Don’t kill goose that laid golden egg

At the Hawaii Economic Association monthly luncheon meeting on June 2, Richard Lim, the new director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, said that tourism is a mature industry and Hawaii’s economic growth will have to come from new industries in the future (“Future of tourism called into question,” Star-Advertiser, June 3).

It is important not to kill the goose that laid the golden egg. Tourism continues to be a vibrant industry.

Lim pointed out that visitors were looking for new experiences while in Hawaii. Other visitor destinations have been more successful in exploiting their cultures.

In Hawaii, the history to which visitors normally are exposed involves ancient Hawaiian history, the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii, the Pearl Harbor attack and statehood.

The formation of the Kingdom of Hawaii as a constitutional monarchy has never been a point of interest to the visitor industry, mostly because it has never been marketed. In the mid-1800s, Hawaii was one of the most literate nations in the world and was recognized as a civilized nation by foreign governments. How did this come to be? I’m sure visitors would like to know.

Huge banyan tree was butchered

The corner of Pensacola and the H-1 freeway was once distinguished by the commanding presence of an urban landmark — a huge, gorgeous banyan tree on the grounds of a condominium known as The Barclay.

Unfortunately, the banyan has fallen victim to one of the poorest, most destructive pruning jobs of a significant tree ever witnessed by The Outdoor Circle in its nearly 100-year history. The destructive work has resulted in numerous complaints from Barclay residents and the general public.

The banyan was a visual treat that separated The Barclay from the rest of the buildings in the concrete H-1 corridor.

The tree will never look the same as it did before the work, which could very well significantly shorten the life of the tree. The poor decision to abuse this tree will be felt by residents, the neighborhood and the community for years to come.

Private insurers have ‘death panels’

The letter “Who will control health care?” (Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 16) was ostensibly about medical records, but in reality raised yet again the specter of rationed health care by government “death panels.” Of course we don’t know precisely how nationalized health care would be administered. We do know, however, the way many of the largest private sector medical insurers — who are these days raking in record profits for their executives and shareholders — handle the dispensation of medical care. Their methodology is so arbitrary and greed-driven that sick people are denied coverage or care, and often essentially condemned to death, every single business day.

These decisions are made by shadowy groups of managers only describable as “corporate death panels.” Here the private profit motive directly interferes with the doctor/patient relationship.

Why do we so fear government and ignore these cruel realities? Could it be blatant fear-mongering by the political right?

Penalty doesn’t fit police officer’s crime

The whole state of Hawaii should be appalled to hear that police officer Boyd Kamikawa will have to spend 30 days in jail, pay $1,000 in fines and perform 300 hours of community service (“Officer jailed for hitting pedestrian while driving drunk,” Star-Advertiser, June 14).

This is the same officer who ignored a court order not to drive after his driver’s license was revoked.

What will it take for drunken drivers to get the message? If you drive, don’t drink, and if you drink, call a taxi cab.

Pro Bowl seems like a pretty good deal

I couldn’t have been more disappointed in Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s announcement that the Pro Bowl being staged in Hawaii was a flagrant mistake, and that $4 million would be better spent on child education.

If visitor spending is $28 million as a result of the event, I see this as a 7:1 return ratio on what we pay for it to come here. How is this egregious self-indulgence? The

$28 million benefits everyone, including the state government.

I was never a fan of former Gov. Linda Lingle, but in retrospect, kudos to her for fighting to get the Pro Bowl back this past year after the 2010 absence.

And to think I made a contribution to Abercrombie’s campaign fundraiser. Little did I know what kind of decisions he would make.

Fannie Mae violating spirit of new law

Even before Act 48 was signed into law in Hawaii, mortgage companies were saying they intended to process all foreclosures judicially and not use the new law.

Fannie Mae has now issued a notice to all its mortgage servicers in Hawaii that all the mortgages it owns shall be foreclosed using the judicial process, not the non-judicial process established under the new law (“Foreclosures might swamp isle courts,” Star-Advertiser, June 15).

This new policy clearly contradicts the spirit and intent of the directive issued by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the conservator appointed to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that requires all mortgage servicers to “conduct a formal review of each case to ensure a borrower has been considered for foreclosure alternatives before the loan is referred for foreclosure.”

The express intent of Act 48 is to provide borrowers with the option to require mortgage companies to negotiate with them in good faith. Fannie Mae’s notice is a clear attempt to preempt the ability of borrowers to exercise that option.