East Oahu Sun Submission Policy

The East Oahu Sun welcomes your letters, photos, comments and other editorial content. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of the East Oahu Sun. "Letters to the Editor" are subject to editing and should be no longer than 300 words. The East Oahu Sun reserves the right to accept, reject or edit any submission. For verification purposes please include your name, address and phone number. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted. The East Oahu Sun does not return letters, photos, poems or any other type of editorial content. Submissions should be mailed to the East Oahu Sun at P.O. Box 25130, Honolulu, HI, 96825, faxed to (808) 395-1998, or e-mailed to info@eastoahusun.com.

Friends of Kaiser PTSA salutes the “Kaiser High School Class of 2009”

Henry J. Kaiser High School held its on-campus commencement ceremony Friday, June 5th under sunny skies to award diplomas to its 258 graduating seniors. The ceremony featured music by the Kaiser High School Band, singing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” and welcome address by Beau Brians, class president’s address by Brian Freeman and valedictory address by Sarah Kern. The class presented a spirited rendition of “Lean On Me,” led by Toapasi Toetu`u. The presentation of diplomas was followed by a “surprise” fireworks display from an anonymous neighbor. This year’s class featured 18 students meeting the requirements for valedictorian. There were 34 summa cum laude, 29 magna cum laude and 44 cum laude graduates. Members of the graduating class earned over $2.4 million dollars in awarded scholarships.

Following the graduation ceremony and congratulatory lei presentations by family and friends, 200 of the graduates proceeded to an all night alcohol and drug-free celebration at the annual Project Grad ceremony hosted by parents of the graduates. Seven trolley cars caravanned the noisy graduates to Dave and Buster’s where they enjoyed dinner, dancing, entertainment from an improv group as well as a hypnotist, in addition to after-hours use of the D&B arcade. Final goodbyes, led by Jim Hutchinson, class counselor, were held at sunrise at Sandy Beach before the exhausted graduates returned to campus to be claimed by their parents. Congratulations and best of luck to all members of the class of 2009 in your future endeavors. Go Cougars!

Friends of Kaiser PTSA

Budget cuts jeopardize proposed Wailupe science center

The state’s budget woes and subsequent funding cuts to public schools may prevent the Department of Education from embarking on an exciting initiative in East Oahu.

The Education Department’s proposed conversion of the now-closed Wailupe Valley Elementary School into a science center is in jeopardy after a study found that it would cost some $2 million to retrofit and equip the campus.

Faced with the daunting task of slashing $468 million from public schools over the next two fiscal years, a Board of Education Committee on Administrative Services earlier this month was forced to recommend the return of the Wailupe Valley campus to its owner, the City and County of Honolulu.

Unless an outside donor were to step in and help support the center’s creation, it is likely – and unfortunate – that the school board will have to approve the committee’s decision and postpone indefinitely any plans for the envisioned science center.

Karen Knudsen

First Vice-Chairwoman

Hawaii Board of Education

Pedaling Toward a Bicycle Safe Hawaii - Same Roads, Same Rules, Same Rights

Lack of physical activity, particularly among children, has raised concerns about the health of young and old alike. Diabetes and other diseases once only common in adults are now routinely diagnosed in children.

In addition, we have traffic problems in many places on Oahu. People think nothing of driving a mile or two to drop their children off at school.

Approximately 82 percent of trips five miles or less are made by car. Imagine the impact on traffic if those trips were made by bike or on foot.

On May 12, Hawaii will have its first-ever Bike and Walk to School Day. All schools are encouraged to participate in this event by asking parents, students and teachers to bike or walk to school. Participants can register at www.hawaiipedalpower.com to be eligible to win a commuter bicycle.

Over the past several years, the federal government has allotted Hawaii funds to be used under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Approximately $3.5 million of these funds are currently available to schools and others interested in improving safety for bicyclists and pedestrians near schools. This is a comprehensive program that involves engineering, education, enforcement, evaluation and encouragement to improve the safety of our roadways and sidewalks. Bike and Walk to School Day can be used to make a preliminary survey or evaluation of ways to improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. Let's get out of our cars and bike or walk with our children to school on this special day.

As a long-term solution to inactivity and traffic congestion, we need to look at how we design our communities and motivate people to travel from one location to another. Complete Streets is a policy that considers all users of our transportation system. Senate Bill 718, Complete Streets, has been sent to Governor Lingle. I urge her to sign it into law.

Natalie Iwasa, a.k.a. Bicycle Mom

Hawai'i Tea Party Participants Say "Enough!"

April 15, 2009 ended up to be an amazing day! People around the country are tired of BIG Government and even BIGGER Spending. My family and I were fortunate enough to attend today's Tea Party at the Hawai'i State Capitol. I was so proud of both my sons as they sign-waved, people-watched and listened to the speakers. This wasn't a "Right Wing Radical" Protest as the current administration was trying to warn the public about. This was a gathering of people who are getting together to say enough is enough!! 

All Tea Parties around the country were people of every walk of life, race and political parties standing up and ultimately drawing a line in the sand. Stop the spending! Stop big Government! I for one believe in capitalism and the freedom to work hard and enjoy the fruits of hard work. Let me be clear that this isn't a political party issue, as I have checked my beliefs at the door long ago. This is so much deeper. This is about what is right and what is wrong.

I hope today sparks something inside of everyone to detach from emotion and look at the situation we are in today and what we can do to prevent our freedoms, taxes and fundamentals of what America was founded on from being wiped away for good.
 
Ending here, again this isn't a political party issue, this is the everyday person tired of petty politics and foolish spending over the last few presidents to the current administration. It has come down to this, National Tea Parties today... accountability of our politicians tomorrow!
 
Heidi M. Kaumaka Wong