Wiercinski has fine background

As someone who spent more than 30 years at a public university and who believes that the military has too much influence in our nation and our state, I attended the public appearance of retired Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski on Kauai.

I was prepared to denigrate Wiercinski’s candidacy because of his military background. Instead, after listening to him speak, I was tremendously impressed by his experience, knowledge, philosophy and passion for the University of Hawaii. I came away from the meeting thinking that he should definitely be hired as president.

While some may not think that administrative experience in the military translates into the ability to run a large public university, I would contend that academia does not necessarily serve as a good training ground for running a large, complex organization such as UH. Some of the UH past presidents prove that point.

Finally, the UH regents should be embarrassed that, after what they claim was a national search, the only finalists are two white males. Shame on them.

Linda Estes
Koloa,Kauai

Wiercinski pick is refreshing

I applaud the University of Hawaii Board of Regents for thinking outside the box and nominating retired Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski as a candidate for UH president. 

Detractors like professor Cynthia Franklin note that he has "absolutely no background in public education." So what?

Wiercinski’s career leading large taxpayer-funded organizations makes him a perfect candidate to lead a large taxpayer-funded organization. 

I’ve graduated from three universities and I never once met a professor who was trained in leadership, financial management or even teaching, for that matter. They were trained in earning degrees.

UH has a terrible track record of hiring selfish presidents. To think that Franklin implicitly defends that status quo is unimaginable. 

I find it refreshing to see a candidate whose life has been dedicated to selfless service. And if his presence generates more funding for military research on things like disease prevention or  next-generation energy, so much the better.

Ed Kertis
Waipahu

Pono Choices should be tossed

I agree with John Bishop regarding Pono Choices: It is not good, definitely not "pono" ("Pono Choices not really pono," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 9).

The community should be outraged that this was written in the manner it was.

I viewed the 300-plus pages of Pono Choices and parents should be outraged that this will be taught in the middle schools. Parents should speak up to the state Department of Education and state Board of Education that this curriculum needs to be removed.

Shame on the BOE for making the task force process so closed-door.

Marilee Y. Lyons
Haleiwa

We can’t arrest all the homeless

The day after the Star-Advertiser led with the story, "Oahu homeless count rises for the sixth year" (May 13), the City Council Budget Committee turned around and stripped 

$6 million from the mayor’s Housing First program.

Do the City Council members think they are going to be able to arrest their way out of the homeless problem facing Honolulu? Or perhaps they think passing laws will make the problem go away all by itself.

Neither of these things are going to happen. It will take a substantial, sustained and multifaceted effort by the city and the state before we begin to see real change in the homelessness situation. Half-measures will only serve to keep the problem simmering.

I understand the resentment some people may feel toward spending money trying to take care of people who don’t appear particularly interested in taking care of themselves.  

However this is a problem we must tackle head-on, if we expect locals to continue to shop in Chinatown and tourists to continue to visit Waikiki.

Steve Miller
Makiki