate, and make informed and often difficult decisions.

It is difficult to think of another candidate with Iwalani's experience and ability willing to tackle this difficult job.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

PHONE CONVERSATIONS DISTRACTING TO DRIVERS

I am a cell phone user, and I have to admit that I have found myself distracted by a cell phone conversation even while using a hands-free device.

I don't know why, but a cell phone conversation seems to be more distracting than a conversation with a passenger.

To quote comedienne Ellen DeGeneres: "If you are doing something that requires both hands, don't you think your brain should be involved too?"

Someone should do a study as to why this is so. In the meantime, if we are in such a hurry that we have to talk on a cell phone while driving, do we have any time to spare for an accident?

MONARCHY

'IOLANI PALACE BELONGS ONLY TO HAWAIIANS

'Iolani Palace certainly does not belong to the general public. It belongs to the Hawaiian people.

We have a much stronger connection to that place than those who are not Hawaiian.

Yes, we shouldn't be racially divided, but we have to get real here. It was Hawaiians who were the monarchs, and not another ethnicity.

We should use the palace to educate the public on the overthrow of the monarchy. There shouldn't be a connection between the palace and the Republic of Hawai'i or the Territory of Hawai'i because it would be irrelevant to the true meaning of the place.

Let's not recognize 'Iolani Palace as the capitol of the Republic and Territory of Hawai'i but as the heart of the nation of Hawai'i.

The palace stands for the resistance to American imperialism.

There is hope for our history to be shared widely.

HARBOR FEES

STATE PLANS TO 'DOUBLE CHARGE' ISLE BOATERS

Is it justifiable or honorable for the state to "double-dip" boat owners for slip rentals? That is what the Department of Land and Natural Resources intends to do.

The state has been charging slip fees, which included maintenance funds for harbor upkeep. In spite of its commitment to use the slip fees exclusively for harbor maintenance, the state failed to do so.

Now, the state intends to include in its slip fees additional money for repairs necessitated by past state neglect and misuse of funds. These additional fees are to pay for the maintenance that was already paid for by boaters — but not done by the state — and are in addition to the "normal" maintenance fees for the current upkeep of the harbors.

The new slip fees will also include funds for regular maintenance based upon projected up-grade of harbor facilities, which was what the current and past fees were supposed to cover.

An honest resolution would be for the state to perform the resuscitation and upgrading of the harbors at no cost to boaters.

Thereafter, slip fees could be adjusted to reflect current operating and upkeep requirements.

WAIKELE

COMMENTS ON BEATING 'MOST ENLIGHTENING'

I found your March 16 article on the Waikele beating to be most enlightening, especially as it pertains to the attorney's statement that the military wife, not the teen, threw the first punch.

Wow! She must have been the size of an 800-pound gorilla to think she could win a fistfight; and yet, she came out of it with a broken nose, concussion and facial fractures.

I'm curious: How big are the father and son and what injuries, if any, did they suffer?

EDUCATION

SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION MIGHT BE NECESSARY

I write this in regard to the March 3 article about "underused schools," such as Wailupe Valley School.

It is ridiculous that this school with 100 students (50 from the actual area) is open when there are schools such as Holomua Elementary in 'Ewa with more than 1,400 students.

Imagine the fixed-cost savings and additional funding that could be realized if schools were more efficiently servicing our communities and were closed in areas with few students.

Holomua Principal Norman Pang has pleaded with the Department of Education for necessary funds to run the school.

I agree with superintendent Pat Hamamoto that a policy is needed to deal with the "extra space," but I believe that a policy is needed to deal with shrinking schools and the financial burden these schools place on the DOE.

People have the right to demand schools in bulging communities. People also have the responsibility to accept the consolidation of schools when their communities shrink.

The time for such a policy is now. Maybe we should think along the lines of military base closings.

MUSIC

HONOLULU SYMPHONY WONDERFUL GIFT TO CITY

The Honolulu Symphony is one of the reasons I'm thankful every day for living in Hawai'i.

The season has resumed after what seemed like a very long break for the opera season. What a return.

The orchestra took the audience to another place as it delivered a perfect "Appalachian Spring," followed by the unbelievable talent of soloist Jennifer Koh.

She and the orchestra appeared to be in complete emotional synchrony.

I've yet to read words that sufficiently describe music, and I can think of none to adequately praise all those who make our symphony what it is.

Thank you to all for this wonderful gift — which is anything but simple.

MIDEAST

AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT AN END TO WAR IN IRAQ

I would like to ask the public to support an end to the Iraq war.

The elections last year and all of the current polls demonstrate the public's desire to exit Iraq gracefully.

However, in a extreme act of hubris, the president insists that he is "the decider."

I would argue that in a republic the representatives in government, of which he is one, are obliged to act upon the people's will, not their own.

If the president will not represent the people's desires and wishes, then Congress must act to limit his power.

If the people speak up, we can put an end to this war in a graceful manner.

Please write or call your representative in Congress today and let him or her know your wishes.

PRESCRIBING DRUGS

TRAINING INADEQUATE IN PSYCHOLOGIST BILLS

Mary Protheroe's letter (March 17) argues that the Legislature should create a specialty of licensed psychologists who can practice medicine. I assume she is supporting Senate Bill 1004 and House Bill 1456, which would permit psychologists to prescribe psychoactive drugs with less than half the medical training of any other prescribing professional in the state.

The effect on consumer safety as a result of the medical training called for in these bills has not been independently evaluated.

Ms. Protheroe's letter ostensibly refers to the Legislative Reference Bureau's 2007 report, "Prescriptive Authority for Psychologists: Issues and Considerations," to justify her position. What she fails to note is that this report concludes that the little amount of training involved in these bills is not justifiable.

If some psychologists wish to practice medicine with substandard training, then it is incumbent upon them to demonstrate that a major reduction in training is adequate.

Doing so would make it reasonable for other mental health professionals also to prescribe medication, such as social workers and marriage and family counselors.