GLOBAL WARMING IS A SCAM

Reality is finally setting in on the global warming hoax. As expected, the mainstream media is avoiding anything that might affect preconceived notions about global warming.

On May 12, 2009, in a nine-page memo the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) marked “Deliberative–Attorney Client Privilege” warned Congress that an EPA finding that greenhouse gases are a danger to public health is based on dubious assumptions and could have very large negative impacts on our already suffering economy.

The memo states that EPA did not thoroughly examine the relationship between greenhouse gases and human health, and challenged the notion that the EPA or anyone else had proven CO2 or other greenhouse gases to be harmful to humans. 
 
This statement illustrates the global warming scam for what it is. Congress wants to regulate CO2 by passing the Climate Security Act, based on this scam. The result would be a carbon tax applied on anything with carbon in it, which includes all fossil fuels used in power plants, transportation, heating oil, manufactured goods… you name it.

It is estimated that this act will cost every taxpayer $2,000-$3000 more in taxes each and every year  after implementation. This increased tax is supposed to give us incentive to find a way to decrease our CO2 emissions by 50 percent between 2000 and 2030.  Try turning off your lights and TV for six months.

Scientific measurements show that CO2 is about 0.038%, or 380 parts per million — not even 1 percent of our atmosphere by volume. Real climate scientists, not Al Gore, have calculated that currently only 2.75 percent of this 0.038 percent atmospheric CO2 is from human sources.  

Let’s see now. We must reduce our consumption of CO2 by 50 percent because we are contributing 0.00104 percent of the atmospheric CO2. Can anyone tell me just how much warming will be reduced with a 0.00104% percent reduction in our atmospheric CO2 contribution?

And just what reductions are planned in China, Russia, India and Africa?  This is why regulating CO2 in the U.S. is so ridiculous.

DON GERBIG, Lahaina

BLAME MAUI

The Maui News article about the telescope being built to study solar activities from atop Haleakala was exciting to read. It’s only fitting; Haleakala means “House of the Sun.”
 
Legend says the demigod Maui wanted to make the days longer so tapa could dry faster and food plants would have more time to grow. One guy ridiculed Maui and said he could never slow the sun down because he was a nobody.
 
Maui and his brothers made some rope that wouldn’t burn, and Maui climbed Haleakala and lassoed the sun. The sun didn’t want to slow down, so Maui beat it fiercely with a magic jawbone until the sun reluctantly agreed.

He chased the guy that taunted him back and forth across the island and found him hiding under a piece of sky near Lahaina. Maui killed him and turned him into Black Rock. Nobody wanted to mess with him after that and named the island Maui to appease him.

Strangers from other lands heard of Maui’s slower sun and came to catch some rays. They needed somewhere to sleep and built hotels on the nicest beaches. The locals saw all the strangers laying on the beach and thought they were dead. They said they were without breath, and called them haoles.   

Soon there were more haoles than locals, and many started saying haoles stole their land. This made some locals angry. They sold Makena, canceled Halloween and said no more telescopes on Haleakala.

It’s all Maui’s fault.

KENNY HULTQUIST, Lahaina

MAHALO FROM KING KAMEHAMEHA III ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

King Kamehameha III School’s administration, staff and students would like to thank all those who made our May Day Celebration on May 15 a joyous and memorable one.

We would like to express a special mahalo to the Hyatt Regency Maui, Old Lahaina Luau, Makua Kahomealoha, Makua Kaina and Aunty Noe Akima for their hard work in preparation for this year’s “Hiki No Kakou” May Day festivities. Mahalo nui loa!

KING KAMEHAMEHA III SCHOOL

LIS ROBOTICS TEAM THANKS SUPPORTERS

The Lahaina Intermediate School Robotics team recently participated in the Hawaii State Botball Tournament at the Hawaii State Convention Center on Oahu on May 2.

Thirteen LIS students and their chaperones, including Tom Norton, LIS teacher and club advisor, along with 500 other students from around the state attended the competition.

This trip would not have been possible without the support of our school staff and the families of the students. There are also some community members that helped to provide financial support for our team. Mahalo to the Lahaina Intermediate PTSA, Allana Buick & Bers Inc., UFO Chuting of Hawaii, Pat and Richard Endsley, Aloha Family Practice, First Hawaiian Bank, Robert and Denise Day, GM Shufeldt and Candace Horton, and to Jill Kaiser for “spreading the word.”

BECKY ALTIER, Parent Facilitator, Lahaina Intermediate School, Parent Community Networking Center

FUND EDUCATION, NOT MORE PRISONS

The U.S. spent more than $49 billion on prisons last year, up from less than $11 billion 20 years earlier. The government should be spending more on our future, which is our kids.

