Don't be fooled by talk of smokers' 'rights'
Steve Pavao (
Letters, April 28), while pushing for a smoking ban, mentions a smoker's "right to smoke." That creates the contentious situation between smokers and nonsmokers, each demanding their "rights." In actuality, no such right exists for smokers. Nobody has a right to pollute anything.
Smoking has been endured by nonsmokers for so long that smokers had begun to view it as their right.
I smoked so heavily for 25 years that the skin on my fingers was yellowed. Now that I've been off of it for 40 years I think smoking is dumb.
Did you hear that, you high school kids?
Ted Chernin
Punahou
Please, driver in Kunia wreck, come forward
To the driver of the light-colored car:
No words can describe the depth of the sadness and emptiness caused by your reckless actions in the deadly Kunia truck crash (Star-Bulletin, April 25). Irreparable damage has been done to the hearts of many. My family's lives have been changed forever.
Let me introduce you to my beloved aunt, Gertrudis (Trudis) Montano. She had a quiet, loving, selfless nature to her. If there was one word that would describe her, it would be "dignity." Everything she did was with a high degree of self-respect. She took pride in her work and recognized it as an opportunity for a better life for her children. My aunt's examples of sacrifice and diligence have been guiding principles in my own life decisions ... but you have robbed me of the chance to tell her. She will never know that she has influenced me in ways that have shaped the woman I am, and that her humility has inspired me. Your senseless act has cheated me of that chance.
I ask you to come forward and take responsibility, because it is the right thing to do and it is what Auntie Trudis deserves. Come forward with the same dignity that she lived her life. The damage is done; you've already taken away so much. Please don't deprive the victims' families of their right to closure. It is the least you can do.
Pamela (Montano) Eclar Dieguez
Washington, D.C.
Other islands enjoy pro baseball, too
I'm happy to hear about
Hawaii Winter Baseball's return to Hawaii. However, I'm disappointed that it's Oahu only. As someone who attended a bunch of Maui Stingray games at the Ichiro "Iron" Maehara Stadium with my grandfather, I hope the Valley Isle gets a chance to at least host some games in the near future. Perhaps the cruise ships or the Hawaii Superferry could provide transportation for ballplayers as mitigation for the impacts those ships bring to Maui.
Gilbert Keith-Agaran
Wailuku, Maui
Mayor dropped ball on homeless problem
Mufi Hannemann muffed the ball regarding shuffling around the homeless. From the get-go, when he felt the heat from the untimely Ala Moana Beach Park sweep, the mayor wrung his hands in despair. Then he did a hasty and wobbly shovel pass to Governor Lingle because of a lack of contingency planning, communication and viable options on his part. Auwe, Mufi "choked" in his homeless quarterbacking skills.
Hauoli Ortiz
Koolauloa
Arguing isn't helping Kawainui Marsh
I strongly believe that this Legislature should make it clear that the continued bickering between the state and city over Kawainui Marsh has got to end. The citizens are quite discouraged over this disagreement and appalled that the large federal appropriation might be lost.
This bickering clearly hampers the restoration of the marsh, enhancement of its flood control capacity, and the protection and restoration of its cultural and ecological resources.
I believe that the entire marsh mauka of the flood control levee built by the Corps of Engineers should be in state control. The city should own and maintain the levee and the makai side, as well as the Oneawa canal.
Allowing the state to use the federal funds to open up more water in the marsh to create waterbird habitat (in the lands presently owned by the people, with title held by the city) will increase the flood-holding capacity of the marsh. That together with the city's continued maintenance of the levee will significantly reduce the potential flood hazard to Coconut Grove.
The Legislature should do what is pono for the marsh.
Rick Ka'imi Scudder
Honolulu