VIEWPOINT: Creating economic momentum
By CHARMAINE TAVARES
In these challenging times, many members of our community are feeling the stress of reduced income, job losses and increased pressure to do more with less.
Fortunately, we live in a place where many caring people and agencies are reaching out to offer a helping hand. In addition, support for small businesses has intensified. The County of Maui's Small Business Resource Centers served more than 4,700 clients in the past year, a 43 percent increase over the previous year.
The annual budget for the County of Maui, totaling $565 million in county funds and more than $160 million in grant revenue from federal, state and other sources, also has a tremendous positive impact on our local economy. We provide jobs to more than 2,500 employees, purchase supplies, equipment and vehicles from local businesses, and employ numerous engineers, architects, contractors, equipment operators, masons, electricians, carpenters and more through construction contracts. The County of Maui provides more than $40 million in grants to nonprofits. In addition to providing a social and economic safety net, these funds circulate through agencies and businesses throughout our local economy.
While my administration is conserving and spending carefully, we recognize that local spending is an important economic stimulus. We must keep moving forward. Undoing years of progress by slashing our budget too deeply would make little sense. Instead, we want to continue to move ahead toward maintaining a progressive and productive community.
Economists consistently note that a successful visitor industry is currently the central element that enables our local economy to survive and thrive. An economic downturn like the one we are now experiencing highlights the vital role that the visitor industry plays in bringing economic well-being to our islands. Millions of dollars from other locations come to our islands, circulate, and ultimately support small businesses, diversified agriculture, retailers, restaurants, construction, arts and entertainment.
My administration works closely with the Maui Visitors Bureau and the Maui Hotel and Lodging Association to support a healthy visitor industry. Recently, I joined Hawaii's other mayors in a promotional blitz in Los Angeles sponsored by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. Portland, Ore., and Vancouver are next on the schedule. I have also met with meeting planners to promote Maui as a prime site for meetings, conferences and incentive trips and will continue to do so.
It is also essential for Maui County to continue efforts to diversify our economy. Through our Office of Economic Development, we support agriculture, high technology, small businesses, the film industry and other key economic sectors. We have successfully pursued federal funds that will enable us to begin the planning and design for a long-awaited municipal parking structure that is critical to the revitalization of Wailuku.
For our future viability, building a new green and sustainable economy is one of the most important challenges and possibilities facing us. In partnership with the Maui Economic Development Board, Maui Community College, the U.S. Department of Energy and many volunteers, we recently convened our second Energy Expo, which was again sold out. This gathering of experts and resources offered a terrific opportunity to stimulate businesses and government to make a new green and sustainable economy a reality.
Following our first Energy Expo in 2007, my administration created community working groups that are focused on energy resources, green work force and education, electricity and transportation infrastructure, energy efficiency and conservation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We will continue to refine and implement the exciting recommendations developed by these groups and work our way toward transforming our economy.
In a few weeks, the 2009 Mayor's Small Business Awards dinner will honor businesses in our community who are finding ways to be successful in a challenging economic environment. A special award recognizing a small business that gives to the nonprofit sector will also be presented, demonstrating the truly remarkable and special place we live in where we help each other through the hard times and work together toward a better future.
We are blessed to live in such a beautiful community filled with so many resources and so many special people. I am energized and heartened by the positive momentum being generated through individual and collaborative efforts by so many.
* Charmaine Tavares is mayor of Maui County.
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VIEWPOINT: Management of Maui's water needs requires collaboration by everyone
By DARREN STRAND
The Sept. 4 Viewpoint suggests that Maui's water problems could be solved by using eminent domain powers to bring water management under the wings of the county.
This solution is simplistic in its belief that by controlling all sources of water, problems will be solved. It confuses water in its raw, natural state with water collected, treated and delivered to where it is needed.
Everyone, even the kuleana or farm alongside a stream, has to rely on improvements to get that raw water to their homes, crops and businesses for use. That improvement could be as small as a pipe, or a pump, or as extensive as a well, a water treatment plant, a county transmission system or an agricultural ditch system. The point? Investment must be made to make water useable for anyone.
Even if the county controlled the raw water sources on Maui, is it prepared to make the investment necessary to ensure that all users in its jurisdiction get the water they need to sustain themselves, their businesses, their employees, their farms and gardens? It is going to take public and private investment. So, in reality, solving water challenges on Maui will require a collaborative effort between those in the public and private sector, including all of us as users of water. The county cannot go it alone.
