UH has a lot going for it

The recent less-than-glowing media reports related to the University of Hawaii need to be tempered with the realization that UH is contributing in significant ways to solving the great problems of the 21st century, including climate change, loss of biological and cultural diversity, and energy security.

Hawaii is a microcosm of these major global challenges and UH is one of the few universities in the world with the capacity to address them, and, in fact, is doing so. This was profoundly clear at the recent IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress in South Korea.

Virtually all of the deliberations on the conservation of nature, cultures, marine systems and more have profound implications for us. Contributions by the more than 50 Hawaii attendees, including from UH, were enthusiastically received.

I hope Hawaii will be selected to host the next World Congress, in 2016, and that the people of Hawaii will greatly value the incredible contributions of UH in making the world a better place for all.

Christopher Dunn
Director, Lyon Arboretum

Donors to UH very supportive

A recent article on the University of Hawaii did not mention the active participation of the very large number of donors (many of whom are alumni) in the affairs of both the university and the UH Foundation, nor does it mention donor satisfaction ("Private funding long under fire," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 23).

Having recently served on the UH Foundation Board for nine years, I can assure you that foundation trustees, many of whom are also UH alumni, ensure through their oversight that donations are spent in keeping with donors’ wishes.

Many donors also give of their time, knowledge and expertise to the university by serving as adjunct faculty and on numerous advisory committees.

Donor satisfaction can best be judged by the fact that the UH Foundation raised $69 million last year and that UH Capital Campaigns have provided the UH with the largest amount of private funding that has ever been raised in Hawaii for any nonprofit group.

Frank Boas
Kahala

Zoning laws appear useless

Why have zoning laws setting height limits, setback restrictions and shoreline protection laws, then ignore them?

Building a 650-foot apartment tower in Kakaako will violate urban Honolulu’s long-standing 400-foot height limit by 250 feet. The past tells us such exemptions soon become the norm. Imagine a future Honolulu with highrises at 650 feet.

Meeting housing needs does not have to add more urban sprawl. Various types of town houses can help take care of population growth.

Duane Preble
Manoa

Economy needs more spending

Lack of consumer spending is the cause of the slowness of our economic recovery.More jobs, more pay, more money to spend, in turn ratchets up demand.More demand for goods and services results in more hiring in factories and for services such as home improvement.See the cycle? Think big, in terms of millions of hirees.

Some major obstacles to recovery that President Barack Obama has no control over are caused by high food and gasoline prices. They are taking a big slice out of the demand pie because people have no money left over to buy other things. Many workers’ pay is so low that their paychecks are spent only to house andfeed their families.

Price controls and higher minimum wage requirements favor demand over profit, but the pro-profit side would call it "socialism" and drive the Republicans crazy — especially when a failed economic recovery is their cause to rejoice during this campaign/ election cycle.

Caroll Han
Punchbowl

Redistribution defeats purpose

Where did Richard Sullivan gain his insight that "one purpose of taxes is to redistribute wealth" ("One purpose of taxes is for redistribution," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 23)?

He cited early England’s property tax as an example, but then said it "incidentally" also worked to redistribute wealth.

An incidental effect is not a purpose; generally — especially in politics — it’s a justification.

Fairness is a completely self-serving concept. What one person considers fair, many others might feel otherwise. Even those projecting what should be "fair" for others are doing so based upon their own interests, fears and prejudices.Life itself does not provide for the illusion of some entitlement to fairness.

What you reward, you tend to create more of, and what you punish, you tend to suppress and create less of.Those in need should be helped in some way.But, as Bill Clinton said, it should be done in a way that empowers, rather than creating dependence. Redistri- buting wealth does not do that.

Jim Wolery
Kaneohe

Bill 11 benefits wealthy areas

Repeal Bill 11, the Kailua beach park law. Ineffective and outdated laws should be purged from the books regularly to ensure that Hawaii’s government runs efficiently. Despite the impact that this law would have on Kailua’s commerce and infrastructure, the City Council overruled the mayor’s veto and passed the bill into law anyway.

In its haste, the Council didn’t take into consideration the effect it would have on all beaches and parks islandwide. If the same amount of passion was spent on lower-income areas like Waianae, Oahu would be a better place to live in. But due to bureaucracy, political agendas and cronyism, this doesn’t seem to be the policy.

Just Google "poverty on Oahu" and the entire world can see pictures of governmental neglect. Now Google "million-dollar homes in Hawaii" and Kailua is near the top of the list.

Repeal the law, then redo it right for all kamaaina, not just the affluent.

Oscar Manners
Mililani

PLDC law was poorly crafted

The Public Land Development Corp. issue encompasses more than environ- mentalists and Native Hawaiian organizations. Every last citizen and taxpayer should be concerned about Act 55. It is loosely written and not well thought out in terms of future planning or population growth through development.

Where are the checks and balances, not only in terms of the environment, but in the zoning, permitting and bidding processes? Why would we trust this or any five-member board ofappointees to decide what is the best for our state into the future, without governance and certainly without a great deal more discussion?

Have we not seen example after example ofgovernment leaders who are not in control of the areas they are elected to govern? Look at the current state of affairs at the University of Hawaii, Department of Education or the Natatorium.

If they haven’t been paying attention so far, what makes you think they will be watching out for our best interests into the future?

Andrea W. Bell
Kailua