• HSTA not listening to residents • Thanks for rescue tubes • Donated land may be Hawaiians’ • Jobless aren’t lazy HSTA not listening to residents President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association (Wil Okabe), the fact of the matter
• HSTA not listening to residents • Thanks for rescue tubes • Donated land may be Hawaiians’ • Jobless aren’t lazy
HSTA not listening to residents
President of the Hawaii State Teachers Association (Wil Okabe), the fact of the matter is that the people of Hawai‘i are upset with your union for “wanting your cake and eat it too” in these tough times. Nobody wanted or is championing the furloughs. Under the financial circumstances we all find ourselves in, the furlough plan was a necessity. Why have you not yet put the governor’s plan to vote by your membership? You are just not listening to the people of Hawai‘i, and certainly not listening to a vast number of your membership.
Yes, resource teachers are important, but they really can be missed two days out of the rest of this school year. Mr. President, try surveying the resource teachers. You will be surprised that they don’t mind the furloughs. However the teachers in the classroom are essential and must be brought back already. Ending the furloughs is in your hands. Just ask your members.
There have been many suggestions of where the funds will come from. The crux of the matter is that the governor’s plan is workable and it will cost half the amount of the union’s plan.
Equally important is that the governor’s plan will not overburden the business sector with more taxes.
Mr. President, you must get real. You really think that the state would have classroom days without lights, computers, food or water? You really think that if you accept the governor’s plan, these facility essentials can’t be worked out? Your position is indefensible. You and your union alone can and should put an end to the furloughs.
Ron Agor, Lihu‘e
Thanks for rescue tubes
Letter to Dr. Monty Downs, and the rescue tube project:
Dear Dr. Downs,
I appreciate your work and your huge concern with drownings and ocean safety on Kaua‘i! We have followed your anguish and service to our community, and often saw you struggle for any answer to the terrible losses.
(We do not know ANY family who has never rescued someone, and many people OFTEN aid swimmers and boaters. It is a lasting credit to our people that Kaua‘i residents have been the single slim thread of aloha and mercy for so many, for so long.)
I hope this idea bears fruit: we have always carried fisherman’s whistles with us. They are impervious to salt water, they work when they are wet, some (like mine) are bright yellow and quite large. When the surf is loud, they can still be heard over long distances. These can be secured to each tube.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/state/whistle-helps-rescuers-find-fisherman-stranded-on-brevard-529207.html
This “boater who followed his father’s advice to carry a whistle in case of emergency” was rescued the other day: “Without the whistle no one would have heard him.”
Here is the item I mean: (mine cost something like a dollar, in the fishing-supply store in Kapa‘a, is big and yellow hard plastic, works without a “pea” so it works wet.)
http://www.abrivosports.com/
Thank you for this program
Pat Littlejohn Albee, Mesa, Ariz.
Donated land may be Hawaiians’
Try wait!!! How can? Much of that land from ancient to before airport was avidly used by resident families and shoreline fishermen. In the ‘60s it was a rubbish dump, pali to beaches below, Auto Aid lived on the mauka side of the runway, also history of plantation camp site and ship to dock encounters further north. If I’m not mistaken, these are either Crown lands or at the very least, they belong with the ceded-land base that hasn’t otherwise been stolen or absorbed by government or other developers. Is it possible that the deed to this donated land is not clear-title capable? Weren’t surrounding parcels NW of donated parcel condemned to meet the needs of that moment in time? Also, why would these same prime lands be designated for low-income housing? The financial pain a lot of us are currently feeling, I have to question seemingly innocent donations with huge concerns. The ha-ole, talking out of both sides of the mouth; broken, ignored ‘treaties;’ and continuing to illegally occupy.
Put Hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands.
Debra Kekaualua, Kapa‘a
Jobless aren’t lazy
This is a response to the Sunday 04/25/10 letter to the editor by Ed Hayes titled “Governor choice.” First of all Mr. Hayes if you want another Republican governor to further screw up the state economy and have state and county employees get laid off, and continue to be on furloughs that will eventually affect all vital services they provide to the citizens of this state and county, then by all means vote for Duke Aiona.
Regarding your comment that Abercrombie will make all of us who work pay for those that are too lazy to find a job is the most ignorant comment I’ve read in a while. That statement was not PONO! Some FACTS: unemployment in the state of Hawai‘i is at 6.8 % and on the County of Kaua‘i it’s 9.3 %. My ‘ohana, friends and neighbors collecting unemployment are NOT lazy! There are just NO jobs out there when they go on their feet and look for jobs….jobs which do not exist!
Mr. Hayes, I would like to suggest that you get outside of your “bubble” in Hanalei and see what’s really happening on Kaua‘i and in the state. It just might be a learning experience for you.
Joseph Savino, Kekaha