Maui's elaborate water systems were built, initially by private resources and in recent years by public efforts, largely with the assistance of federal funds. What is often not said is that the original purpose for much of Maui's water infrastructure was agriculture. The extensive water systems in West and East Maui were built for agriculture. The Lower Kula line used by residents in Omaopio and Pulehu was built for agriculture. Farmers lobbied hard for it to reduce the impacts of drought. With agricultural water needs as the justification, the two 50 million-gallon reservoirs in Kahakapao were built. These also provide for the county's potable water needs. Over the years, much ag-funded water infrastructure has been shared for broader community purposes.
Agriculture has never denied the need for water by communities. But without ag, much of Maui's water infrastructure and delivered water would not exist - a fact that should be recognized by everyone who uses water. Instead, the Viewpoint writer implies that the people of Maui are subsidizing Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. for water that HC&S collects, transports for miles and delivers to its fields of cane as well as to the county for use by thousands of Maui residents.
Who is paying the costs for turning raw water into useable water? A review of the island's water systems leads me to believe that private entities are actually subsidizing the public's water use and doing it fairly well.
The Viewpoint writer further tries to pit large agriculture against smaller, diversified agriculture. In reality, large and small agriculture exist in synergy. Local vendors will report that small farmers and ranches benefit by existence of large operations. Agriculture provides for food and fiber on Maui as well as the largest firm renewable energy source in the state. None of this can happen without water. Rather than pitting one user against another, the people of Maui must decide to stand as one to solve Maui's water challenges and insist that, in the process, agriculture's needs must be met.
In my opinion, the only path to continuous improvement of the water systems is through ongoing collaboration between private agricultural enterprises, the county's Department of Water Supply and volunteer organizations such as the Soil and Water Conservation Districts. The alternative is the disappearance of the green central valley and locally produced agricultural products. The loss of Maui's poultry and dairy operations give loud testimony that this can happen. The latest loss is Makawao Mushrooms. Agricultural viability is in crisis.
* Darren Strand is the president of the Maui County Farm Bureau.
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WRONG WAS NEVER CORRECTED
Regarding "Hawaiians fought for freedom" (Letters, Sept. 20):
I'm a Hawaiian and a wartime veteran. Tell you what, if I knew then what I know now, it would've been a different story back then. My island brothers and sisters who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom never knew the honest truth. To think I fought for a country that is supposed to perpetuate truth and justice.
I want my grandchildren to know that the wrong done to our people was never corrected. However, it is only a matter of time.
Keahi Brown
Wailuku
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COVERAGE OF MAUI TEA PARTY APPRECIATED
Thank you, The Maui News, for covering the Maui Tea Party on the front page the Sept. 13 paper.
The 100 or so people featured with signs and waving American flags were united with fellow Americans who protested in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 12.
The thousands of protesters in Washington, D.C., were ordinary citizens who made the trek to the nation's capital to have their voices heard. They were protesting the overspending, the takeover of industries and the corruption of elected officials in Washington. The crowd in D.C. covered the steps of the Capitol and overflowed past the Washington Monument.
I think this warranted front page news on a national level, however, major news sources across the country did not accurately report the magnitude of this protest.
Thank you again for noticing us on Maui.
Dana Anderson
Haiku
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FURLOUGHS ARE GOING TO HURT SERIOUS STUDENTS
Gov. Linda Lingle and the Hawaii State Teachers Association have reached an agreement on a new contract that was voted upon by the teachers on Sept. 22.
The contract includes teacher furloughs of 17 to 21 days a year depending on the teachers' schedules. This makes a few students happy because it means no school. But I speak on behalf of the college-bound students, who enjoy getting an education.
We work hard to make sure that we learn what is necessary to survive in the job market and the real world. It is depressing to hear that our education will be cut for such a long period of time. We will not be allowed to be as educated as we want to be. Tell me, Gov. Lingle, how is this compliant with the No Child Left Behind Act? As far as I can see, you are leaving the students of Hawaii behind. As tomorrow's leaders, you are depriving us from achieving our full potential.
