Letters – 05|06

What our readers have to say

THE TRUE MEASURE OF WEALTH

Your "Rich Son, Poor Son" Publisher's Note in the (April 2006) issue of Hawaii Business is right on!!! So many people forget the importance of the intangible gifts we receive from wonderful people that impact our own future. It's just like the old saying "give a person a fish and he eats for a day, teach him how to catch fish and he eats for the rest of his life." I think Robert Kiyosaki doesn't realize or give enough credit to his "Poor Dad" that made him a success he is today.

Alton Kuioka,
Honolulu, Hawaii
Via email

I just read your Publisher's Nota Bene in the April issue of Hawaii Business, Rich Son, Poor Son. I have attempted to teach my son that although having some income is important, that is not and should not be the measure of someone's true wealth. I appreciated your thoughts and encouragement.

Thanks for sharing your feelings about your father-in-law. It sounds like he left a legacy of great wealth to his posterity.

Brent D. Wilson
Dean, School of Business
BYU-Hawaii
Via email

REASONS TO WORRY

Former Governor Ariyoshi hits the nail on the head (March 2006).

There are very worrisome trends that we should be aware of. Why are economic surveys not asking what implications our high taxes, high cost of living, lowest home ownership, excessive zoning and permitting regulations on housing and developments have on Hawaii's future economy and generations?

Dale Evans
Chairman and President
Charley's Taxi & Limousine
Honolulu, Hawaii
Via email

FREE MEDS

We feel compelled to address the issue of uninsured/underinsured employees. As you are well aware, the high cost of health care is having a huge financial hardship on both the employer and employee ("Pooling Together: A health insurance pool may help Hawaii's small businesses" April 2006). The fact that the state of Hawaii, which in past years has been the leader in health care is no longer true. Many business owners, especially the small business owners cannot afford the coverage.

On average the price of prescription drugs increased 40 percent between 2000 and 2004. The pharmaceutical companies continue to have double-digit profits and there is no relief in sight. The public needs to know that there are resources available to help them. A lot of uninsured employees fit within the qualifying criteria to get their medications free through Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs). The average income criteria is $19,000 per year for a single person, and $25,000. for a couple (and so on). There are over 100 pharmaceutical companies offering over 1,000 brand name medications. This really is a no-brainer. First of all you have the cost of the medications absorbed by the pharmaceutical company (granted it doesn't cost them much, and their tax breaks more than make up for any costs). But also your state and county of residence will save millions of dollars. Maybe then the employer can find affordable health care without prescription drug coverage.

We have been advocating for the uninsured for over four years. We are all volunteers, and 90 percent of the expenses to support this organization is from our own personal funds.

We are constantly following up on our research as it is well established that there are constant changes within these programs. We can then simplify and present the information onto our Web site (freemedsandsolutions.com), making the application process that much easier for our clients.

Carrie Maloney, RN
Honolulu, Hawaii
Via email

CORRECTIONS: Deloitte & Touche LLP has 90 employees. The number of employees listed in the April 2006 issue was incorrect. Also, Clifford Lum started as the Honolulu Board of Water Supply's Chief Engineer in January 2006, not December 2005. North Hawaii Community Hospital had $75.8 million in 2004 sales and should have been No. 8 on the list of Hawaii's Top Health Care Providers. Hawaii Business regrets these errors.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAY BE SENT TO: Address: Hawaii Business 1000 Bishop St., Ste. 405 Honolulu, HI 96813 Fax: (808) 537-6455 E-mail: hbeditorial@pacificbasin.net All letters to the editor must include the writer's name, address (at least city or town, and state) and daytime and evening phone numbers. Writers should also disclose any relationship with the subject of their letter. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and space and to use them in all electronic and print editions of Hawaii Business.

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