Want a better view? Get out of your car
The proposed rail system might look ugly (
"Rail line renderings ring alarm bells," Star-Bulletin, June 23), but why do we care about preserving views for those choosing to drive around in their cars at street level? If you choose to ditch your car and commute by rail, you should be rewarded with great views 70 feet above traffic.
Audrey Tantamjarik
Honolulu
Proposed rail line looks fine now, but ...
The
renderings of the proposed rail line published in the Star-Bulletin are missing something. Don't forget that if such a thing is actually built, it will be covered in graffiti.
John Pritchett
Honolulu
Councilwoman shows ignorance about rail
I was nearly sickened by the ignorance displayed in
remarks by City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi about the proposed rail line. It almost seems to be an underhanded attempt to kill rail transit by slandering the entire concept as "ugly." Is Kobayashi implying that the H-1 freeway is beautiful? It would almost seem as if she has never left this island to go anywhere east of it. Yes, folks, east. We cannot look to the mainland for a good example of rail transportation, as the United States let go of its lead in rail technology nearly a century ago.
I am offended that any City Council member would be so naive as to not know what an elevated rail system, if built today, would look like in any city in the world. However, the planners of this system should have included planter boxes along the guideways that would cover the exterior of the structure, including the piers, in some sort of ivy or other plantings, as was done in the early 1990s rail plan. These recent drawings or digital renderings are almost the exact same plans that were killed by Councilwoman Rene Mansho in the early '90s. I am among the professionals who worked as a team to design and prepare the plans for that rail system. That system would have been much cheaper, and it would have been completed and functioning already. Well, maybe. After all, this is Honolulu, a city that can't even manage the disposal of human waste properly.
Come on, folks, if we can build a Space Station and assemble it in space or fly to the Moon on 1960s technology, then certainly we can manage to build a decent rail system. We need it and it will be packed with riders every single day, I would bet my life on it.
Michael Lauck
Honolulu
Don't let Congress cut public TV, radio funds
As many might already be aware, there is a movement in Congress right now to drastically cut funding to National Public Radio and PBS. This move is targeting children's programming like "Sesame Street" on PBS. Such a move would have dire consequences for Hawaii's keiki, as these programs provide meaningful, commercial-free education that is not available anywhere else.
All too often Hawaii's elected representatives offer rhetoric espousing their priority and attention paid to our state's children. Now is the time to hold them accountable for those statements. Join the 1.5 million who already have taken a stand against these damaging cuts nationwide, and make it known that your vote in November is linked to their stance against this issue. The education of Hawaii's youngest demands it.
Paul Christensen
Honolulu
A light horn tap is better than a blast
Whenever I hear a driver blow his or her horn I am reminded of the lady whose car stalled, and the driver behind blasted his horn in anger. The lady got out of her car, went back and asked the man to see if he could get her car started. She said, "I'll stand here and blow your horn for you!"
A light tap on your horn is enough to wake up the driver in front, who might be distracted and not realize the green light is on. Bearing down on your horn won't move the driver faster. It only angers the driver to the point of rage. He or she might have a concealed weapon. Drivers, be courteous and considerate -- let's go easy on horn blowing.
Le Roy J. Henry
Kailua
Let's start planning for next World Cup
Anywhere I go on Oahu I see people enjoying and playing soccer. Every four years, soccer is played on the world stage at the World Cup. Once on the field, it doesn't matter where you come from, it's how well you and your team play. This year the United States, unbelievably, played the Italians to a 0-0 tie with only 9 of 11 men on the field, and then promptly lost to Ghana and were eliminated.
For those of us who care, and certainly that isn't everyone, we need to ask what adjustments we need to make to the way we play the game to realistically compete on the world stage. We have four years to reflect, adjust and prepare. Hawaii is a great place to make some of that happen and there are seemingly plenty of youngsters who can make that happen. Keep on kicking (and dribbling, and shooting).