I understand our state is in a financial deficit, but have you exhausted all your resources? Why is education the first to get cut? As a part-time worker, I would be willing to pay higher taxes to receive the education that I am entitled to. You should not be depriving the students for your economic mistakes. Isn't there any other way?
On behalf of the students, please do not take away our education.
Tyler Tuipulotu
11th-grader
Lahainaluna High School
Lahaina
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GLENN BECK DREDGING UP FEAR, RACISM, HATE
I find the Sept. 22 letter "Glenn Beck brings important topics to light" disturbing.
Glenn Beck and his associates do not report news. They use articles in the news to dredge up fear, racism and hate at a time when all Americans need to work together to pull the country out of the morass that our former leader put us in.
The letter writer and the rabid Republicans refuse to acknowledge the blunders made by former President George W. Bush and resemble nothing as much as children holding their hands over their ears and screaming to block out anything they don't want to hear.
Since when is it a crime to sign a petition? Statements taken out of context and attached to a viral-looking visual image seem to be Fox's stock in trade. Truth is out the window when the Fox propaganda ministry cranks up the smear and innuendo machine.
Of course Beck's viewer numbers are up. Every one slows down to look at a train wreck.
Jeff Barnes
Kihei
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BECK SHOWS WHAT IS WRONG WITH JOURNALISM
Glenn Beck's feel-good, common-sense journalism is just a benchmark of what is going on in journalism across the board. Journalistic rules of attempted objectivity and fact-finding have been thrown out the window in place of race-baiting and fearful jingoism. A methodical deconstruction of facts in search of the truth has been swept aside, replaced with a dishonesty that just seems to make sense.
Thankfully, more than 60 companies have pulled ads from Beck's show. Hopefully he will go down, taking Bill O'Reilly, Nancy Grace and the like with him.
Mark Bridgeford
Paia
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SACRIFICE OTHER THINGS BEFORE EDUCATION
It's so sad how our children have to suffer.
First, some schools finish their day a little earlier. For example, Maui Waena Intermediate School on Wednesdays lets out 10 minutes early because it is said that the teachers teach 10 minutes too long in a week. Now they need to take 17 extra days off without pay.
What is our state doing to our children? They talk about Hawaii students being behind in the nation. Is this going to help them get ahead? Where is all the money going?
Here is a solution: Cut the pay of some of the people in office starting with the governor and working down the ladder since a lot of them make way more than they should. Then cut some of the positions in the state because you see some of the workers out at parks, parking lots and beaches sleeping all day in the state vehicle then leaving around the time they are done for the day to clock out.
I think there is a lot that can be done before sacrificing our children's education and the future of not only our children but for our state.
Nani Cockett
Wailuku
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PANEL RECOGNIZING WATER NEEDS
From what I have read, the hearings officer in the state Water Commission interim instream flow standards matter has accommodated the Waiale water treatment plant. I hope so.
It is good to know that there is that recognition of the needs we have as a community for homes, businesses and jobs for our local families. Without the use of the stream water, I don't know of any good, viable alternatives that won't take another generation to establish.
Linda N. Monden
Wailuku
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TEACHER FURLOUGHS ARE UNACCEPTABLE SOLUTION
Gov. Linda Lingle announces a huge state budget deficit. Where should we get the money to cover it? Let's just cancel some days of school. We'll save on electricity and we won't have to pay the teachers and we'll cut fuel costs for the bus service.
Never mind that our teachers are grossly underpaid compared to the cost of living here. Never mind that teachers don't have enough time in a school day to cover subjects like science and social studies, not to mention art, music, drama, health, etc. Never mind that our education system is already ranked among the lowest in the nation.
What message are we sending to our children about the importance of education? How much do we value education?
Gov. Lingle, why does 5 percent of the population (state employees) have to make up for your bad decision-making? Do you want the public to be uneducated?
The media is portraying this situation as though teachers are lazy and want more days off. Teachers want to work. Teachers need to get paid. This is a pay cut. Most teachers I know work at least two to three unpaid hours after school every night and more hours on the weekend. I love my job, but this is one teacher who won't be able to afford to teach here next year if these furloughs are implemented. How many teachers are we willing to lose?
I urge you to contact Gov. Lingle and let her know that this budget solution is unacceptable.
