Brainstorm! Challenge

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Historic photograph explains Mapunapuna

I've been saving this for the next time somebody complains about Mapunapuna flooding. Wednesday's Kokua Line column seems to fit.

Take a drive over to the McDonald's at Kamehameha Shopping Center, at the site of the former Kenny's Burgerhouse. Go inside and look for a large photo of Kalihi Valley taken from atop Kamehameha Heights. It's an archival photo from the Bishop Museum.

Observe in the photo Keehi Lagoon and its islands. Interestingly, the land where the airport now sits appears swampy and dotted with small pools of water. And look just north of Keehi and the airport site, what is that?

I've repeatedly examined that photo in McDonald's, made mental notes as to the location of identifiable landmarks, then gone up to the Kamehameha Schools campus and viewed the same landscape for comparison.

Just north of Keehi and the future airport appears to be a large body of water. I like to refer to this body of water as "Lake Mapunapuna."

The next time a Mapunapuna merchant complains about flooding in the area, I suggest he views the McDonald's photo for perspective. He might experience a "Duh!" moment!

Blaine Fergerstrom
Aiea

Korean War veterans deserved TV time

I was very disappointed with TV coverage of the Fourth of July parade in Kailua. Why did the TV reporters ignore the Korean War veterans who marched in that parade? It was heart-warming to see so many people on the sidelines stand and applaud the veterans with many a loud "thank you for your service."

It's too bad the media don't think as much of our veterans as the citizens do. Think about how these veterans must have felt being praised by the parade watchers and ignored by the media.

They should have paid more attention to our heroes and less time kissing up to the politicians in the parade.

Makes me wonder, did I waste my time in Korea protecting our freedom?

Curtis R. Rodrigues
Kaneohe

Meds could help isles' mentally ill homeless

What is to become of our mentally ill citizens? They are on our beaches and in our parks with their makeshift tents of discarded beachmats and other debris. Shoeless, toothless, dirty and diseased, they wander in our neighborhoods and shopping malls; we see them sitting in dark corners shouting or mumbling to themselves; we even see them standing under the ramps of freeways pleading for handouts. They are everywhere.

We now know, through scientific research on mental illness conducted within the last 10 years, that 50 percent of those with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 40 percent with a diagnosis of bi-polar disease due to a biological deficit in the brain, have no insight regarding their illness. We also know that these are very sick people and that there are medications that can relieve their suffering. When these medications are taken regularly, the illness can be controlled and the ill person can be transformed into a productive citizen.

As a parent of an intelligent, productive, talented and ambitious individual with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who now is a street person, I ask, "How many years will it be before Hawaii takes into account current scientific knowledge, and changes its laws and develops a workable and up-to-date system of care so that these people can be reached, treated and made productive?"

Fredda Sullam
Honolulu

Wie didn't deserve U.S. Open exemption

Regarding the July 9 editorial, "LPGA tour players had better get used to Michelle Wie":

Thirty LPGA players were polled about whether David Faye, the U.S. Golf Association commissioner, should have granted Wie an exemption to the Women's U.S. Open. Twenty-three of them disagreed with Faye's decision. Instead of justifying Faye's decision, you chose to make disparaging remarks of a LPGA player who disagreed with Faye's decision. Was it her response you didn't like or was it her? If it was her response, state your reasons.

The editorial defended Wie's exemption by stating that she would have been ranked 28th in the money earnings at the time the exemption was given. Professionals and amateurs play for different reasons and to use Wie's phantom money ranking as justification for her exemption is nonsense. Wie is an amateur and should not be treated as a professional. The fact that she played well in the U.S. Open has no relevance to whether she should have received an exemption. The majority of LPGA players felt exemptions should be given to those with accomplishments, not just crowd-drawing potential.

There is a fine line in telling the truth and being brutal. The editorial crossed that line with scornful remarks on Heather Daly-Donofrio.

Calvin Nakamura
Honolulu

Regents should answer a few questions

So the University of Hawaii Board of Regents had another closed-door meeting Thursday to continue their mishandling of the Evan Dobelle fiasco! This is the group (with somewhat altered personnel) that hired the University of Hawaii president at an unbelievably jump in salary -- $442,000 a year. Will the person replacing Dobelle continue to receive this unconscionable amount of taxpayers' money?

Are these board members accountable to anyone? Why do they conduct their deliberations in secret? Perhaps they should enlist the master of secret dealings, Dick Cheney, to help them. I'm sure the Republicans' current "Tricky Dick" could tell Dobelle what he could do with himself.

John H. Cort
Pahoa, Hawaii

Chill out about plans to add bike lanes

Many people I have surveyed say that they would walk and bicycle more if there were more shade and bike lanes. Trees are important to creating pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly environments, therefore reducing automobile dependency.

As we know, commercial property and business owners think trees block views of signage and create extra cleanup costs. Drivers think removing parking spaces reduces accessibility and quality of life.

With this said, it seems that bicycle advocates are finding themselves doing more project-design damage control than bike riding. Attaching landscape facelifts to bike-lane projects has produced more public opposition than bike lanes. There is no connection between bike lanes and losing vehicle parking spaces.

So as a solution to the problem, maybe we should not produce "shock and awe" urban design plans and instead do one thing at a time. Let's simply get the bike lanes striped ASAP. How about adding trees, bulb-outs and adjusting parking spaces as necessary a few at a time in the same manner the city and state have been installing wheelchair ramps?

Brian T. Hann
MURP (Master's in Urban and Regional Planning)
Professional urban planner
Honolulu

Do your part to keep U.S. free -- vote!

During my work day, I drive all over Oahu. Everywhere I go I see magnetic ribbons proclaiming "Support Our Troops" or "Pray for Our Troops." Another reads, "Freedom Is Not Free!"

That is certainly true. Our freedom in the United States of America is not free. Brave men and women in the military in Iraq and Afghanistan are paying the ultimate price for freedom.

By election time in November, I hope citizens understand that declaring their vote is how we pay for freedom. Isn't that the least we can do?

Writing to elected representatives in Washington -- whether we agree or disagree -- is another way we pay for our freedom.

Go to the store or online and buy one of those magnetic ribbons and display it on your vehicle. Just don't think that $5 is enough to pay for freedom when soldiers are giving their lives for it.

Ted Obringer
Honolulu

Dismantle proposal for Ala Wai wall

I attended a Neighborhood Commission meeting Tuesday night in Waikiki. As always, you hear some insane ideas offered by those who just can't wait to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on useless projects. Now some mentally challenged engineers want to build the Little Wall of China in Waikiki.

I'm kidding, right? No. They suggest building a 10- to 15-foot wall along the Ala Wai Canal and around the golf course to divert water away from Waikiki in case of a 100-year flood.

I suspect that these engineers are probably golfers because only the golf course would benefit from this waste of $30 million. And besides, if a hurricane struck this wall it would only back up the flood into the hotel area and prevent water from reaching the canal.

Why not give me the $30 million and I will spend a couple of million on a flood gate near the entrance of the Ala Wai to help prevent storm surges from entering the canal from the sea? As for the rest of the money, how about a facelift for some of our older neighborhoods or schools ... you know, real community needs.

Timothy A. Cook
Honolulu

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] The city owns a large, underground facility at Fort Barrette in Kapolei that is sitting empty. What could it be used for? Some sort of archive? A place to stash gigantic holiday decorations? A temporary storage site for Evan Dobelle’s ego? Send your ideas -- include your name, address and phone number -- by July 16 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or by mail: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 Or by fax: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750