PANDEMIC

AIRPORTS, PASSENGERS CAN DO MORE TO AVERT FLU

As the world is becoming increasingly vigilant about the threat of a bird-flu pandemic, all of us can do a better job to prevent the spread of viruses.

Most of us have traveled while ill or have sat near passengers who are coughing or sneezing. Those of us who are healthcare professionals are sometimes called upon to treat passengers who are quite ill on airplanes.

Rather than screening people as they get off airplanes, it would be more useful for airports worldwide to screen passengers boarding airplanes. Airlines could make it easier by allowing passengers to cancel or change their tickets when they are ill, and by not penalizing them for such changes. Maybe such passengers should get bonus points instead.

The world is not ideal, and sometimes people risk traveling ill because it is "urgent" to get someplace. Passengers could become more responsible for determining if they have a communicable disease and avoid flying if they do.

Multilingual signs could be posted in airplane restrooms to remind passengers to wash their hands and to use tissues when sneezing. Maybe airlines could make available for sale small kits of surgical face masks and hand-sanitizing solutions to those who are ill or for other passengers who wish them.

Increased and small conscientious measures by each of us may go a long way to reduce the spread of disease, or, in this case, a potentially deadly virus.

HOSPITAL VISIT

SHRINERS STAFF MADE FAMILY FEEL SPECIAL

I would like to send out a warm mahalo to Dr. Yandow, the recovery room nurses and all of the nurses on Unit A. My son went to Shriners to have an operation on his foot. The staff was excellent and made us feel very comfortable.

We are from the Big Island and it was difficult to be so far from home. I have never been to a hospital where after the surgery the anesthesiologist and the nurses from the recovery room come to see my son and ask how he is doing.

They made us feel very special, as they do with all of the children who are there. The staff treats the children as if they were their own.

My son also made a very special friend while he was there. His name is Nathan and he was Joshua's roommate. They hit it off from the very beginning and I know that Joshua would like to continue their friendship even after we go home.

Nathan and his mother are very special people. May God bless them always. May God also bless each one of the staff who work at Shriners Hospital. You are an awesome group of people. Keep up the good work that you do each and every day. Mahalo again!

MICHELLE WIE

DISQUALIFICATION WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN HER

Dear fans of Michelle Wie:

Don't let her disqualification in one tournament get you down. Michelle will rise above it and become a better golfer, a better competitor and a better person for the experience. It will become no more than a footnote in the book of her life.

Golfer friends tell me that could happen to any and all golfers in any and all tournaments, if someone is watching very closely and reports it, as "drops" are never that precise, and often open to question. It just happened that this Sports Illustrated writer was watching Michelle more closely than he was watching others on the course.

And that is how it will be for the greatest young golfer to come along since Tiger Woods. When you're that good, you are always under a microscope.

You go, girl.

ERROR REPORT WAS FAIR, WHILE ALSO GOOD LESSON

Michelle Wie made the mistake, got caught and paid the penalty. What could be fairer than that? Why should reporter Michael Bamberger be criticized for reporting the truth? If he had pointed out the error in time for Michelle Wie to correct it, that would have been unwarranted interference with play. It was her caddy's job to watch her and prevent such an error.

But ultimately it was Michelle's responsibility to know the rules and to follow them. This was a great lesson for her and for her fans. Ultimately, it will result in more spectators, both on the course and on TV, more understanding of the rules and more respect for the players of this difficult and wonderful sport.

EDUCATION SHOULD BE PRIORITY FOR ALL ATHLETES

Gerilyn Manago (Letters, Oct. 6) and her supporters are correct. Michelle Wie needs to finish her school career prior to embarking upon a professional sports career. Others, such as Vanessa Matautia (Letters, Oct. 13), should realize that by lauding the step up Miss Wie has taken, they are forfeiting the right to argue the value of education.

As a society, we say education is a priority, but most of us applaud a girl who forgoes her education to play a game. In direct response to Matautia's question: Yes, as a firm believer in education, I promote the requirement for a high school diploma prior to the start of any person playing any sport above a high school level. It's time as a nation we stood up for our values, not the individual.

