War in Afghanistan reminiscent of Vietnam

In thinking about the war in Afghanistan, we might remember Woody Allen’s movie "Love and Death." In one scene, Woody Allen is a foot soldier talking to a general who tells him, "If they kill more of our guys, then they win; if we kill more of their guys, then we win." So Woody Allen asks: "What do we win?"

That is the big unanswered question of the war in Afghanistan. Only if we can answer that do we even get to the further unanswered questions of whether it is feasible to win and whether we think the costs are worth it. Our lack of clarity about this question reminds me of Vietnam. Back then there were a lot of protests by young men who could simply not figure out why they were being sent to war. Of course, that is one reason we moved to a volunteer army: fewer complaints. But it doesn’t change the basic issue.

Haleiwa Hotel would provide needed jobs

Since the demise of sugar and redirection of Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa has been in a slow dance with death. The city projects an increase of 42 new jobs in Haleiwa over the next 25 years from 1,765 jobs this year to 1,807 jobs in 2035 with zero visitor accommodations. That’s fewer than two new jobs per year. This will not provide employment for the 97 Waialua High School 2010 graduates.

After completion, D. G. "Andy" Anderson’s 80-room Haleiwa Hotel can generate enough labor and wage income to support full-time employment (both on and off property) for 47 local Haleiwa families at $66,000 per year household income. That’s 47 local families that will not need to go to Honolulu or California to find jobs and affordable housing.

A nice little boutique hotel can be a great way to help local families stay in Haleiwa.

Hotel won’t provide right kind of new jobs

Here we go again. Another bit of open space is under fire for being just that, open space. I don’t understand why it is that every time a bit of land is left fallow, someone decides a hotel or restaurant needs to be built there.

Developer D.G. "Andy" Anderson’s idea of a "boutique hotel" next to Jameson’s in Haleiwa will just bring more urban sprawl to the North Shore.

Those 110 jobs that will be created? That’s 110 people making beds, parking cars and making the minimum wage servicing the well-heeled tourists who will be staying at this lovely property.

As for the private/public park envisioned by Anderson? Don’t fool yourself. I think the word "private" will be the operative word here, if it’s being planned for weddings, luaus, etc. I don’t see weekend picnics being enjoyed by local folks. I see tourists and upscale catered affairs in that park.

‘Kamaaina rate’ is insult to many visitors

I am a frequent visitor to Hawaii, every year for the past 15 years, and have visited all the islands. My stays have been from two weeks to three months. Obviously, I love the islands and the aloha spirit.

I have only one disappointment in my many visits to the islands. The term "kamaaina rate" is a direct slap in my face and that of all the visitors. We spend billions of dollars here yearly, which, in turn, employ many kamaaina and significantly add to the local economy. Yet merchants advertise kamaaina rates. That is, "Hey, all you tourists, we appreciate that you spend your dollars here, but we’re only gonna give discounts to folks who live here." Do it if you want, but don’t advertise it. Sure doesn’t do much for your "aloha spirit."

Furloughs happened because union balked

In all this talk about whether we should continue with an elected Board of Education or go with an appointed one, there seems to be a lot of confusion as to how the furloughs came about. It’s my understanding that because the governor is mandated by law to balance the budget, and since she wanted to avoid layoffs, she proposed either a pay cut or furloughs to the Hawaii State Teachers Association and BOE. Because the governor couldn’t initiate a pay cut due to HSTA’s collective bargaining agreement, and the teachers wouldn’t agree to a layoff or pay cut, HSTA and the BOE opted for the furloughs.

It’s interesting to note that the past Department of Education Superintendent Pat Hamamoto also thinks we should go with an appointed board.