State doing its best to help shellfish firms

Blaming "government bureaucracy" for delays in re-establishing Hawaii’s shellfish industry is misleading ("Shellfish show promise," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 19).

The state Department of Health maintained a certified lab and trained staff to support local shellfish farmers until about 10 years ago. Since then, drastic budget cuts devastated our state laboratory and food-safety programs and our federal shellfish program certification lapsed.

Now the Abercrombie administration is working vigorously to support and promote the recently re-invigorated local shellfish industry.

Because clams and oysters concentrate toxins and harmful bacteria that can make people very sick, the law requires that shellfish be grown only in clean water and that the animal’s meat be regularly tested to assure public health.

Even though we received no new funding and have limited staff, we are preparing our program to receive federal certification by the end of this year. The delay in supporting Hawaii’s shellfish industry is an example of how dramatic cuts in government programs do not "stimulate" but actually do real harm to our island economy.

Gary Gill
State deputy director for environmental health

Wastewater plant could complicate plan

While waterfront property is in demand for recreational use, Sand Island’s primary and essential use must remain industrial/commercial ("State proposes to redevelop Sand Island," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22).

It is a key part of our infrastructure as the site of the wastewater treatment plant for central and east Honolulu. With ongoing development in the downtown-Kakaako-Waikiki corridor, this plant will need substantial expansion, and there is no other suitable location.

Having worked in a very large wastewater treatment plant for four years, I do not see how a marina and a large wastewater plant could be compatible neighbors because of odors and other aesthetic issues.

Long-range planning for coastal development within Honolulu, especially between the Honolulu Airport and Kewalo Basin, requires land-use coordination between the state and the city.

Judith Suzurikawa
Honolulu

Leave Sand Island as a public-use area

Sand Island development is a bad idea. Leave it alone.

It sounds great, with canoe hale, more boat slips, etc., but that’s not going to happen. The people or boaters or businesses will take over and push out paddling, like they did at the Ala Wai Canal.

They say they will have a promenade open to the public, like at Ko Olina, now closed and gated to most people who don’t pay to stay there.

The paddlers have a place to park and paddle. Also, the BMX motocross track is very well used. Where do they go after this development plan? Back to the mountains to trash and ruin the environment? This is just a money-making scheme at the expense of the recreational users and their families and children. Go to another area and not Sand Island. This is a public-use area, not an area for a private select few.

Lloyd and Adrienne Wilson-Yamasaki
Wahiawa

School laptops seem to be way overpriced

Regarding the recent theft of laptop computers from the Leihoku Elementary School, it is reported that the 62 laptops are valued at $90,000 "Computer theft ‘is really going to hurt’ at Leihoku Elementary," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 20).

The figure also included damage to some carrying equipment.

So, even if we chop off a thousand dollars for the cart damage, that’s still about $1,400 per laptop.

Which raises the question: How in the world can these laptops be valued at $1,400 each when perfectly functional laptops can be had for less than $500 each at many retail outlets?

Somebody is not keeping a close eye on the purse strings of our schools. When education costs are already so high, why are exorbitant prices being paid for equipment like this?

The article notes the outpouring of help from the local community, indicating that at least some donations are coming in. So, another question: Doesn’t the school have insurance for these kinds of things?

Roger Garrett
Kapahulu

Legislators should rein in Abercrombie

David Shapiro reveals that Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s actions demonstrate that the authority of the governor’s office is too great ("Abercrombie right at home with his scepter and throne," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Sept. 21).

It is the fiduciary duty of our state legislators to change our defective laws, so as to reduce the current powers of this office.

Abercrombie is an unethical assassin of our republican form of government. A republic is a political order in which the supreme power lies in the body of citizens who vote for their legislators, who are responsible to the public.

The American people do not want a dictatorship. Legislators who refuse to reduce the dictatorial powers of the office of the governor should be replaced.

Wilbert W. W. Wong Sr.
Kaneohe

FROM THE FORUM

"Computer theft ‘is really going to hurt’ at Leihoku Elementary,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 20:

» Time to think about a security alarm system in the schools. Thieves know what is available to be stolen and obviously don’t care if it hurts the keiki.

» Not only do they need a security alarm but also they need to secure the computers better. The cabinet where they were stored can stop only a 5- or 6-year-old child. With this much expensive equipment, they need to have better storage. Also, how many times do Waianae schools need to be broken into, set on fire or vandalized before these activities are taken seriously by the community and the police?

» Find the "fence" that will purchase the stolen goods and prosecute him or her to the full extent of the law. The fence is just as low as the thieves who stole the laptops.

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"Bank CEO Horner to retire,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 20:

» Congratulations on your decision, Don. May your retirement be as fruitful as your career.

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"City warns of Waialae lane closure to do bike study,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 21:

» If you avoid the area and the traffic looks good during this study period, the bike lane will become permanent and you will forever have to avoid the area. So if you’re against the bike lane, you gotta stick it out, drive through the area and create some traffic.

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"State proposes to redevelop waterfront at Sand Island,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22:

» Sand island could use the improvement. That is one crummy park with a lot of unused space and a lot of shady characters.

» This could be really good. I hope the development is done in a top-class way that enhances the environment and community. Also, I hope the process for choosing a developer is fair and open and ensures that the money stays in Hawaii.

» This is a win, win, win situation. As a Kalihi girl who enjoys the beach there, I’ve always wanted this for the area. Like a Venice.

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"Slaughterhouse reels as grocers reject pork shipped live to isles,"Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22:

» All this will do is raise the price of pork. Food is already expensive in the islands. This will just make it worse. I really don’t care about vegans and vegetarians. They can do their thing and I can do mine. I can’t stand people imposing their ideas on me, whether it’s religion, politics or my dietary habits. Mind your own business. I hope Times and Foodland lose business. I will shop somewhere else.

» If this a viable business, it doesn’t need taxpayer money to survive. I see the vegans’ point. They are taxpayers, too.

» "But lawmakers inserted $750,000 in the budget to pay for a photovoltaic system to reduce slaughterhouse electricity costs." Hey, I would like to reduce my electricity cost! I wonder if the state would give me $750,000 for photovoltaic for my home.

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"Hawaii near cellar in rank of states’ second-quarter income growth," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 23:

» Times are tough for the average worker in Hawaii. We need to diversify our economy.

» No surprise here, and not a good sign for the future. Most young bright kids will seek better opportunities on the mainland, unless they want to work in a hotel.

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"Details of baby’s death to stay secret," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 23:

» Patricia McManaman, head of the state Department of Human Services, could easily release only those files that describe the who, what and where details since the child came into the custody of the state. She doesn’t have to release those portions that "reveal a family’s inner most thoughts and fears." The way I see it at the moment, the state had custody of the child and that’s why she’s stonewalling.

» Maybe she’s shielded by the "Abercrombie Act" of disclosure — or lack thereof.

» More bureaucratic gobbledegook about privacy rules. Looking at the picture of this handsome child, I wonder how cruel this world is, to let this defenseless child meet an untimely death. How can the relatives look at themselves? Sad.

» Where is the transparency so this will not happen again?