Rich Donors For Teachers

No, that is not a good idea at all

Danny De Gracia’s column about allowing private donors to pitch in and provide funding for teachers (and the education system as a whole) is wrong on many levels (“Danny De Gracia: Want To Pay Teachers More? Let Private Donors Pitch In,” Oct. 8)

When have the “rich,” whether individual or corporate, taken care of those in need? Would there be as great an income inequality gap if this were true?

Also, allowing those with means an opportunity to “fund” education will give them an entrée into how and what education is all about. It may not appear that way on the surface, but all it takes is to open the door just a crack. Those who wish to privatize education would love to see this idea implemented.

Hawaii’s current constitution alludes to the state’s responsibility to fund education with “special bonds,” so kuleana rests with the state. Should this be broadened with the current proposed constitutional amendment or convention? I don’t know, but either is clearly better than to leave things up to those with means.

A lifelong educator, I know firsthand how underfunded education is throughout this country and especially in Hawaii. However, this idea is not the way to provide resources to retain the best teachers and to have the best educational system.

— Lloyd Kajikawa, Kalaheo

Sea Level Rise And Water Quality

The already considerable threats to potable water will get scarier 

Keeping the Red Hill facility running after all these years, believing that it will last forever, is somewhat delusional (“Letters: Does Red Hill Violate The Constitution?” Oct. 11).

It took an engineering marvel to build this gas station and it will take yet another engineering marvel to prevent it from poisoning the community. We had JP-5 (Navy carrier jet fuel) in our water on CV-19 (USS Hancock) in 1975, and it made my skin do things you don’t even want to think about.  Jet fuel is nothing exotic, it’s just kerosene with some additives.

It doesn’t take much to mess with your physiology, and since we don’t metabolize it, it remains resident in your liver, the organ my naturopathic doctor calls a toxic sponge.

When sea level rises, so will the water table. In 1969, my oceanography and marine biology teacher who was getting his master’s at the Hopkins Marine Station taught us that when the Greenland and the Antarctic ice melt, sea level would rise 200 feet (61 meters). That has since been updated to 220 feet (67 meters). Once the runways at Honolulu International are decks awash at high tide, some may take notice.

— Dave Kisor, Pahoa

Hotel Strike

The union is steering workers wrong

I read the article on Civil Beat this morning; having some mix feelings (“2,700 Workers Strike At Popular Waikiki Hotels,” Oct. 8).

A housekeeper with three years is already making $22.14/ an hour. Isn’t the minimum wage $10.10 an hour? Hmmm … that’s 219 percent above the minimum wage. I honestly feel that the housekeepers deserve that amount and an increase in pay, but to ask for another $4 an hour has me dumfounded.

The union wants it where their members can afford a single-family home here in Hawaii, saying the average cost is $800,000. I myself have to rent.

Note: Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts takes real good care of its employees. You should see the shift meals that they get every single day at the cost of the company; like a buffet. Would you believe they even get milk ice cream daily as well?

Kyo-ya gives better hotel rates to its own employees than any other hotel chain that I am aware of; better than even Marriott.

And Kyo-ya employees get monthly parking at a much discounted rate.

Sorry, many of the Kyo-ya union employees are my friends and I value them very much. In my opinion, I just think that the union is steering them wrong. Just my honest opinion!

Inflation affects us all, but the bottom line is we need to live within our means, ignoring the cachet “it’s the cost of living in paradise.” Don’t understand why these union employees are trying to cut off the arm that feeds them; ruining the good name of Kyo-ya with all the negative publicity and/or over the news?

Again, this is just my opinion.

— A. Miguel, Honolulu