ACADEMY OF ARTS

EXHIBIT CUTBACK IS A DISSERVICE TO HAWAI'I

The Honolulu Academy of Arts is betraying the arts community and the general public with its cowardly decision to cut the Artists of Hawai'i juried exhibition to every other year.

Especially annoying are the bogus reasons for the cutback given by the art academy's Michael Rooks.

If one year is not enough time for artists to develop new work why set the show at two years? Why not every three years or, better still, every five years?

The new schedule will not address his other complaint that a great deal of the chosen work had been previously exhibited. It is up to the integrity of the artists and the enforcement of the art academy's current submission rules to deal with this problem.

Anyone who has been to the packed-house opening of Artists of Hawai'i and experienced the buzz will lament this decision, which will be especially hurtful to young artists.

UNDERGROUND LINES

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS NEEDED FOR WAI'ANAE

We support the editorial that appeared in The Advertiser regarding the announcement by HECO to place utility lines along the Wai'anae Coast underground. We also agree that the process for making this happen will be long and difficult, requiring compromise from all involved.

We are, however, concerned about how the process will proceed, and how this project will affect our community.

It is important for all of those involved in the process to exercise the vision and leadership needed for long-term solutions to the problems faced by Wai'anae Coast residents.

There is a need for extensive infrastructure improvements to our roads, sewers and water lines.

Daily, we are shouldering the major part of the burden for those who are experiencing homelessness. Our elderly and youth also face special problems, and we also have a need for additional police services and economic development in the area.

We believe the Wai'anae Coast is and will continue to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth. We believe that there is a great opportunity to formulate a plan that will address all of the problems that this community has experienced for many years. We urge the governor, legislators, private industry and residents to work together to address all of our needs in a positive comprehensive manner.

The problems of this community have been ignored by our political leaders for years. We hope that the undergrounding of the utility lines will not be held up to our community as the big-ticket item that will allow all of our other problems to be ignored.

Please do not misunderstand. We welcome the offer from HECO and are hopeful that this process will be successful.

PRISTINE COASTLINE

LINGLE SHOULD BACK LA'AU PRESERVATION

Gov. Linda Lingle has stated that maintaining our prosperity and preserving our lifestyle in Hawai'i "requires changing our economy from one that is over-reliant on land development to one that fosters innovation."

Yet Gov. Lingle supports Moloka'i Ranch's proposed development at La'au Point, Moloka'i. The proposal is to build 200 luxury estates along five miles of pristine coastline.

Now Gov. Lingle suggests that the state buy the Turtle Bay Resort. OK, but why not buy La'au Point as well?

La'au is a very special and beautiful place, one of the few coastline areas left in Hawai'i that is still in its natural state — untouched by roads and development.

La'au has deep cultural significance for Native Hawaiians, while also being a natural habitat for numerous endangered Hawaiian monk seals. It is certainly worthy of the governor's designation as "the real Hawai'i," and would be a perfect place for a new state natural area reserve.

Indeed, such a conservation purchase would bring a very pono end to the ongoing fight to "Save La'au," restoring harmony in the Moloka'i community while preserving the natural and wild open space of La'au Point for future generations to experience.

DRUG TESTING

LOOKS LIKE BOE DIDN'T DO ITS HOMEWORK

Me thinks the Board of Education didn't do its homework and just wants to oppose Gov. Linda Lingle.

There is a new approved drug-testing method that costs pennies (between $7 -$15 a test).

It provides enough feedback for management to know if a person has a substance in his/her body that requires the $200 test, thereby reducing costs to a manageable level while at the same time protecting children and teachers alike.

Invasion of privacy is a moot point. Drug testing is regularly practiced in the private sector and with good reason, and results in individuals on drugs being aided by the program.

ADEQUATE FUNDING

UH FOOTBALL BENEFICIAL TO HAWAI'I'S ECONOMY

I'm wondering if our governor or state senators know what the value and economic impact is to our state of the nationally televised UH football games this season along with all the media discussion surrounding our successful team? I doubt they have any clue.

You can't put a dollar figure on all the free media placement because it is priceless and can't simply be bought.

Hawai'i was on the tip of millions of tongues during the entire 2007 season, a fact that will no doubt pay dividends in the form of tourism dollars and increased tax revenues.

Instead of passing the buck to private donors, Gov. Linda Lingle and her associates in the Senate need to realize that fielding a successful football team in Hawai'i will directly and indirectly increase tourism.

Private donors will step up to the plate once they know that there is leadership in place that has the best interests of the team at heart.

We pay our elected officials to be creative, and to get things done. If there is not enough money in the UH budget to adequately fund football, something else needs to be done.

Money could come out of the Hawai'i Tourism Authority budget, the football program could keep Aloha Stadium concessions profits, or a half-percent hotel tax could be implemented to fund football.

It's not as ridiculous as it sounds. Football could have a dramatic impact on the state's economy.

LEEWARD COAST

THANKFUL FOR PLANS TO CLEAN UP BEACH PARKS

I highly commend Mayor Mufi Hannemann for his steps in restoring the beauty of the Leeward Coast.

The plan to clean up the Nani Kai section of Ulehawa Beach Park is another monumental trend in returning the beach parks back for public use and enjoyment.

I cannot thank the mayor and the Department of Parks and Recreation enough for beginning this much-needed and overdue beach cleanup.

CYRUS BELT TRAGEDY

HAWAI'I MUST STAY TOGETHER AS 'OHANA

I write this with a heavy heart. The death of baby Cyrus Belt has touched many of us in many ways. It also angered many of us, because his death was a result of failure.

Cyrus' death has brought this island and, I'm sure, the Neighbor Islands together as 'ohana. This word has a very strong meaning. We should all stay together as 'ohana no matter what happens — whether it's good times or bad.

Hawai'i, there have been too many bad things happening. It's time we all take a stand and make everything pono.

'Ohana, wow, what a great word!

Rest in peace, little boy, please be the angel we need to make Hawai'i the best! May the Lord keep you always.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FOSTER PARENTS CAN CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE

The public response to the tragic death of Cyrus Belt is an affirmation of the natural love we have for our children.

All of the emotions we've seen — outrage, disbelief, sadness, grief — are appropriate, probably even predictable.

Accompanying all of that is a natural desire to do something, and thus the memorial on the highway overpass, the demonstrations and the new legislation.

However, for those who want to make sure that children at risk have a safe and secure place to call home, let me urge you to become foster parents and to provide stable and loving homes for children at risk.

Our family has fostered 13 children over the past 19 years, some for just a few days, some for years.

We adopted four of them, but all 13 have enriched our lives.

I am thankful to God every day for my children, but he couldn't have blessed us so abundantly if we hadn't been willing to open our home and our hearts. You can do the same, you can have similar blessings, you can make a life-changing difference in a child's life — become a foster parent.