First of all, uneducated kids are three times more likely to get in trouble. Did you know that if our nation increased high school graduation rates 1 percent, it could save us $1.4 billion in crime-related affects. That seems like a lot for doing something so little.

Next, educating kids now effects our future later. Educated kids statistically earn more money than uneducated. Men earn 54 percent more with a college degree, and women earn 88 percent more with a college degree. In the past 25 years, growing wage differentials between high school graduates and dropouts have increased the economic incentives to graduate high school. The real wages of high school dropouts have declined since the early 1970s, while those of more skilled workers have risen greatly.

However, some may say that we need to spend that much money to keep unsafe people off the street. Although that’s a good point, if we spend a little more on education, then the crime rate will go down

In conclusion, if we could get the government to pay more attention on education, as you can see by the above outlined, we can seriously decrease the crime rates. Go and write letters, protest and do not give up until all of our voices are heard.

SAMANTHA DAVIS, Seventh-grader, Lahaina Intermediate School

PUT A STOP TO HOMEWORK MADNESS

Do you ever get upset when you do not get quality time with your kids, because their heads are always in a textbook? The reason is homework. Isn’t six hours of school enough?

First of all, homework can be very overwhelming. Sometimes it cannot be finished on time. Sometimes, personal time with family and friends might have to be sacrificed because of “too much homework.” Perhaps homework is keeping you from getting the full ten hours of sleep.

School already deprives kids of at least six hours of their day. If our teachers cannot do what they need to do in the time provided, it is not a student’s responsibility to give them any more time. Homework is nothing but an excuse to free them of the responsibility. Students should not be penalized for teachers’ poor use of class time.    

Improvement is driven by passion, and the only ones with a passion for homework are teachers, and that is only because they are not the ones doing it.

A student’s schedule can be unmanageable from the overflow of homework. There might be extracurricular activities that are going on with your child that could last until a late hour. Time and organization can be a huge burden in your child’s schedule. It is hard to have a life when homework is an obstacle.

However, some teachers say homework can help you learn, but in actuality, homework is no improvement to a student’s education at all.

To solve this matter, the school that your child attends could give the students practice worksheets in class. This would be a huge relief for your children. The teachers should be able to finish a lesson in one class; if not, just carry it on to the next day.

Therefore, your child’s teacher can put an end to this homework madness. Think about it the next time your child is spending one to three hours on homework.

ZOE MILLER, Seventh-grader, Lahaina Intermediate School

MAHALO FROM THE LIS PTSA

Thanks to the generous support of local organizations, the Lahaina Intermediate School PTSA was able to show our teachers and staff how much they are truly appreciated for all the hard work they do each day educating our children.

The week started off with a continental breakfast on Monday, followed up with candy treats and “Apple for the Teacher Day,” and ended with a fabulous luncheon on Friday that included door prizes.

Mahalo to the following businesses that donated food and/or gift certificates for Staff Appreciation Week: Aloha Mixed Plate, The Bakery, CJ’s Deli & Diner, Cilantro Mexican Grill, David’s Happy Nails, Gazebo Restaurant, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Lahaina Farms, The Melting Pot, Royal Lahaina Resort, Roy’s Kahana Bar & Grill, Office Max, and Safeway.

We understand the current economic difficulties facing businesses right now and are extremely grateful for the support you have shown our school. Our Staff Appreciation Week events would not have been possible without you.

LAHAINA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL PTSA 

SCHOOL APPRECIATES GENEROUS DONATIONS

On behalf of the King Kamehameha III School PTA, we would like to extend our thanks to you for your generous donations to our Staff Appreciation Week.

With your support, the PTA was able to serve much-appreciated continental breakfast and a delicious lunch to all staff members at King Kamehameha III School, along with small appreciation gifts during this year’s Staff Appreciation Week.

The teachers and staff of King Kamehameha III School always look forward to the prizes so kindly donated by our community, and it is usually the highlight of the celebration. Your donations added to the excitement and fun of this year’s event.

We would like to thank you to the following businesses for their donations: Leilani’s on the Beach for the yummy food donations for the luncheon, the gift certificates from ‘Ulalena and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Harvest Linen and Longhi’s.

Both the PTA and staff at King Kamehameha III are very grateful for all the donations — especially during these hard economic times — and send warmest aloha to you all.

Best wishes to you, and thank you again for your generosity.

SONGJA MISKE, King Kamehameha III PTA President