Leo Hura
Honolulu
Oldsters in cheering section for underdogs
Many of us old-timers raised in Hawaii identify with and root for the underdog. We cheer the have-nots, not the haves. We're having the time of our lives this summer rooting for Tadd in the U.S. Open, cheering on Asaka, Kimberly, Michelle and Stephanie at the U.S. Women's Open and hollering for the University of Hawaii football team formerly and lovingly called the Rainbows at Tuscaloosa.
It doesn't get much better than this for folk sustained by Medicare, five-and-dime stores and an occasional upset or two.
Richard Y. Will
Honolulu
Counter lawsuit with scholarships
A friend of mine came up with this easy solution to the legal battle that Kamehameha Schools is fighting to keep its "Hawaiians only" policy intact.
What the schools should do is open enrollment to everyone based on academics or whatever criteria other schools use. But change the cost of tuition to around $12,000 per year or so -- something comparable to other private schools such as Punahou, Iolani or St. Louis. What Kamehameha Schools can then do is issue scholarships to "qualified" Hawaiian students for around $10,000 per year, while the cost to each student is around $2,000 per year.
If non-Hawaiians want to get a good education and learn about the Hawaiian culture at Kamehameha Schools, they must be willing to pay prices similar to Iolani or Punahou. If Hawaiians want to get a good education and learn about their own culture at Kamehameha Schools, the estate can help them out.
In addition, if a Hawaiian student wanted to attend another private high school, the Bishop Estate could grant a scholarship to them as well.
The will of Bernice Pauahi Bishop is fulfilled!
Fletcher Young
Honolulu
Soldier's refusing duty is no act of bravery
I've seen numerous letters in the Star-Bulletin describing Lt. Ehren Watada as behaving bravely by refusing to ship out to Iraq. May I respectfully request that those letter writers watch the movie "United 93," then ask themselves: Was it bravery when those unarmed, untrained passengers on a hijacked jet on 9/11 fought back against ruthless armed terrorists?
If so, is it also bravery when a well-armed, trained soldier who took an oath to protect our country shrinks from fighting such terrorists? How can two completely opposite actions both be considered bravery?
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
Army lieutenant must be pretty smart
Is this guy Lt. Ehren Watada brilliant or what? He only investigated and studied international law and United Nations resolutions five months ago, and he understands it better than all the lawyers and U.N. members put together. And he did it while a full-time soldier. Wow! Some lawyers devote most of their lives to this subject and are reluctant to say 100 percent that this is how a law has to be interpreted.
Is this guy waiting for a book or Hollywood deal? "The Da Vinci Code" made millions. Pleeeze, punish me. I need more embellishments. Don't shoot me, though. Brilliant.
Andreza Chang
Kaneohe
Rude noise-makers ruin Ewa Beach peace
I returned home in 1980 to help my parents and settled in Ewa Beach. People were courteous, respectful and considerate of their neighbors and the community. Because of insecurity and arrogance, however, during the past five to seven years many individuals have been consciously disrespecting the community and invading our homes to draw attention to themselves.
We have those who think they have been elected deejays of the community, blasting deep bass radios and rap music at all hours of the day or night. They care not that they are overdriving their speakers and any output is unintelligible. They care about creating noise to call attention to themselves.
Then we have the constant drone of all those loud exhaust systems that add nothing to the performance of the vehicle. Acceleration and shifting are intentionally conducted to create noise.
Slowing and stopping are performed using engine compression instead of brakes to significantly increase noise and invade our homes. We also have individuals who rev the engine to tortuous levels, attracting attention through extreme noise for hours on end.
Three-day weekends are almost unbearable. We can do nothing to protect ourselves, our families, our homes from these individuals who care nothing about people who are ill or trying to sleep; nothing for people trying to watch TV or have conversations in their homes.
In one area, four to seven individuals exhibit all of the above to the detriment of the quality of life of their neighbors and their complete disrespect of the community. They use Kuhina and Hanakahi streets and Fort Weaver and North roads as their personal test track. They forget that infants and juveniles make noise to gain attention while mature adults rely on quiet confidence.
Hopefully they will all soon mature into adulthood and allow the community to live in peace and quiet.
Tony Roberts
Ewa Beach