Consider donating umbilical cord blood

As people pay tribute to moms this Mother’s Day, please remember that birth can be an event that gives hope to families all over Hawaii through the donation of umbilical cord blood.

Through the Hawai‘i Cord Blood Bank, our participating hospitals, and the hundreds of physicians and nurses who volunteer their time on our behalf, mothers can donate their baby’s umbilical cord blood, which can then be used by patients fighting life-threatening blood disorders like leukemia and lymphoma. This process is free, painless and doesn’t interfere with labor.

Hawaii’s unique blend of ethnic backgrounds makes our state’s cord blood donation program incredibly valuable, because patients in need of transplants are most likely to find a suitable matching cord blood unit donated by someone of similar ethnicity. Of the 185,000 cord blood units accessible on the national Be The Match Registry, less than 10 percent are Asian, less than 9 percent are mixed race and only 0.1 percent are Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

Randal Wada
Medical director, Hawai‘i Cord Blood Bank

Next UH president must sustain quality

As the University of Hawaii seeks a new president, the public should remember that universities exist so students can earn degrees that will help them build successful careers. A degree’s worth parallels its effectiveness in securing sound employment.

While a UH degree may assist those wishing to work in Hawaii, the state lacks sufficient quality positions to accommodate all UH graduates. Former Education Secretary William Bennett asserted that from a return-on-investment perspective, only 150 of 3,500 U.S. colleges are worth the investment. Attending these 150 resulted in a positive ROI; patronizing other institutions resulted in a negative. UH ranked 785.

However, during M.R.C. Greenwood’s years as president, in U.S. News & World Report’s survey of 300 universities, the UH rank has improved to 156. UH must choose a leader who sustains this positive momentum.

When education costs are high and premium employment opportunities scarce, academic quality counts more than ever. Excellence can lead somewhere, but mediocrity will lead nowhere.

Dane Lee
Punchbowl

Fishermen confused about city parks rules

Since the homeless issue on the beaches has become more acute in recent years, fishermen, including many Native Hawaiians, have not been able to effectively use city parks to fish at night.

On the leeward coast, the city has stated that many miles of beaches from the high-water mark to the stone wall along Farrington Highway are considered parkland.

Fishermen are confused as to what the policy is concerning our rights to stay on public park lands mauka of the high-water mark. At one neighborhood board meeting on the west side, the director of the Parks Department announced that fishermen could put up canopies. At another neighborhood board meeting, the director’s deputy announced that not only were canopies prohibited, fishermen were banned from staying in parks after hours.

For centuries, fishermen have used fishing to educate our keiki and moopuna. Please permit us to continue this valued cultural practice.

Keith Sienkiewicz
Waipahu

Pro-GMO scientist was condescending

Could Bruce Chassy have been any more condescending in his characterization of Hawaii residents who are concerned about the impact of genetically modified organisms on our food supply and our health ("Biotech plays important role in promoting, protecting Hawaii food," Star-Advertiser, May 2)?

I can assure you that I do not feel like a "player" in what he calls the "drama" surrounding the discussion, nor do I appreciate his allegations that our concerns are based on "sensational news headlines" or "outrageous claims about mad agricultural scientists … hell-bent on destroying the earth."

If GMOs are so safe, I would so appreciate him explaining to me why more than 20 nations outlawed them to one extent or another, some entirely.

And why, if GMOs are so good for us, are manufacturers spending astronomical amounts of money to avoidlabeling their products as containing GMOs? How is that different from the extensive labeling on virtually all food, cosmetic and drug products in the U.S.?

Nancy Kickertz
Kailua

Modified crosswalks improved traffic flow

Congratulations to the person or persons from the city whose idea it was to modify the crosswalks at the intersection of Lewers and Kalakaua, Royal Hawaiian and Kalakaua.

It makes it easier to turn right and left onto Lewers; also turning right into Royal Hawaiian Center and two hotels.

Downtown needs some changes.

Patrick Carvalho
Honolulu

Legislature ignored plight of caregivers

The 2013 legislative session has just ended, and it is disheartening to note that some politicians continued to ignore the demands of caregivers to increase their paychecks on par with the rate of caregivers on the mainland and to account for the high cost of living in Hawaii.

Members of organized labor unions were recently given a raise. So were some government officials. We could not see any logical reasoning why we are being left out. Is it because we are not organized?

The care home and foster home industries in Hawaii provide quality care for the physically handicapped and elderly people.

Hawaii’s economy is improving. We hope the caregivers’ demand for a pay raise will be given due consideration in the 2014 legislative session.

We also hope that the members of the Legislature, as well as other government officials, ultimately will realize the importance of the services the caregivers provide to our aging population.