REPEAL LAW

GAS CAP'S ILL EFFECTS HURTING BUSINESSES

Under the gas cap, prices for regular gasoline dropped more than 40 cents per gallon this week. During the week before such a drop, people will not buy gas but wait for the (hoped-for) lower retail prices. Restaurants, movie theaters, shopping centers and other businesses have all suffered losses directly related to the gas cap.

The gas cap is having a continuing negative effect on every part of the economy. The Legislature needs to act quickly to repeal the law to prevent any further harm to consumers and businesses.

SURF REPORTS

THANKS TO KGMB 9 FOR HAWAIIAN WAVE HEIGHTS

Congratulations to the KGMB 9 weather team of Guy Hagi and company for finally reporting Hawaiian-scale wave heights nightly on their weather report. For the past few years, I know Guy was forced to use the overstated wave heights forced down their throats by the National Weather Service.

At whatever heights the surf comes into Hawai'i, this face-value forecasting and reporting is a joke. A 3-foot wave will have a 5-foot to 6-foot face. But a wave is not a wave until it breaks. And once a 6-foot face swell breaks, then it is a true 3-foot wave. A surfer does not ride wave faces that do not break. And stop with this talk about measuring the backside of the wave; no surfer rides the back of a wave.

During this past week, the North Shore experienced its first winter-size swell. Of all the news channels, only Channel 9 reported the true wave heights, at 6 feet to 8 feet.

I've been a surf reporter in the past on the radio and have worked at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing since 1987 and have lifeguarded Hawai'i's beaches for many years. But I am a surfer at heart. A surfer knows the wave heights more than anyone else.

Let's please stop the madness with the overstated wave heights. All the telephone and radio surf reports are at true Hawaiian scale. Channel 9 has joined back in.

Let's get those nonsurfers at channels 2, 4 and 8 and even The Honolulu Advertiser to make this all one accurate surf report.

EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN REEFS WILL BENEFIT FUTURE GENERATIONS

It is mesmerizing to gaze at brilliant yellow tangs, moorish idols or flame angelfish in a home or office fish tank. So much so that the capture of these special fish from our state's reefs has become big business.

We commend Randy Fernley, owner of Coral Fish Hawai'i, for his respect for the reefs as he harvests tropical fish for his business. Fernley, who takes scrupulous notes about his takes, sets the right example for others who might not be as meticulous. He understands that the reefs provide for his livelihood and stripping them would be economic disaster.

In addition to sustainable collection, the Oceanic Institute is actively engaged in research that is leading to new methods for breeding and rearing marine ornamental fishes in captivity. Successes to date include the first-ever captive rearing of the popular flame angelfish followed by the first-ever spawning of yellow tang in captivity.

Although this research continues, through its affiliation with Hawai'i Pacific University, the Oceanic Institute has begun offering courses that disseminate technical know-how for culturing these animals. The classes are designed to generate a healthy respect for the ocean and its fish, and to develop an appreciation for these species that are so unique to our islands.

Oceanic Institute's educational outreach, offered to elementary and secondary school students and faculty, include co-curricular programs that use aquaculture as a vehicle for teaching science, math, computer use and business literacy.

Internships are available to qualified high school and university students. And, in partnership with the University of Hawai'i, the Oceanic Institute is provided funds from the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture to pursue research and technology transfer with significant industry interaction.

Whether the interest in Hawai'i's fish is simply a hobby or a business endeavor, Oceanic Institute's resources and educational programs are designed to ensure that our reefs will thrive for generations to come.

TEACHERS

QUALITY'S THERE, QUANTITY ISN'T

We feel compelled to set the record straight regarding a recent letter to the editor from Richard Rowland, president of the Grassroot Institute of Hawai'i, a political organization that seems to support eliminating government in many areas, including in our public schools.

Mr. Rowland contends we "have an abundance of highly qualified teachers who do not produce the desired results." This could not be further from the truth.
In fact, Hawai'i's teachers consistently perform well, ensuring kids meet — and exceed — their learning goals. Here are just a few facts about student performance: