DHHL problems need federal attention

The struggle for kanaka maoli continues in Hawaii, brought to light by the Star-Advertiser editorial, "DHHL betraying its lessees" (Our View, March 7).

Native Hawaiian beneficiaries suffer from "tolerance of the status quo and an unwillingness to be solution-oriented."

It is quite possible this systemic problem, lasting for more than 20 years, reflects poorly on Hawaii’s congressional delegation.

Certainly costs associated with water and road service could be requested from the federal government, as the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act did originate from same.

Each beneficiary should be treated as if he or she was the most important person in the world.

Harry J. Friel
Kapolei

Governor, Legislature responsible for DHHL

Star-Advertiser reporter Rob Perez has done a devastating job of documenting the shortcomings of the Hawaiian Home Lands program.

What has been lacking, in my opinion, is placing the blame where it belongs on the state government.

The Department of Hawaiian Home Lands is not an autonomous entity. It is a department of the state government and as such is subject to the orders of the governor and the oversight of the state Legislature. Both have been deficient over many decades in holding the department to account and providing it with the funds needed to fulfill its mission.

DHHL officials have been criticized for failing to meet impossible standards, given the apathy of the state and thelack of essential financial support.

Carl H. Zimmerman
Salt Lake

Most locals do not support gay marriage

In response to Carolyn Golojuch ("Locals embrace gay marriages," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 19): On the contrary, the majority of Hawaii citizens are not happy that homosexual marriages were legitimized in Hawaii.

It was the Democratic Party-controlled Legislature that called a special session, and despite an overwhelming support for traditional marriage (one man and one woman) with thousands of emails, thousands of testimonies at this special session and personal visits, the majority of Democrats voted for homosexual marriage over the will of the people of this state.

The result is being felt by our keiki in public schools, where the morals of homosexuality are being pushed in their schools’ curriculum.

A big mahalo to Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott, who has been on the side of traditional marriages in the courts and is now following the public school curriculum.

Melvin Partido Sr.
Pearl City

Life of hateful man ended up doing good

Some may think that a gay man like me would celebrate the death of Fred Phelps, the founder of the Westboro Baptist Church.

But in hindsight, although I vehemently disagreed with his words and actions, I honestly felt sorry for him. Living your life in anger and steeped in hate is no way to live.

In actuality, I learned something from Phelps: that good can come from hate.

Because of him, a "backlash" of support, understanding and love came to the LGBT community nationwide over the years.

There are people out there who want to picket his funeral like he and his church members did for many members of the military.

To that I quote Martin Luther King Jr.: "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."

Braddoc DeCaires
Kailua

National sales tax better than flat tax

With respect, I take issue with Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz.

He said we should abolish the IRS.Sounds great!

He proposed a flat tax, which we could file on a postcard-sized tax form.Who would receive the postcard? Who would collect the money? Who would check the truth of income stated? We would need an agency to do these things.

Much would be added to the postcard (deductions, estimated tax payments, etc.). It would not fit. With schedules, your income tax form would be long as it is now. Congress would keep adding to it. No more postcard tax form.

With exceptions added, the flat tax would no longer be a flat tax.A postcard tax form is a fairy tale.

Better is the fair tax a national sales tax.You would file no income tax.Companies would collect the sales tax and forward the money to the feds.Very simple.

Mark Terry
Wahiawa

Change how teachers assigned to schools

"Starting next fall, personnel consequences such as pay raises, tenure and termination will be tied to results of the performance evaluations" ("HSTA can learn from students," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Feb. 26).

Has anyone thought what this will do to schools in disadvantaged areas?More teachers will want to leave and recruiting will be difficult.

Why? Because these schools have a concentration of inexperienced teachers due to the Hawaii State Teachers Association contract with the state giving tenured teachers priority in filling vacancies.

This contract puts teachers here stuck with students taught by inexperienced teachers in previous years at a significant disadvantage in meeting performance standards.

A way to level the playing field for teachers choosing to remain at these schools would be to require all schools to qualify a probationary teacher for tenure first before announcing a vacancy.

A school losing a teacher would then get a qualified teacher replacement in exchange.

Additionally the quality of education in these schools would greatly improve.

Bill Punini Prescott
Nanakuli

REITs operating here should pay income tax

There is a bill in the state Senate that our community should support.

House Bill 1726 would require companies operating as real estate investment trusts (REITs) in Hawaii such as General Growth, HRPT/Select Income, Douglas Emmett and Public Storage to pay Hawaii state income tax on their income.

