‘Proof of payment’ is not ‘honor system’

A barrier-free transit system is a "proof of payment" service, not an "honor system," because people enforce payment. That is one of many facts that "Honor bound" (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 11) left unclear.

Here are more reasons why proof-of-payment" is better for the Honolulu rail system:

» Since a turnstile system can be hurdled or crawled under, a more costly system would not guarantee payment by all riders.

» As most Honolulu riders carry a monthly pass now — especially seniors, disabled persons and University of Hawaii students — fare evasion will probably be lower than average.

» Because 42 percent of all transit rides will use rail for part of the trip, many cash-paying riders will be holding a paper bus transfer, good for their train ride. While people can read damaged tickets and passes, ripped or soaked paper tickets can be unreadable by machines.

» During major events like football games, inspectors can check fares as riders enter.

» Finally, fare checkers will keep homeless people, drunks and criminals off stations and trains.

Hannah Miyamoto
Manoa

Columnist demonizes Big Wind opponents

Jay Fidell’s inclusion of Molokai’s Big Wind opponents in his column ("Molokai cannot be allowed to isolate itself from Oahu," Star-Advertiser, Think Tech, Dec. 6) is yet another in his string of vitriolic attacks on an island that is rallying to protect all Hawaii citizens from the onslaught of industrial wind power plants.

We on Molokai who are fighting the Big Wind folly are not "isolationists" who are interested solely in one island. Rather, we are part of a statewide movement that is focused on promoting viable energy alternatives for all islands.

As Fidell continues his demonization of Molokai as "disgraceful," "living in the past," "disrespectful," in "insular drift," etc., he forgoes an opportunity to participate in an intelligent debate on the problematic issues present in the Big Wind and undersea cable proposals.

Gregory Kahn
Pukoo, Molokai

Read Aloud America helps public schools

As a member of the board of directors of Read Aloud America, I am happy to help clarify its mission and methods for Paul Tyksinski and others ("Read Aloud plea confusing," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 9).

Far from being an indictment of our public schools, Read Aloud America is a support agency that encourages parents and caregivers to read to children from early childhood onward. Its Read Aloud Program fills school cafeterias with enthusiastic parents, teachers, students and preschoolers who gather to experience the pleasure of shared oral reading and to learn its potential benefits.

A long-term English teacher myself (46 years), I can tell you that children whose loving caregivers read to them early and often receive enormous personal and academic advantage therefrom.

Besides developing a child’s appreciation — even craving — for the written word long before they attend school, such reading improves family cohesion through shared interests and pleasures.

James R. Harstad
Palolo Valley

Meadow Gold backs local milk production

Meadow Gold welcomes continued focus on building Hawaii’s dairy agriculture ("Local milk within Hawaii’s grasp," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 10).

Currently, our plants in Hilo and Honolulu buy nearly 100 percent of the raw milk produced by Hawaii’s dairy farms. More than 330 local Meadow Gold employees then pasteurize, package and distribute the milk.

Yet that local milk satisfies less than a quarter of our community’s demand. To meet the needs of the islands, we import additional milk from dairies in California. The milk is shipped in super-insulated, stainless steel tanks where it remains at an average temperature of 33*F to 40*F until it is reaches our Honolulu facility. It is tested upon arrival to meet the same quality and safety standards that apply to locally produced milk.

Whether the milk comes from farms on the mainland or local dairy operations, once processed, its shelf life is the same.

We have worked closely with dairy farmers, including Island Dairy on the Big Island, to preserve and enhance their viability. We agree that increasing local milk production will be good for everyone.

Glenn K. Muranaka
President and general manager Meadow Gold Dairies of Hawaii

Meaning of ‘remedial’ not what writer thinks

In reference to your thought-provoking "point-counterpoint" commentaries by attorneys Kathryn Tucker and James Hochberg ("Difficult death decisions," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 30), I couldn’t agree more with Hochberg’s language argument refuting the interpretation attributed by Tucker to "remedial agent or measure" in the 1909 Hawaiian law to mean aid in dying for certifiably terminal patients.

Fortunately, I took University of Hawaii professor Peter Nicholson’s English language class on the Oxford English Dictionary in 1978 before I went to law school.

A quick reference to the OED reveals that from 1612-2001 (including 1909), the adjective "remedial" has been used to mean "providing or offering a remedy, tending to relieve or redress."

Despite Tucker’s perverse definition of "remedial" to mean an agent to assist in dying, such a proposition is not supportable by no less an authority than the OED.

I implore any physician persuaded that Tucker’s Orwellian definition of "remedial" somehow legitimizes his or her unilateral actions to aid terminally ill patients in dying to please first check with their medical malpractice insurance carrier and determine whether reliance on the 1909 law in such a manner will immunize them from legal liability.

Jonathan S. Durrett
West Loch