In response to your article, “Special ed audit cites staff, tech problems” (Star-Advertiser, Sept. 3), I was a certified special education teacher for the state Department of Education, both on Oahu and Hawaii island, trained as an autism specialist in 1997. Although I’m also certified to teach regular education, once I started teaching special ed, I wasn’t allowed to return to regular ed because of the Felix Consent Decree.
In addition to the lack of support, huge caseloads and excessive paperwork, a main reason there are 120 vacant special ed positions is because of the many meetings requiring parental agreement and signature.
Nearly all of these must occur after parents finish work, which necessitates the teachers staying at school until 5:30 or 6 p.m. Meanwhile, the contract for teachers allows them to leave soon after school is out and do their planning elsewhere.
During my last year of teaching I ran over 50 of these meetings.
Nancy Perry
Kaneohe
Kakaako needs at least 2 elementary schools
There are three key issues pertaining to elementary school facilities in Kakaako (“State considers revising high-rise plan,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4).
First, Kakaako needs two public elementary schools rather than a single one, lest a single facility becomes overwhelmed with 1,000 condo owners trying to drop off their children between 6:45 a.m. and 8 a.m. each day.
Second, the facilities need at least 45 classrooms to ensure growth is accounted for. While the schools grow toward capacity, the state Department of Education can use surplus classroom space for offices.
Third, as the Kakaako condo community attracts young couples, the state shouldn’t ignore the need for in-community preschools, perhaps two or three churches in the area to host a preschool, as well as a preschool at each public school in the area.
Von Kenric Kaneshiro
Downtown Honolulu
Honor Challenger at Bishop Museum
The Star-Advertiser published two great stories on Jan. 28 about the Challenger disaster (“Hawaii to honor hometown hero,” “Remembrance of Challenger crew inspires students to learn,” Island Voices).
Although it was 30 years ago, those of us who witnessed it when it happened still vividly remember the painful images as if it was just yesterday.
It was a cruel ending as the country watched in eagerness and pride only to see its dreams shattered in a ball of fire and smoke. I particularly like the poignant story by educator Sandy Cameli as she paid tribute to Hawaii’s own Ellison Onizuka.
It would be fitting if Ellison’s inspiring legacy and memorabilia, the Challenger disaster and the vistas of space exploration could be continued in places like the Bishop Museum’s Observatory Planetarium wing, since most visitors come to Oahu. It would be a great added feature. The museum is only a short distance from his final resting place in Punchbowl, which is convenient for the visitors.
Gary Takashima
Waipahu
Superferry opponents should be constructive
The Superferry was the best thing that ever happened to the state of Hawaii’s transportation system and the people of Hawaii (“Ship ahoy?” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4).
I, for one, would love to see its return.
With outrageous airfares, it can’t come back soon enough.
The state, of course, must get its ducks in a row this time. Detractors such as Albert Perez of the Maui Tomorrow Foundation and Kauai County Councilman Gary Hooser need to step into the future. Their small-minded objections can and should be dealt with as the project moves forward.
As leaders, they should help in this process and be proactive. They should help overcome the objections, not find fault. This idea goes out to the Sierra Club, too, which was instrumental in the lawsuit that doomed the ferry in 2009. They should help the state and not be so quick to sue.
David Chabriel
Kailua
Studies not needed for interisland ferry
The Superferry needs no more studies (“Ship ahoy?” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4).
Before it went out of business, 88 percent of the public supported the vessel.
The vast majority of those using it were not tourists but Hawaii citizens and businesses enjoying a cost-effective alternative to air travel. It provided essential jobs for hundreds of employees. Love’s Bakery’s costs to ship bread products to Maui on the Superferry were 40 percent less.
Maui farmers transported goods to Oahu. A Maui friend shipped product on a truck that brought goods to Maui but was returning empty. In a public disaster, the Superferry provided a ready platform to send emergency supplies to any island.
Forget the feasibility studies. Complete an environmental impact statement and bring the Superferry home.
Michael A. Lilly
Former Hawaii attorney general
Pacific Heights
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.
“Mayor claims a win over Honolulu crisis”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 1:
>> What rock does this guy live under? There’s been no improvement in most areas of the island — maybe the high-class neighborhoods he visits, but nowhere else. There are tons of homelessin the hills, out of sight. Try going up to Waahila Ridge, or the park at 16th and Koko Drive in Kaimuki. We already know about the airport/Keehi Lagoon areas and Wahiawa. They are onlychecking the parks and other visible areas.
>> Victory? I drove from Kalihi to Waikiki this weekend and saw more people living in the streets than ever. It’s incredible to see this happening to our beautiful city.
>> Taking 772 (his number) of homeless off the streets out of 8,000 or more is not what I would call a victory.
>> Victory, no. Improvement, yes.
———
“New Hilo airport warehouse still vacant”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 1:
>> The state Department of Transportation should have leased or sold the land to a developer to build and lease the facility.
>> Whenever the state gets involved in leases, it never ends right.
>> It’s interesting how one state agency, the DOT, can negotiate a lease with another state agency, the Agriculture Department, but the process mires down when the negotiations are withprivate firms who must exercise good business sense and really be watchful of their finances and lease conditions.
———
“Disagreement prevails at Na‘i Aupuni opening day”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 2:
>> Disagreements are expected when groups of people are brought together. Look at the just-completed Iowa caucus. Look at our own government. It would be surprising if everyone agreed oneverything. These things take time.
>> Whether Hawaii is illegally occupied, colonized or willingly came into the U.S. fold, there is no dispute that most (Native Hawaiians) want to exercise a greater degree of control over theirpolitical destinies.
———
“Caldwell insists he’s not in favor of property tax increase”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 2:
>> By the time this rail is running, Mayor Kirk Caldwell will be well out of office and have no say about taxes. But future city leaders will have no choice but to raise taxes. Caldwell knows that.
>> “Yeah, I’ll sign it. but I won’t like signing it. No sirree. Nope. Not at all. What color pen should I use?”
>> All part of the big game plan. Tell everyone it’s going up 9 percent and they’ll feel great when we bring it down to 5 percent. Watch and learn.
———
“Pro Bowl gridlock may add to NFL’s reasons for withdrawal”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 3:
>> You would think by now the management and police would know how to get traffic moving and get fans into the game quickly. Maybe they should go to a mainland college or pro game andwatch how they do it. No wonder fans here don’t want to go to any games anymore. It’s a joke to get there.
>> Even if the NFL was at fault they will never admit it and they still will pull out, if that’s what they want to do.
>> If the NFL was at fault (and not likely, as things operate as a system in which the state should have been the lead) then it has worn out its aloha.
———
“Hawaii lawmakers kill bill to fly homeless back to mainland”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 3:
>> Send them one way from Oahu to Big Island — only $93.
>> Why not? In exchange, the Big Island can give us the dengue fever and coqui frogs.
———
“Ige floats proposal to bring back ferry service”
Star-Advertiser, Feb. 4:
>> I wonder why interisland shipping company Young Brothers Ltd. doesn’t have a Superferry in its fleet. It would be booked solid.
>> The state does not know how to do anything right. But they do know how to spend money on studies that go on for years.
>> I guess they can just raise the general excise tax to cover the losses.
>> Let’s get the telescope completed first!
