One small sign gets the message across

I saw a small political sign in a front yard this morning. The who and where are not important. I got the message from the homeowner right away. He doesn't need numerous signs or large, garish ones that lack taste and ruin the whole front yard, intruding on the esthetics of his otherwise beautiful landscape.

While the signs are a blight on our landscape, at least, for the free-speech issue, this temporary small size should satisfy those who need to advertise themselves.

Prostitutes didn't cause shootings

Downtown Neighborhood Board member Dolores Mollring's comments about arresting the clients of prostitutes (Star-Bulletin, July 6) in response to recent shootings remind me of a joke. One boy sees another looking around on the ground under a streetlight and asks, "Did you lose something here?" The second boy says, "No, I lost it down the street." To which the first boy responds, "Then why are you looking here?" The second boy's classic answer: "The light is better here."

The pimps and others who are responsible for violence should be held accountable for their actions. To arrest a bunch of men who have committed no violence simply because it is easier than pursuing those who do makes as much sense as the kid in my joke.

Prostitutes are no threat to the Chinatown community. Prostitutes have been working in the streets in that area for almost a century. They have as much right to be there as the neighborhood board members.

Specific problems caused by individuals need to be addressed on a case-by-case manner. Punishing people because they are members of a class without regard to individual behavior is an injustice and does nothing to solve problems.

Wie brings favorable attention to Hawaii

Michelle Wie is the greatest ambassador-at-large who ever came out of Hawaii.

Women's golf is what it is today because of Michelle. Also, all of us in Hawaii are the beneficiaries of the positive things she is bestowing upon us in that Hawaii is getting to be more prominent, popular and recognizable as a locale and a destination.

Go, Michelle, golf, bring charm, enjoyment and good will to the world. Mahalo for your tremendous power to sell Hawaii.

Hasn't won yet? Fear not, she's just "sweet 16." Give her 12 months and she'll start raking 'em in by the dozens.

Don't wait until Maui is desperate for care

Since moving to South Maui five years ago, I have been greatly concerned about the fact that Maui Memorial Medical Center is so far away.

Maui county is expecting to increase by 20,000 households in the next 15 to 20 years -- 50,000 more people! Many of them will be in South Maui, according to urban boundaries and expected growth areas. Let's not wait until it's desperate.

Growing population needs health care

I strongly support all efforts to have another hospital built on Maui. To have only one overcrowded hospital available already is a problem. With the growing population of Maui, the need for alternative options in health care and emergency services will only increase.

We should be thankful for any private company or person willing to invest to bring our island's health care services to a standard where they should be and need to be.

Abercrombie voted for the wrong side

Last week, the Senate voted 98-0 on a bill expressing support for Israel and its right to defend itself against the unprovoked attacks recently suffered. The House vote on the same bill was 410-8. One of the eight "no" votes was by Rep. Neil Abercrombie. Where was the Star-Bulletin's coverage of Neil's vote, which was obviously newsworthy because it was so radically outside of the mainstream?