Corey Rosenlee, the Hawaii State Teachers Association’s elected leader, is correct in saying, "Currently what we’re doing is segregating our schools, not primarily by race anymore, but by socioeconomic status" ("Rosenlee to head teachers union," Star-Advertiser, June 10).

What will be interesting is if he will work to end the decades-old HSTA discriminatory policy, which gives tenured teachers priority in applying for teacher position vacancies.

The policy has resulted in low income-area schools being used by higher income-area schools as a resource for experienced teachers, and low income-area students used to qualify inexperienced teachers for permanent hire.

The effect of this policy has contributed highly to the low quality of education in these schools and its yearly average student dropout rate of 40 percent.

It should also be noted that many of these dropouts end up a burden on society and costly to taxpayers.

Bill Punini Prescott
Nanakuli

HMSA seems to be working against ACA

I was very disappointed when it was reported that Hawaii Medical Service Association needed to increase premiums an average of 49 percent for its Affordable Care Act members; more so, when it was reported the very next day that Kaiser was planning a rate increase of only 8.7 percent ("HMSA asks 49% hike on care act plans," Star-Advertiser, June 3; "Kaiser to raise Connector members’ payments," Star-Advertiser, June 4).

Why the difference? Did HMSA’s rate adjusters make a huge miscalculation, or, is the Kaiser HMO system able to control health care costs more effectively?

When HMSA was founded in 1938, its purpose was to help the people of Hawaii by forming a "tanomoshi" (pooling its members’ dues and assisting a member in need; after the need was met, the pool would be replenished).

Under this concept, HMSA has grown to a multimillion-dollar company with over a half-million members. With its huge financial resources, one would hope that HMSA, a nonprofit organization, would help not only its members, but the people of Hawaii, by finding ways to cut overhead expenses (e.g., executive salaries), dipping into reserves if necessary, lowering membership dues and supporting the ACA, not destroying it.

Walter Murakami
Kalama Valley

Koko Head stables will not be closing

Contrary to the commentary about the horse stable operation at Koko Head, the county-owned facility is alive and well ("Koko Crater Stables dying slow death at hands of perplexing city decisions," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 7).

The day-to-day operation was recently awarded to a new concessionaire doing business as Stable Solutions.

Both the county and the new operator look forward to the continuation and potential growth of the stable in the coming year and expect that new ideas will infuse a renewed vigor at the venerable Koko Head site.

In 2008, the county discontinued use of a popular walking path for horseback rides because of complications arising from the competing use among horseback riders, visitors to the botanical gardens and the general public.

We are presently re-evaluating the use of the path as a bridle trail and whether an alternate trail can be established on the grounds of the botanical garden or on adjacent county land.

Guy Kaulukukui
Director designate, Department of Enterprise Services

Faith in government is quite Pollyannaish

Former City Councilman and newsman Nestor Garcia has been fined by the city Ethics Commission for ethical breaches in voting for the rail project and several major development projects in West Oahu after accepting free meals and golf from people and companies that would benefit ("Reporter Garcia says he was not pressed to resign," Star-Advertiser, June 10).

Garcia is now concerned that people may lose faith in their government.

Only golf and free meals were involved.What is one to say about the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being pledged and spent for the elections next year, much of it from unknown donors?

How can one maintain an abiding faith in government when elections can be bought and sold so casually?

I don’t see our Congress hastening to nullify that terrible ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court designating corporations as people and money as speech — thus opening up the floodgates for unlimited campaign contributions. To sustain a faith in government under these conditions is virtually impossible.

Ed Sullam
Aina Haina

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Curtain may be coming down on Boy Choir,” Star-Advertiser, June 8:

>>  It’s not really excusable to serve on the board of directors of a nonprofit and be so poorly informed that one does not know the 501(c)(3) needs to be renewed periodically. They need to bring in a trainer to get this board up to speed. Reinstating the nonprofit status is also the gateway to financial stability, since it qualifies the organization for the grants it needs to survive.

>>  I wish the Honolulu Boy Choir the best of luck. It has impacted many kids and is an asset to the community.

———

“As president, UH’s Lassner is a bargain,” Star-Advertiser, June 8:

>> It’s not what he is paid, rather it’s what we taxpayers, or the students, receive for what he’s paid.

>> They are lucky to have somebody like David Lassner accept a small compensation package for the big headaches he has to deal with now.

———

“Measures aim to free state of fossil fuel use in 30 years,” Star-Advertiser, June 9:

>> Sorry to burst the bubble for the green types, but it’s not going to happen for obvious reasons. Neither wind nor solar energy can be relied on for 24/7 availability. If production cannot keep up with demand, you have blackouts, plain and simple. Nevertheless, well-meaning but clueless state politicians along with anti-capitalist environmentalists pursue the dream of renewables.

>> The date will get pushed back or become meaningless. Still, good symbolism.

>> One should never say never. Just look at those religious fanatics who felt that gay marriage would never come about. Well, that is happening. In the same way, it probably will not be long before wind and solar power most of our needs.

———

“Door dent was not created by bullet,” Star-Advertiser, June 10:

>> Well, what say all of you who were so quick to lay blame on the protectors of Mauna a Wakea?

>> I don’t hate Hawaiians and I thought it looked like a bullet hole.

>> When viewing the complete scene, including the protruding pin on the wall that actually caused the puncture, it was obvious that the Subaru scientists were not very good observers. How did the news media miss the obvious, not to mention the police investigators? We were all punked!

———

“Tents of homeless removed from Kapalama Canal bank,” Star-Advertiser, June 10:

>> Basically, we the taxpayers give the homeless time to remove the stuff they want to keep, and then we pay to clean up the mess they have made and remove the stuff they don’t want, and then they move right back to their now-clean spot. Can the city give me 24 hours notice to move my things and come and clean my place?

>> They were back by Tuesday afternoon. I don’t know if it was any cleaner or neater but probably for a brief period it will be until they find or are given more stuff by well wishers.

>> It’s time for our City Council to stop looking out for themselves and go forward with a solid plan. At this rate, we’re just sweeping and raking the homeless around the island.

———

“Rosenlee to head teachers union,” Star-Advertiser, June 10:

>> The Machine loses.

>> … and a new machine takes over.

>> Now the question will become: “What will the new strategy be to achieve these goals of professed equality in an improved public education?”

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“Anti-native bias protested,” Star-Advertiser, June 11:

>> The times of loincloths and Stone Age culture are gone. Join the 21st century.

>> Yes, we have H-bombs and carry Uzis now instead of stone axes. Ain’t civilization grand!

>> And you were just able to magically transmit your words so they could be seen by thousands of people without leaving your house. Civilization is grand, indeed.

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“Kondo keeps his job as enforcer of code,” Star-Advertiser, June 11:

>> It’s good that Les Kondo will remain as the head of the state Ethics Commission. Go git ’em, and keep those bureaucrats and politicians on notice about conflicts of interest and appearance of a conflict of interest. Gift giving indeed.

>> I wonder how long Kondo will be on the job. Is he biting the hand that feeds him? He better be one good samurai.

>> Kondo should get a pay raise.