Meanwhile, the tenacious and indefatigable caregivers continue their daily chores with commitment, compassion and dedication, providing loving care for their residents.

As the saying goes, do unto others as you want others to do unto you.

Constante A. Domingo
President, Caregivers Association

Waimea windmills culturally insensitive

My husband and I have had the great fortune of visiting Oahu’s North Shore several times, either to study, write or enjoy its famed laid-back vibe.

Our most recent visit in November 2012 was the most memorable yet — but not for all the right reasons. As we traveled from the Honolulu Airport into Haleiwa, imagine our surprise when we saw 30 500-foot windmill structures on the ridge of Waimea Valley.

We understand the need for renewable energy sources to help Hawaii become less fossil-fuel-reliant. However, it’s our understanding that the Waimea area is one of the most significant in Native Hawaiian culture and of sensitive ecological importance.

These are both directly affected by the air currents and noise generated by the powerful turning blades.

That Kamehameha Schools receives a revenue stream from these structures is a perplexing juxtaposition of location and heritage.

Surely there’s an alternative for renewable energy that is just as supportive that honors progressive learning and cultural heritage.

Angela Blenkhorne
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

FROM THE FORUM

"UH President Greenwood to retire in September," Star-Advertiser, May 6:

» Retired or fired. Maybe those were her choices. She needed to go.

» Let’s find someone who is hungry for the job, not for the money. Someone who doesn’t demand a premium for coming here.

» I don’t blame her. There are so many unappreciative people in the system. I hope she walks away and takes the state to the cleaners. The only thing I didn’t like was her housing allowance. Otherwise, she did a good job.

———

"Kamuela named among best U.S. beach towns," Star-Advertiser, May 6:

» Shouldn’t a "beach town" be adjacent to an actual beach? The nearest beach to Kamuela is Hapuna Beach, but that’s more than 12 miles away. Not quite walking distance. Just sayin’.

» Nice to be recognized, but obviously they got it wrong. Kamuela is not a beach town.

———

"We will change the world, high school seniors promise," Star-Advertiser, May 7:

» Optimism in youth is great.

» Sadly, given the future of health care, the only thing they will be changing is their parent’s diapers.

———

"Budget cuts cancel Pearl Harbor fireworks, Bayfest," Star-Advertiser, May 7:

» These events are non-essential and merely suck money from the tax-paying public. While the event does provide morale and business benefit to the area, it really is non-essential. It is good that sequestration is causing the government to rein in its foolish spending.

» Agree, but these costs are a drop in the bucket compared to the money the U.S. is wasting in Afghanistan.

———

"Isle pay better than mainland in 9 occupations," Star-Advertiser, May 8:

» This news is definitely misleading because if you take the cost of living into consideration, then that pay scale would definitely slip to the lower end.

» "The study did not make adjustments for cost of living. The expense of living in Hono­lulu puts residents at a relative disadvantage financially to many mainland cities where it is cheaper to live." This is a direct quote from the article.

» A simple Internet search would turn up several websites that compare cost of living and pay scales between different cities in the country and even the world. If I were thinking of relocating, I’d find that much more helpful than a comparison between Hawaii and the entire U.S. After all, it’s not like the rest of the U.S. is one homogeneous place. There are just as many, if not more, differences between the various other states than there are between Hawaii and the "mainland."

———

54% of class of 2012 in college, Star-Advertiser, May 9:

» Yes, but college for what? At present there is a frenzy to make every senior fill out an application to the University of Hawaii system. But ask a student, "What do you want to study?" and the answer is "I don’t know." Going to college is a metonym for going into debt. Putting the meaning up front sounds like this: "Why do you want a loan?" "I don’t know."

» Education for the sake of education that has nothing to do with getting a job in the real world while creating an indentured servant of the student is not only counterproductive to the student, but the federally guaranteed loans are the impetus for universities to keep raising tuition. Better to get a job and get your knowledge free from the Internet.

———

"With jury picked, agent’s trial can begin," Star-Advertiser, May 8:

» I can’t wait until the video from that night is finally released. Should be interesting to reveal what the prosecution didn’t want the public to see.

» Justice will be served but no one is going to be happy.

———

City tackles shelter first, Star-Advertiser, May 9:

» Mayor Kirk Caldwell is sending a message: Do drugs, drop out of society, wander the street panhandling for free handouts so you can buy more drugs and alcohol, and you will be rewarded with free housing! On the other hand, if you get a job, go to work and be a productive, law-abiding member of society, he will raise your taxes and take more of your money so he can give it to society’s deadbeats.

» "$30,000-$48,000 per person helped"? That’s about the cost of housing these people in jail for vagrancy.

» We finally have a mayor who is trying to solve real life problems only to be met by complaining.

» Let his program have a chance. Homelessness is a real problem.