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Kaimuki trolley added local color to isle life

This is just another loss for our Hawaii and our community ("City ends Kaimuki trolley service," Star-Bulletin, Sept. 26). This service not only acted as an obvious link between neighborhoods and aided our students; it also added a little ohana flavor to the experience. When will the bean counters learn that some traditions should be kept regardless of the cost?

Fasi's followers should shift to Mufi

I was very pleased to read the kind words of Mufi Hannemann for former Mayor Frank Fasi (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 28).

As a long-time supporter of Frank Fasi, I plan to vote for Mufi to be the next mayor of Honolulu. I would hope that all those who voted for Fasi would now shift their votes to Hannemann.

Duke Bainum is trying to buy the election. We cannot let this happen! Bainum will continue to bring in his big money from his mainland sources.

Mufi will win by his local roots and person-to-person campaign style. He is going to be a great mayor!

Bainum would bring honesty to city hall

When it comes to "honesty" and "trust," when it comes to who has these qualities in the mayor's race, the verdict should be very clear: Duke Bainum is the only choice.

Too many politicians only talk the talk. Unfortunately, Mufi Hannemann is a great talker. One only has to look at the district he represented during his short term on the City Council. Have any of our disgraceful roads from Aiea to Pearl City been repaved? No.

Did he improve the quality of life here in regards to more police? No. Does he have state government experience in the Legislature? No.

Bainum is an honest and trustworthy physician, who served his constituents in the state Legislature and as a two-term City Councilman.

Bainum has come to the forefront on honesty in government. Don't we want our government to be more accountable, and reduce the campaign-financing problems that have plagued the present administration?

It is easy to ride the train when you can influence the conductor, but Bainum can't be influenced. He drives straight on the tracks. Isn't this what we all want? Honesty and trust.

Oahu was welcoming; except for drivers

This is a love letter to Oahu: I've first discovered you CAN go home again! From the first view of the airport gardens, the first tradewind in my face, everything said "Home!"

Bus drivers, restaurant and hotel personnel, casual passersby were friendly and genuine. The clouds and views were magnificent. Thanks to everyone for keeping Aloha alive. (Except for the drivers!)

In the middle of a war, don't change leaders

We don't change canoes in midstream. We don't change planes in midflight. We cannot change the recipe when it's cooking.

By the same token, President Bush is at the helm. He's fresh, smart, with it and under control.

It's not a good time to change to John Kerry, who is ill-informed and totally unaware. The worse it will become.

Removal of Saddam was miracle for Iraq

Regarding Douglas Kouka Allen's letter dated Sept. 26, he discusses the "unmitigated disaster" in Iraq. Why, because it's not over?

In fact, in just 18 months the United States has helped a country that suffered for more than 30 years under a monster's dictatorship become free and look forward to its first free elections. Saddam is in prison and no longer able to torture his own people, attack neighboring countries or use WMDs on the Kurds or anybody else. This is a miracle.

John Kerry has accomplished nothing meaningful during his long career in politics. Shouldn't that bother us? He now states that Iraq is the wrong war at the wrong time, but didn't he favor giving Bush to go into Iraq? So Bush made a mistake, but Kerry didn't? Please think, and do your own research before casting your vote on Nov. 2.

Osama can thank Bush for ousting Saddam

Cal Thomas' revisionism is always good for a laugh, but he outdid himself with the Sept. 22 column, "In times of crisis, Kerry helps America's enemies." Thomas said Kerry's criticisms of the Iraq war "undermine the objectives of the nation and give aid and comfort" to the enemy. The "aid and comfort" bit had me laughing almost as hard as a good Chuck Memminger column.

Didn't President Bush eliminate the greatest secular power opposing al-Qaida in the Middle East? Didn't he do that right after hitting al-Qaida hard in Afghanistan?

In hammering the enemy, then offering that same enemy aid and succor, Bush has shown himself to be the champion of the flip-flop. At least we don't have to worry about any terrorist attacks until after the election: Napoleon advised "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake," and Osama bin Laden has shown himself to be a far better student of history than George W. Bush.

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[ BRAINSTORM! ] Planting an idea The first and last thing visitors see as they encounter Hawaii -- other than security personnel instructing them to take off their shoes -- is the elevated freeway by Honolulu's airport. Accordingly, when it was built, it was designed to be attractive, including a meandering garden running down the center of the lower level, and, up top, set between the elevated concourses, large planter boxes. The idea was to plant wonderful hanging gardens that would delight visitor and resident alike, and for a while, they did. But the state Department of Transportation is focused these days on potholes, not on making the roads look pretty. The elevated gardens have become choked with weeds and debris. So fire up those brain cells. What other use could these midair garden plots be used for? Thematic displays? Lei stands? Minimum-security prisons? Foosball diamonds? Storage for giant downtown Christmas ornaments? Headquarters for our newly reduced National Guard? A place for all the dirt from Castle Junction? Instead of offshore gambling, elevated gambling? Send us your ideas about what should be done with these highly visible, weed-racked lots. E-mail your ideas and solutions -- please include your name and address -- by Oct. 20 to: brainstorm@starbulletin.com Or fax to: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson 529-4750 Or mail them to: Brainstorm! c/o Nancy Christenson Star-Bulletin 500 Ala Moana 7 Waterfront Plaza Suite 210 Honolulu, Hawaii 96813