CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION WOULD BENEFIT BROKEN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

UNIONS SHOULD WORK TO BETTER ISLE SCHOOLS

It is distressing to learn that Hawai'i's unions oppose a Constitutional Convention since union members could benefit greatly from it. Today's unions have certainly strayed far from their roots.

At one time, Hawai'i's unions fought for the broad interests of their members, realizing that their membership would benefit when society as a whole was lifted up.

Over the years, however, the union spirit that advocated for social change has evaporated. Now that unions have accumulated power and prestige, they are satisfied with maintaining the status quo — even at the expense of their members.

Unions fail to realize that what their members want isn't limited to better wages, benefits and working conditions. They also want a better life for their children.

Quality education can provide that better life, and unions can use their substantial political influence to improve Hawai'i's school system.

At one time, unions fought to improve Hawai'i's education system, and they won that battle.

Since then, however, public education in Hawai'i has declined to such a degree that our schools are now among the worst in the nation. But instead of fighting once again to improve the schools, unions are comfortable with the way things are.

Unions should reassess their position. A ConCon will allow elected delegates to fashion a modern structure for public education. The new structure could eliminate the existing huge bureaucracy and empower individual schools to decide how best to educate their students.

That would provide the foundation needed to raise the quality of public education in Hawai'i. That is what union members and all parents want.

Unions should be advocating for a ConCon instead of opposing it.

HAWAI'I MUST RETHINK PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

The bureaucrats at the Department of Education are at it again.

Now they want to cut another $1.9 million from our underfunded charters schools, along with 28 student service coordinator positions. Don't they understand that our charter schools offer a viable alternative to the traditional DOE system?

We must convene a Constitutional Convention and rethink our entire centralized education system.

At a ConCon, we can create a separate charter-school board and ensure that charter schools get their fair share of funding and resources.

Education in Hawai'i is broken. The only way to fix it is to vote "yes" on ConCon.

ONLY WAY TO REFORM A BROKEN SCHOOL SYSTEM

The Department of Education continues to take away viable educational alternatives for Hawai'i's students.

A proposal to cut $1.9 million from the charter school budget, along with 28 student service coordinator positions, further underscores the DOE's indifference toward charter schools.

All charter school administrators, teachers, students and parents should strongly support a Constitutional Convention.

Only through a ConCon will we be able to reform our broken education system and ensure that charter schools receive an adequate share of funding and resources.

I am voting "yes" to a ConCon and saying "no" to the dysfunctional DOE bureaucracy.

HAWAI'I

DIVERSIFICATION NEEDED TO PROTECT ECONOMY

So the big headline in the news is that our Hawai'i tourism is down.

It has been going down, just like our economy. When will Hawai'i officials ever get a clue that tourism is not the key to our economy? We need a more-diversified economy so we are not as sensitive to downturns. We also need less taxation.

Without a diverse economic base, how can Hawai'i provide opportunities for future generations? There are many other industries that Hawai'i could base its economy on rather than just tourism.

The officials of our state have a lot of work to do regarding this. Gov. Linda Lingle has made a good effort toward this. It is too bad legislators are clueless on the effects of reducing taxation to businesses in general to help the economy.

More money for a business means more jobs and expansion.

But, of course, nothing will change, since very few people vote to get out the incumbents, who continue to make the same decisions every year for us.

FINANCIAL CRISIS

EASY TO SEE WHY THERE ARE SO MANY LOBBYISTS

This congressional economic bailout is starting to make me a little sick.

The Senate's financial rescue plan, or the bill that the House passed, had more than $110 billion in pork in it.

It included the creation of a seven-year cost recovery period for construction of a motorsports racetrack, a refund of excise taxes to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands for rum, income averaging for amounts received in connection with the Exxon Valdez litigation, a measure to secure rural schools and community self-determination program, a deduction of state and local sales taxes, provisions related to film and television productions, extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products, wool research fund and wool duty refunds, extension of economic development credit for American Samoa, and transportation fringe benefits to bicycle commuters.

It might appear that Congress must bribe each other with pork to get a vote. And we thought they were doing what's right for the country.

It's now easier to understand why there are so many lobbyists in Washington.

TOURISM

WHY CAN'T AIRFARES BE CHEAPER OVER HOLIDAYS?

I find it extremely ironic that I have friends who want to visit the week between Christmas and New Year's and the cheapest airfare they can find is $2,500 roundtrip for the two of them.

This is on Hawaiian Airlines, of which I am a huge fan normally.

However, with declining tourism and cheaper airfares available both before and after the holiday, wouldn't this be the year to make travel to Hawai'i more accessible, even in the traditional peak airfare periods?

GOLF

COURSE IMPROVEMENTS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED

I was very happy that Glenn Kakuni was finally recognized in Bill Kwon's article on Ted Makalena Golf Course.

Glenn is truly a humble person who takes pride in his job. When he and his crew are out on the golf course working, they are so friendly. The restrooms are clean, and the course is such an improvement. Thank you, Glenn and staff, I'm sure Ted Makalena is smiling from above!

Thanks also to Kerry Moyer for the improvements at 'Ewa Villages Golf Course.