Not just Kenoi shoulders blame
I agree with Hawaii County Councilwoman Margaret Wille in terms of the lack of accountability once the news broke about Mayor Billy Kenoi’s misuse of his pCard in March 2014 (“Crime and Politics, Indicted,” Star-Advertiser, March 24).
He violated the purchasing card (pCard) cardholder agreement by misusing government property.
The time has come for him to be held accountable for his crimes.
Others need to be held accountable as well.
The purchasing card administrator within the department must have failed to administer what is called the “restricted and blocked merchant card codes.”
If any cardholder attempts to charge at any of the blocked merchants included in the blocked categories, the purchase will be declined.
Both the current and former county finance directors are to blame, too, for not revoking the pCard.
Last but not least, the County Council members carry their load of guilt for not reprimanding Kenoi.
Alexis M. Liftee
Nuuanu
Zoo is a treasure worth supporting
The recent loss of accreditation by the Honolulu Zoo is unfortunate and has brought attention to its need for stable, long-term financial support.
This will, in part, require action by the city.
I fear that many in the community tacitly assume that the zoo is a small facility catering mainly to tourists and is therefore unworthy of much local support.
In fact, at 42 acres, the Honolulu Zoo is roughly the same size as the zoos in the capital cities of Western Europe.
It is also an essential, well-attended community asset with an important educational mission.
There is simply no place else in Hawaii for local residents to see and learn about the wild animals of the world.
The Honolulu Zoo has good management and tremendous potential; it is certainly worthy of better long-term support than it has been receiving.
Allen Allison
Waialae Nui
Prescription bill good for Hawaii
House Bill 1072 would allow a limited group of psychologists who have special post-doctorate training and pass rigorous standards to offer prescription drugs to patients without having to have the interference of a medical doctor. This would be of significant benefit to Hawaii’s underserved rural communities.
Medical doctors are a bit self-righteous in their opposition to expanding prescriptive authority.
While overprescription of medicines, from antibiotics to opiates, by medical doctors is a valid concern, there is no evidence from other states that currently grant such rights that psychologists here would abuse the privilege.
Prescriptive authority essentially arises from the 1951 Durham-Humphrey Amendment, which broadened the range of prescription drugs and required consumers to pay a doctor to obtain a prescribed drug.
The Legislature should appreciate that medical doctors are economically motivated to monopolize prescriptive authority. Patients should not suffer in this turf war.
HB 1072 would benefit Hawaii and should be enacted.
John Keiser
Makiki
Sowell unfair to Democrats
In his recent column (“Progressives either ignore or discount their racist roots,” Star-Advertiser, March 26), Thomas Sowell wrote, “Much is made of the fact that liberals and conservatives see racial issues differently, which they do. But these differences have too often been seen as simply those on the right being racist and those on the left not.
“You can cherry-pick the evidence to reach that conclusion. But you can also cherry-pick the evidence to reach the opposite conclusion.”
And cherry-pick he does. To wit: “Later, when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was sponsored by Democrats, a higher percentage of Congressional Republicans voted for it than did Congressional Democrats.”
What he omits is the fact that those Democrats were Southern Democrats who later left the Democratic Party to join the Republican Party, which is what President Lyndon Johnson so presciently predicted when the Civil Rights Act passed.
Opposition to the Civil Rights Act is why the Deep South is Republican red today.
Russell H. Kim
Kakaako
Civil debate a lovely dream
Last night I had a dream that a long overdue, detailed, substantive, nuanced, intelligent, respectful debate was taking place between Republican presidential nominee John Kasich and Democratic presidential nominee Elizabeth Warren about the future of American governance as they vied for the presidency.
Then I woke up to mudslinging, scapegoating, fear mongering, insults about spouses, hand size, place of birth, the need to establish religious and racial tests for immigration — ad nauseam.
Oh well, perhaps next time.
John Priolo
Pearl City
Let people play music at airport
I was saddened to hear about an incident at Honolulu International Airport involving Ledward Kaapana. Someone asked him to stop playing music.
That alone sounds unbelievable, as Ledward has been one of the most popular Hawaiian musicians for decades.
Hawaiian music and dance has always been a critical part of the Hawaiian spirit.
Many of us remember musicians and dancers on the tarmac greeting visitors.
It was what Hawaii was all about.
I understand the security guard was just following the rules. The state Department of Transportation needs to take a common-sense approach and reevaluate the policy.
As a kupuna, I am hurt by any act that discourages Hawaiian artists and their music.
We need to encourage, not discourage, our Hawaiian spirit.
Lehuanui McColgan
Kaimuki
Point of the fine is to protect keiki
I disagree with your “Off the News” item of March 18, “How can we stop smoking in cars?”
You took issue with Senate Bill 2083, which would prohibit smoking in cars with a child present. You concluded, “Wouldn’t public education be a better way to get the point across?”
Parents are bombarded day and night with child- rearing advice, much of it contradictory. They quickly learn to tune it out. A $100 fine would grab their attention right away.
As for enforcement, that’s easy. A police officer need only observe the orange glow from inhaling, notice smoke in the car, or smell the car air that the child is breathing.
Let’s do what it takes to remove one more deadly hazard inflicted on innocent children by careless adults.
