Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 3, 1 March 1996 — Our Reader Write [ARTICLE]

Our Reader Write

Prison conditions need improvement I agree with Trustee Akaka's (Trustee's Views, Feb '96) desire to improve conditions in Hawai'i's prisons, not only for Hawaiian inmates, but for all inmates and staff. I would be happy to arrange for OHA members or any other citizen to visit our correctional facilities. We do not tolerate violence in prison, and that is why any staff members responsible for mistreating inmate Ulysses Kim or any other inmate face disciplinary action as well as state and federal criminal investigations.

Yes, we do need more drug treatment for inmates. That is why Governor Cayetano is asking the Legislature for funds to expand the drug treatment program at the Waiawa correctional facility from its current 34bed capacity to 200 beds. More than 80 percent of our inmates have a history of serious substance abuse. Our eommunity needs to do more to stop the drug epidemic before users wind up in prison. Community anti-drug programs like that of the Waimānalo homesteaders are an excellent start.

Sending Hawai'i inmates to Texas was a last resort for us because we simply ran out of prison bed space. These jails meet national corrections standards, and we are sending staff periodically to Texas to ensure the standards are maintained. We encourage inmate artists and we regularly provide them art supplies. In fact, we recently held the first statewide inmate art exhibition. I invite OHA to join other groups in helping sponsor our 1996 exhibition by donating funds or art supplies. George Iranon, Director State Department of Public Safety

No such thing as a strictly monitored casino In your January 1996 issue of Ka Wai Ola O OHA the article titled in part, "Strictly monitored casinos could pay off ..." struck me with grave eoneem. Trustee Moanikeala Akaka writes, "Only 10 percent of the isolated two million square foot casino is devoted to gambling." She continues to describe the non-gambling usage of the rest of the area. The casino needs the non-gambling businesses as

bait and promotion for gambling. Doesn't she realize that all the owners of the casino need is 10 percent to do damage to families and eommunities? There is no such thing as a "strictly monitored casino" because the owners of the casino are not concerned about the welfare of individuals. Some legislators want casinos here because they feel the state will prosper financially. This is truly false!

Please do not let casinos into our beautiful islands. Undesirable individuals will eome here and poverty, along with crime, will be on the increase. All you have to do is look at the history of such places as Atlantic City and Las Vegas. They speak for themselves. For a trustee to feel this way about casinos that are "strictly monitored" is a pity for our dear Hawai'i. Leimomi Kamauoha Honolulu

Anahola incident a rallying cry Let the "Anahola incident" be a rallying cry. We express our condolences and deep sorrow to the Smith 'ohana for all they have suffered in the past, and suffer now for the tragic passing of one of their sons. We hope their suffering will not be perpetuated for etemity. Let the flames of their suffering ignite us into action. The Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council's request to release of state tax dollars to fund a Hawaiian sovereignty plebiscite that asks, "Shall the Hawaiian people elect delegates to propose a native Hawaiian government?" is discriminatory and out of touch with the Hawaiian community. The Fifteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states, "The right of citizens ... to vote shall not be denied ... by any state on aeeounī of race, color ... ." On this constitutional basis, the state cannot conduct

a plebiscite giving only Hawaiians the right to vote and excluding the rest of the tax payers. s. Since January 17, 1893, the indigenous Hawaiians have maintained our inherent sovereignty. It was never given up or lost, the "Apology Resolution" acknowledges this. Support a resolution releasing state funds to the 40 different sovereign Hawaiian organizations. They have been addressing the needs of Hawaiians and implementing programs in health, language, culture, housing, and education for the "betterment of native Hawaiians." Support this equitable distribution of state funds. As leaders and Hawaiians we ean choose to alleviate despair and provide relief today. Sharon Lum and Lale Ho Berkeley, Anaheim, California

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