LEGISLATURE

SAD DAY FOR HAWAI'I WITH OVERRIDE OF VETO

As a member of HGEA, I am ashamed to admit that this is a sad day for our community.

By overriding Gov. Linda Lingle's veto of SB 1642, our senators have acknowledged that our state is controlled by various public unions.

They have blatantly ignored the concerns of the executive and judicial branches of our government. They have disregarded the many warnings from every director and manager of state and local government. The fears expressed by the leaders of the police department, fire department and emergency services mean nothing to our senators.

The only explanation for their action is that union endorsements are more important to them than the safety of our citizens. They have compromised their responsibility to public safety thinking it will keep them in office.

If this bill becomes law, the inevitable consequences will be higher costs for taxpayers, slower response time to complaints, employment of unethical personnel and a breakdown in relationships.

The next time an emergency happens in our state, don't call 911; call your senator or the union. They are now accountable for public safety.

UH REGENTS SELECTION IS ALREADY POLITICIZED

Your and University of Hawai'i President David McClain's position that Senate Bill 14 — passed by the Legislature, vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle and the veto overriden by the Legislature — will politicize the UH Board of Regents selection process is hypocritical.

The selection process is already politicized, as evidenced by Lingle's appointments and the actions of her appointees.

It is largely because of the board's seemingly politically motivated investigation and firing of McClain's predecessor, Evan Dobelle, that the advisory council system was proposed.

The activist Republicans on the board have simply reaped what they sowed. As for David McClain, for the good of his office, he should take a step back and consider that his ardent public opinion and lobbying on this issue smacks of conflict of interest.

It appears as if he is trying to protect his comfortable relationship with those who gave him his job after a supposed "world-wide search."

DISAPPOINTED IN VETO OVERRIDE FOR SB 1956

I am strongly opposed to SB 1956, the bill that elects the president by national popular vote.

With the system that is currently in place, our electoral votes go to the person we actually vote for. Maybe those votes don't make a lot of difference, but at least they are going to the candidate they were intended for.

With the system that SB 1956 sets up, Hawai'i's electoral votes will go to the candidate who receives the most popular votes nationally.

There is a likely possibility that the candidate receiving the popular vote in Hawai'i will not receive Hawai'i's electoral votes.

Does this make sense to anyone else? I am extremely disappointed in our senators who voted to override the governor's veto of SB 1956. A majority of our senators have shown time and time again their disregard for the will of the people of this state.

This veto override further shows their disregard, and essentially, disrespect for us all.

CHANGE

NEWCOMERS MAKE US MORE LIKE CALIFORNIA

This is a response to the letter by Michael Sullivan (April 28).

I am sorry that his son had to experience such an incident. No child should go through that.

But let me just get one thing straight. Racism is everywhere. Racism spreads from New York to Hawai'i.

I experience racism on the Mainland far worse than a haole might experience racism here.

But let me ask this question: Shouldn't the local people be upset at the mass immigration of people from the Mainland? I know I am. Haoles — I mean anyone who is not from here — cause problems to our lifestyle.

Haoles cause home prices to rise, threaten our integrated society and cause overdevelopment.

We shouldn't express our anger violently, but we should be worried about the changes taking place in our communities.

Our demographics are changing, and we are becoming more like California. So much for old Hawai'i.

IRAQ

CONGRESS SHOULDN'T SET A TIMETABLE FOR DEFEAT

Congress needs to support our troops in the efforts to win the battle in Iraq. It's not a war in Iraq, it's a battle in a wider war with terrorists.

Think of Iraq like the battles of North Africa during World War II. Retreating from a battle that we can win makes no sense.

The U.S. Senate's attempt to force a withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq through the budget process is seriously undermining our efforts to win that battle by sending a clear message to our enemies that we have no will to fight.

Congress needs to get serious about winning the war against terrorists.

Let's win the battle in Iraq, not set a timetable for defeat.

KAILUA

INSUFFICIENT SPACE FOR BIKE PATH ON KALAHEO

This is in response to Sharon Meindertsma's dissatisfaction (Letters, April 27) with the recently resurfaced Kalaheo Avenue.

First, we advise any biker traveling on city streets to exercise due caution and respect both traffic and road conditions.

Second, there is an existing marked bike path on Kainalu Drive available to bicyclists traveling in the 'Aikahi-Lanikai directions; riding on Kalaheo Avenue is a matter of choice.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board did ask about the possibility of incorporating a marked bike path adjacent to Kalaheo Avenue. We investigated and concluded that there was insufficient space to accommodate the suggestion.

However, the city did have the depressions along the Kalaheo Avenue shoulder filled to provide a more level surface for all users.

The Kailua Neighborhood Board was apprised of this. Perhaps Ms. Meindertsma should consider getting involved and informed by participating in the board meetings, where she can work with us and provide positive input rather than condemning the efforts of the city.

On behalf of the city, we thank the Kailua residents and others who use Kalaheo Avenue for their patience with what proved to be a very difficult extended project.

WAIKIKI

NEW LEWERS STREET HAS NO FEEL OF HAWAI'I

After visiting the Waikiki post office recently, my wife and I decided to walk down Beachwalk and back up Lewers Street on our way to our bank.

What a disappointment! The shops were mostly upscale shops, duplicating those at Ala Moana and the nearby Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center. The architecture would look good in Los Angeles, New York, Edmonton or Phoenix, but it could have been anywhere. It had no feel of Hawai'i.

We almost cried, thinking of the Lewers Street of the 1970s and 1980s, when we lived for a time at the old Edgewater.

CROPS

GMO FIRMS SHOULDN'T BE USING OUR AG LAND

Sunday's Focus section articles on GMOs shed a lot of light on a subject that many of us know little about.

Monsanto and other GMO companies have no business using thousands of acres of our prime agricultural land to create "Frankenstein" crops. These GMOs could devastate and destroy our already fragile environment.

This is not just an environmental issue. As a kanaka maoli, I will stand beside those who fight against genetically modifying kalo.

I am part of the "vocal minority" and the only "agenda" I have is to uphold my cultural integrity and support the fight against GMOs and Monsanto.

LAW DAY

YOUNG LAWYERS OFFER COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE

Once again, the Young Lawyers Division of the Hawai'i State Bar Association celebrated National Law Day (May 1) with a week of activities and services highlighting the contributions the legal profession makes to the larger community.

In Hawai'i, we take our responsibility to give back to the community seriously, as seen in the Hawai'i Rules of Professional Conduct, which recommend that each lawyer provide at least 50 hours of pro bono services annually.

The 2007 Law Day theme was Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy. In addition to participating in career fairs year-round, the Young Lawyers Division provided "Do I Want to Be an Attorney?" brochures to all high schools on O'ahu, and many on the Neighbor Islands.

On April 28, the Young Lawyers Division coordinated Legal Line Law Week Clinics at four locations on O'ahu, where volunteer attorneys and paralegals provided free in-person legal information to interested individuals.

In addition, the Legal Line Hotline is open every Wednesday night, from 6 to 7 p.m. The hot line is a free public service, in which volunteer attorneys provide information and assistance to callers who have legal questions. The number is 537-1868, or toll-free from the Neighbor Islands at (888) 808-4722.

Many citizens who seek legal information at the Legal Line Law Week Clinics and the Legal Line Hotline are referred to the bar association's Lawyer Referral and Information Service, where HSBA staff and volunteers review the issues presented and refer the client to lawyer members of the referral service for assistance. The LRIS can be reached at 537-9140 or www.hawaiilawyerreferral.com.