Of course, if it is the child that is smoking, make the fine $1,000.
Jim Harwood
Manoa
33 responses to “Not just Kenoi shoulders blame”
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IRT Russell H. Kim: You can try to put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still an oinker.
Airport guard probably thought LKaapana was a beggar vagrant. Too bad, tourist could have gotten a free concert as last remembrance of Hawaii
Nesmith, agreed, to my ear his music is great, but for other people–how about a rock band? For the guard to make a judgment call?? Even the Supreme Court on porn couldn’t describe it. What a world we live in!!
Kenoi ripped off the public but I agree with the letter writer that all too loose controls enabled the thief.
He was warned about his charges on more than one occasion. The clerks really have little power. they can only say what the rules are. If they are ignored, well they cannot be held responsible.
With our liberal democrat judges, he’ll probably get no jail time and minimal restitution requirements.
I believe he basically used it as a personal credit card and has paid all of it back. He has most likely destroyed a promising career. There really is little need to throw him in jail.
Boots, I agree. It would better served if he did some community service and pay back all the money in full.
Blocking MCC codes is an inefficient way to try to manage procurement card spending. The codes tend to be overly broad and blocking a code can inadvertently restrict access to businesses that would fall within the purview of acceptable business spending. Higher ranking officials, such as a county mayor, need less card restriction rather than more restrictions because their duties are more diverse and far-reaching than the average government worker. Blaming the p-card administrator for the actions of a licentious mayor is blatantly unfair and a misdirection of guilt. Any good program will include an agreement that the employee must review and sign prior to receiving their card. Assuming Kenoi can read and write he knew up front what his responsibilities were. Knowingly making personal purchases on a government card, even with the intention of paying them back, is a blatant misuse of the instrument and, at minimum, an ethical violation. Trying to avoid paying charges back until caught is theft. Making lavish purchases and claiming them as business expenses is ridiculous.
“Many of us remember musicians and dancers on the tarmac greeting visitors.”>> Hula is a gateway dance. 😉
Here we go again, well intentioned musicians like Kaapana are restricted from playing because of the fear that there may be annoying music.I’d suggest they invite him to play music when he is at the airport. it is very refreshing.
The rule needs to be enforced uniformly.
Wiliki, you have this one right.
Then we get nothing!
These rules were made up because of one or more unfortunate incidents in the past.
Musicians have established their rights to play in corridors of subways or on public streets. But they have to make requests to perform in private places. He’s not the host.
No. This is where amerikkka’s “my way or the highway”, black and white, mindless enforcement of small time issues is ridiculous versus NON enforcement of serious laws and public safety issues.
Some bloody common sense and flexibility would go a long way.
But that’s asking too much in this modern, post 9-11 paranoia USA. Homeland Security uber alles…
Great! I’ll take my trumpet down to the airport and regale arriving passengers with endless renditions of “Malguena”. I’m sure they’ll appreciate me enjoying my freedoms and my special snow flakiness while I hit that D above high C.
Mr. Kaapana is a Hawaiian living treasure. I would love to hear his music as I’m standing in line waiting for TSA. I would love it even more if it were the first thing I heard upon returning home.
“Let’s do what it takes to remove one more deadly hazard inflicted on innocent children by careless adults.”>> Oh, and fat kids. Needs to be a law that if a fat kid is in a car eating Fritos, the parent should be charged with inflicting hazardous health conditions.
Point is, current cel phone laws are unable to be enforced. And these kids in 30 minute car rides are being driven to smoke filled homes where they spend hours subjected to smoke. The law would be pointless.
It’s part of the parents’ education. They need to be aware that the smoke is bad for the kids, Let the judge educate them with a stiff fine. And let them tell the judge that they wont smoke in the house anymore.
High priced, non accessible day care for poor, underprivileged children!!
Free preschool education for needy kids.
Ban this troll
From someone opposed to preschool education. He believes the Republican propaganda that it doesn’t help kids.
I’m not opposed to preschool education for kids. I’m against having taxpayers foot the bill for it.
And I’m against you posting it ad nauseum.
If it’s important, then poor kids needed as well.
D – bag annoying, rail propagandist troll who thinks it’s his calling to spend our money on “needy” children as well.
That’s what taxes are for.
As it now stands government has more than demonstrated that when it comes to K-12 public education, they just can’t hack it.
And you want to metastacize this cancer of the mind and spirit so that spreads to innocent pre-school toddlers?
How heartless!
Baloney. Test-wise, our kids are about average. Our school financing is outstanding. Our huge immigrant populations have benefitted.
Our local Hawaiian kids haven’t done as well but that’s largely because of a poor economy and the social problems it causes. Some economists have pointed out that social problems among whites on the national level have cause the same social problems.
Germane statistics like suicide rates are showing the same increases under a bad economy. If you’re wondering about the wierd politics, you need look no further…
When Hawaiians leave Hawaii and can get jobs they do well. In Hawaii, we don’t have full employment and there is intense competition for the few low paying jobs. Legislators need to work at that and also to provide more low cost rentals for the poor.
Baloney
IRT to Alexis Liftee, I’m sure cousin Billie appreciates the support. Other people are responsible for his lack of self discipline.