Why are we, as a community, allowing mainland-based businesses to operate in Hawaii free from the income taxes needed to support our state government and its programs?

Ala Moana Center, Pearlridge Center, Mapunapuna Industrial, Sand Island Industrial, numerous hotels and a large percentage of downtown office buildings are operated as REITs with no corporate income tax being paid to support our infrastructure.

It is time to stop the free ride. Our tax base is eroding and we can’t afford to allow any businesses in Hawaii to avoid paying their fair share.

Michael J. Fergus
Fergus & Company Diamond Head

I may not agree with what you say, but …

I certainly do not agree with everything Oliver Lee said ("U.S. disrespects sovereignty often," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 20).

But I am very thankful for our hard-fought freedoms, based in mutual respect, that allows the opportunity to do so without fear of retaliation.

Mark Stroud
Waikane

FROM THE FORUM

"City forming sidewalk squad to enforce laws," Star-Advertiser, March 17:

>> I have no problem with the move to create permanent "sidewalk police" or calling it a harassment plan. I have been saying this for years: Don’t let them get comfortable until they finally realize that they need to clean up their lives and truly use the services we already provide to give them a better chance at making something of themselves. 

>> We need a squad to patrol our roads and the major potholes throughout the island. I’m not worried about sidewalks at the moment. I’m worried about my car and the abuse my vehicle is taking driving these roads.

>> As long as there are no places to displace the homeless to, the boo-birds will cry out "Bullies, inhumane, police state." They may move off the sidewalks then squat in the parks, so it’s a senseless merry-go-round which we, the tax-payers, must bear the cost for. Build tent cities and take away the excuses.

——

"State to lose $200 million for military construction," Star-Advertiser, March 17:

>> The late U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye’s impact is now being felt.

>> Let’s wean ourselves from defense dollars and spend more federal money on students, music, performing arts, sports, visual arts, roads, parks, police, health, sewers, harbors, energy efficiency, Hokule’a, food safety, nutrition, poetry … what else?

>> That would be nice, but that’s not how it works. The federal government doesn’t fund those things for Hawaii, State and city taxes do. The federal government gives us defense dollars because of our strategic location.

>> The U.S. spends more on "defense" than the next 10 largest countries combined — including China, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom and others.

——

"Mesa Air fails to become big player in the islands," Star-Advertiser, March 18:

>> Hawaiian Air must be salivating. Poor neighbor islanders gotta second-mortgage their homes to travel interisland.

>> Probably not so much. Go! was not able to capture much of the market and other airlines might enter the market.

>> Hawaiian loved having go! around. Nothing like a weak sister for a competitor. They could sit on their 85 percent market share. No need to worry about anti-trust issues; just fly and fly and make money. Go!’s demise actually lends uncertainty to Hawaiian Air’s future. It has to worry about a better-managed, better-capitalized operation coming in.

>> Bring back the Superferry.

——

"Senate confirms Wilson for state Supreme Court," Star-Advertiser, March 18:

>> The Hawaii State Bar Association is now on the hot seat. Innuendos were more or less accepted as statements of fact. I find it strange that this could be done by a body that deals only by facts or truths.

>> The Bar is good at validating what people already think about a judge’s ability. But since it isn’t accountable for what they say, it should simply say that it can’t agree on the person rather than deliver a negative evaluation.

>> If there were so many questions about his work ethic, then why did they confirm him?

——

"House panel approves minimum wage increase," Star-Advertiser, March 19:

>> Like the news article says, Hawaii is already the most expensive state in the nation. With a raise in the minimum wage, prices are guaranteed to skyrocket even more. It’s a no-win situation.

>> Let’s call this what it really is, a tax increase on employers and customers of business that employ minimum-wage workers.

>> Nothing really will change, but it will give politicians another opportunity in a few short years to buy votes by pushing for another increase in the minimum wage.

——

"Man pleads guilty in drug, bribery case," Star-Advertiser, March 19:

>> He is a major embarrassment to all corrections officers who have honorably served in the prison service.

>> The real penalty is within himself, where he will carry the burden the rest of his life knowing he screwed up his future on a get-rich-quick scheme.

——

"Closure of Sacred Falls does not deter hikers," Star-Advertiser, March 21:

>> The job of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources is to keep access, not deny it. 

>> If they open the park, there’s no way to prevent lawsuits from people who are injured or the families of those who die. If it isn’t safe to hike, the park should be kept closed.

>> 113 people died in national parks in 2011 and no parks were closed.