Stephanie Groom
Lahaina
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GROUP WORKING TO MAKE MAUI A BETTER PLACE
Last year, the Coral Reef Alliance, under the direction of Liz Foote and in cooperation with state and county agencies, began working with businesses and community associations to install reef etiquette signs at high-impact shore locations. These picturesque and informative signboards feature photos of numerous types of coral along with informative captions educating readers about how to respect coral reefs. You have likely seen them appear at various beach parks and ocean recreation areas.
Since inception of the program, the Kihei Community Association has purchased and installed five signs along the south shore between Kamaole III and Kalepolepo beach parks. KCA Treasurer Bob Richardson has independently installed two more signs: One at Maalaea Harbor and the other, in cooperation with the Kihei-Wailea Rotary Club and as part of Sept. 19's international coastal cleanup effort, at the Kihei Boat Ramp.
The KCA believes that educating visitors and residents alike on proper etiquette for nearshore recreation helps preserve this vital segment of ocean life. This is just one aspect of the KCA's effort to join with others to make our portion of Maui a better place for all.
Participate in this effort by joining with us for our next monthly community meeting on Oct. 20 to discuss the formal planning for our island's future. For more information, see www.gokihei.org.
Jon Miller
Kihei
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TV COMMERCIAL SENDS MIXED MESSAGES
I have seen a commercial on TV for quite a while now - the one where the woman tells the guy, "No smoking in my place." How can they show him throwing his cigarette butt on the ground? Are they promoting littering?
Cigarette butts end up everywhere on our planet and take up to 20 years to disintegrate. Millions of them every year get washed into streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and the ocean where fish, turtles, birds and other animals eat them. Then they die because the butts are indigestible, take up space in their stomach and prevent them from digesting food.
Somebody involved with writing, making, directing or producing this commercial should have realized that throwing a cigarette on the ground at the end is simply wrong. The man should have been shown using an ashtray.
Although I understand the message they're promoting is "Don't Smoke," they must also show people respecting the aina.
Joe Santagata
Kihei
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BUYING GENERIC IS FIRST STEP TO LOWERING COSTS
The proponents for fixing the current health care system rather than building a world-class model from scratch tend to suggest that all the rhetoric about excessive costs of the current system is misleading and inaccurate.
Well, here's an example of drug company pricing that I discovered by accident recently. I find that Advil PM really does help me to fall asleep and stay asleep. Read the ingredients. Each tablet contains 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride plus 200 mg of ibuprophen. Even at Costco, the cost of 180 tablets is $17.85. That's essentially 10 cents per tablet. Not bad for a good night's sleep, eh?
On the same trip to Costco, I happened to pick up a bottle of Benadryl to counteract the swelling and itch of a recent bee sting. I read the active ingredients and discovered that each Benadryl tablet was also 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Right next to the Benadryl was the Kirkland generic brand called Allergy Medicine that also contained 25 mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride. Are you yawning yet?
Here's the kicker: The exact same active ingredient found in both Advil and Benadryl was available in generic form at one-tenth the cost. Does this make you wonder who really gets stung with the current drug company influence on our health care?
Greg Smith
Haiku
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SPEND MONEY ON HIGH SCHOOL, NOT PRISON
In response to the Sept. 20 letter "Prison money could be spent on other things," the letter writer was off by $2 million but he got most everything else right.
I have lived on Maui for 35 years and have been waiting for a high school in Kihei for my children. Now still waiting, it's my grandchildren's turn to be bused in and out of Kahului daily.
Kihei is the fastest-growing town in our state and still no high school. We have the money and ability to build a prison in a couple of years? Who are we building this prison for? All the children who will not get the proper education or play sports, etc., for their own town?
With education neglected, options and opportunities for our future residents and leaders are diminished. Many of these same children will end up turning to stealing and selling drugs as a means to support themselves. We need a chance to nurture our future instead of condemning it. Priorities are in the wrong place. What a shame.
Linda McDonald
Makena
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LUSH VALLEY MAKES COMING HOME SPECIAL
As a resident of Maui, there is no greater feeling of happiness than when I'm flying home and approaching Kahului Airport.
I look out and see the breathtaking greenery of the central valley and I always hear passengers around me excitedly commenting on the beauty and lushness of the fields. It makes me glad to be home. But I can't help thinking that the beautiful green valley is only green because of the sugar cane that grows there. I know that without a constant supply of water to the central valley, it would essentially be a dust bowl. Both residents and visitors alike treasure the green landscape of the central isthmus that Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. preserves.
