September

“ALOHA
ALSO MEANS GOODBYE,” AUGUST 2005
John Heckathorn’s last foreword as editor
of HONOLULU Magazine.

I’ve
been a subscriber of HONOLULU Magazine for several years, and am a big fan of
John Heckathorn. He was the best thing your magazine had going for it, and I am
shocked and disappointed that the magazine let itself lose such a valuable asset.
I always looked forward to John’s articles, and cannot imagine the magazine without
him. Please, bring him back!

Carol K. Honda, via e-mail

John-thanks
for your stewardship at HONOLULU. Sorry to see you go, but hope you will continue
to contribute. Best wishes for your new career.

Mark Stitham,
via e-mail

“WORSE THAN YOU KNOW,” AUGUST 2005
Associate
editor Ronna Bolante’s investigation into the prevalence of child sex abuse, and
the obstacles to prosecuting such crimes.

I
want to commend you for the excellent article, one that should be printed out
and given (better yet, taught) to law enforcement officers, social workers and
all others who work with kids who have been sexually abused. Your article helps
us understand why a deacon who was [recently] indicted for molesting a boy over
the past three years is being supported by the adults in his congregation, while
little outrage is shown [on behalf of] the boy who was molested.

After
working with adult survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence for many years
as a pastor and counselor, and being a survivor myself, I can verify the truth
in all you said. With all the hoopla over the sex-offender registry, it helps
to be reminded that at least 90 percent of offenders are family members or trusted
friends. The issue is much more complex than most want to believe. Why do victims
so seldom tell, and if they do, are hesitant to testify? It seems “easier” for
the victim to carry the blame than to disgrace the entire family while being called
a liar and worse. What a terrible burden to carry throughout one’s life.

We
look in horror at countries throughout our world that denigrate women and children,
while we ignore that which is before our eyes. We must educate women as to their
own worth, and help them value their daughters (and sons) enough to protect them.
And we must continue to educate our sons and our daughters that neither women
nor men are to be used, humiliated, degraded.

Rev. Barbara Grace Ripple,

United Methodist Minister (retired), via e-mail

I
would like to applaud Ronna Bolante’s article. Her treatment was fair, comprehensive
and illuminating. What troubles me is the assumption that we are doing all we
can to contend with this terrible problem. We are not.

First of all, child
molesters are engaged in activity that is uniquely pernicious and especially deserving
of our resources. It is the only crime that often perpetuates itself in the victim.
Victims of armed robberies and car jackings don’t turn around and begin robbing
banks and stealing cars. But children who are victims of sex offenders often repeat
the behavior.

There are several important changes we need to consider in
social policy to combat this growing menace. Hawai’i courts need to reconsider
letting children victims testify in private, a practice common in other jurisdictions.

I
agree with my friend Peter Carlisle that we should not be affording special treatment
to parents who offend against their children, but I strongly disagree that justice
is better served by merging the Sexual Assault Division with the Career Criminal
Division, a mistaken change that has decreased prosecutorial referrals. The Honolulu
Police Department has officers highly skilled in the difficult task of working
with children who are victims of sexual assault. Those skills are vastly different
from those necessary to interview someone who just had his home burglarized. The
TV concept of a “specialized crime unit” is appropriate and the right model. .

There is something that you, the reader, can do. Not only can you lobby
for what you believe are needed changes in our social policy, you can volunteer
a few hours each week to speak for a child who is caught up in this system as
a victim. The state of Hawai’i has a wonderful program called Volunteer Guardian
Ad Litem, which is attached to the family court. For more information call at
538-5930. The children of Hawai’i need your voice and your help.

Steve Lane,
via e-mail