All that I continue to learn about this life-giving aina on which I feel privileged to reside tells me of the dissonance of this culture with the American culture that idolizes instruments of destruction.
June Shimokawa
We'll leave the flying safety considerations to the FAA, but we speak for a large portion of the population that enjoys hiking and camping in the "raw terrain" areas under consideration. And low-flying aircraft of any description are a safety danger to and a blight on such experiences.
The mission of the Sierra Club is to explore, enjoy and protect wild places and the environment. "Raw terrain" is where an ever-growing portion of the population goes to get in touch with such areas.
It is not enough just to designate wild places as parks. A wilderness plagued by low-flying commercial and pleasure aircraft is as ridiculous as a church where motorcycles ride between the pews.
It is rather ironic that Oahu, with the largest population and development, provides a much more appealing wilderness environment due to the absence of commercial sightseeing aircraft than the neighbor islands, where commercial aircraft noise and presence reach ludicrous and most annoying levels.
Philip D. Bogetto
Oahu Group Chairman, Sierra Club
Hawaii Chapter
JTPA has trained many students to be valuable employees in the clerical field or as nurse's aides. It has helped those who have limited experience to polish their work skills, and given them a better chance to break into the tight job market.
Coming from Germany, where they have apprenticeships similar to JTPA, I know it works very well for young people to become knowledgeable, confident and skillful in their professions. In Germany, the government gives incentives to employers, who are willing to train prospective employees. The benefit is obvious in more efficient and improved work performance.
JTPA has turned many young, unskilled persons who were dependent on welfare into self-sufficient, employable people. It is in the interest of the state to give welfare-dependent people the opportunity to become responsible, employable, tax-paying citizens.
Bettina Blomberg
Keaau, Hawaii
Of what value is the exercise of a right if it's followed by punishment? I thought it was called the right of "free" speech.
Clifford B. Hunt
Attorney at Law