Thank you, HC&S, for keeping the central valley vibrant and verdant, and for making my homecomings a thing of pride and joy.
Yuki Lei Sugimura
Kula
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FURLOUGHS SEND BAD MESSAGE TO STUDENTS
As a public school teacher, I am very disappointed in the Hawaii State Teachers Association leadership, the members of the Board of Education, the heads of the Department of Education, all the legislators and Gov. Linda Lingle. You cannot tell me that there was no fat to cut out of the hundreds of millions of dollars thrown at public education every year in Hawaii.
Instead, the leaders of our state decided to shut down the schools and lock out our students for close to 10 percent of their school days. The message sent to our students is disheartening at best and shameful at worst.
Mark Kanae Smith
Wailuku
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TEACHER FURLOUGHS HURT THE STUDENTS
I feel compelled to comment on the teachers pay cut and furlough days issue.
I am well aware of our current economic situation and the need to balance the budget. But are we really that shortsighted to believe that tourism, construction and high tech are the future and not our kids and the education they receive from those we entrust to teach them the reading, writing, arithmetic, social studies, history, art, PE and the rest? Who's going to work in these industries if they can't read, write, spell or add correctly?
How can we not recognize that our children are the future and the better educated they are, the better off we all will be?
As a parent of three, I place great value on the quality of my kids' education and the dedication of their teachers. I've been blessed to be able to support my kids working in both the high-tech and construction industries here. I give a great deal of credit for my ability to succeed to the dedicated public servants who taught me as a child and young man.
An 8 percent pay cut and 17 days per year less education per student? Does that meet the common-sense test? What happens to the next generation of local kids competing against Mainland kids for entry into Mainland colleges and trade schools? Let's get real: We should pay teachers more, keep the kids in school and find better ways to balance the budget.
Steve Ovendale
Puunene
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STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT CANE SMOKE
For years sugar cane has been burned on this island. That's how it's always been done and that's how they're going to keep doing it. Get over it, people.
There are much more bigger problems we are facing than some smoke over your house. I used to live in Olowalu Village right on the cane road. The cane field was 50 yards from my house. So don't tell me that I don't know what it is like to have your house smoked out and covered with ashes. It's not that bad. The smoke clears and ashes turn to dust. I suffer from asthma and not once did I ever complain about the smoke from burning cane. It's not like it happens every day.
It has to be done so why are you even complaining?
Monique Blando
Lahaina
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SCHOOLS ARE OFTEN VICTIMS OF BUDGET WOES
Well, we can again congratulate this state's politicians for taking out more money due to budget shortages from education and the islands' future island residents - the children.
In the past, our state's budget for the schools has resulted in limited school supplies, limited books that can be taken home to study from or even closing some of the libraries for the children to use. Now we are taking away salaries from our already underpaid schoolteachers, plus shortened the times for students in school. Does this sound like our politicians are interested in students? Our schools already are 50th in this nation and now we are penalizing the students more. What kind of people did we elect to political positions? They continually say they are representing their taxpaying voters. I realize that the present economy is on shaky grounds, but why penalize this state's children?
It would be nice to hear how some of the federal bailout money slated for this state was used by our politicians for their pet projects. I can only hope that in the next upcoming election we taxpayers remember this when casting our vote for the politicians who allowed this to happen to the children of Hawaii.
Stan Zajac
Lahaina
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RESTAURANT APPRECIATES BEST OVERALL HONOR
Thank you to everyone who voted for Stella Blues Cafe for best overall restaurant (The Maui News, Sept. 13). My family and 80 wonderful employees work hard every day to offer the Maui ohana fresh food at reasonable prices.
It is a sad time when one individual feels the need to write a letter (Sept. 21) bashing everything we have accomplished in the past 20 years. We are not fine dining and neither are our prices. The category was best overall, not fine dining.
Life is short, be kinder than you need to be, you never know who you may be hurting.
Janie Ennis
Kihei
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TAXPAYERS SHOULD BE SEEING BENEFITS
What's the deal with opening another free health care clinic when teachers are taking pay cuts? Why do people who pay taxes get punished while the ones who don't benefit? Liberalism is a mental disorder, that's why.
David Capes
Lahaina
