Volunteers made tour of gardens even better

On our recent visit to Honolulu, we were privileged to have a tour of the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City. Garden volunteers Carl and Ann were very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. They introduced us to the various demonstration gardens (the Sensory Garden was particularly wonderful) and even involved our young children. They exhibited the spirit of aloha, which is what Hawaii is all about.

Oahu residents are blessed to have such amazing resources as the Urban Garden Center, the Master Gardener program, and great volunteers like Carl and Ann.

PONY league still owes deaf player an apology

Congratulations to Justin Tokioka and his parents for fighting for Justin's rights to play baseball with reasonable accommodations ("PONY settles with deaf Kauai ballplayer," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 18). The Justice Department's settlement with PONY officials implies a compromise was struck. That might be the case, but it was not at the expense of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. PONY leagues must comply with the ADA just as much now as they did the day they denied Justin his right to play.

The part that is really upsetting is that local PONY officials had a chance to do the right thing not only because it's the law, but because this is Hawaii and while growing up, we let everyone play. Instead they showed no aloha. The mainland PONY officials might continue to thumb their noses at the Tokiokas and not apologize, but that gives our local officials a chance to once again do the right thing.

Beach umbrellas push visitors into waves

My husband and I have been frequent visitors to Hawaii since 1981. This year we were appalled at the umbrellas and loungers in front of the Outrigger Waikiki. We tried to get to the beach before 8 a.m. to claim a place before they started to be set out each day, but every day we ended up surrounded and felt very hemmed in.

We did try moving further along the beach, but the waves in front of the Royal Hawaiian are stronger and the first day I got dumped and grazed my arm. The next day was even worse as a wave broke directly over my head and washed my glasses off my head -- never to be seen again! (But I am grateful to the lovely people at Lens Crafters in Ala Moana who phoned New Zealand to get my prescription and made me a new pair in just a few hours.)

Something needs to be done to restrict Beach Activities Maui's commercial activities so that everyone gets a fair chance to enjoy Waikiki.

Welcome to the real world, Councilman

City Councilman Rod Tam is now crying about how much he is now is having to pay in property taxes for his home in Pauoa Valley (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 17). The Star-Bulletin and Tam failed to mention that it was he, who voted to increase property taxes over the last four years. Could he not see the outcome of his actions? Or perhaps he needed a snack and a nap first to think about it.

Justice will prevail for Kau Kau Wagon owner

The recent indictment of Sharon Black on charges of improperly accessing and stealing records from the medical examiner's office is a pure waste of taxpayers' money (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 11). Is it coincidence that the Department of Health was sent out to Sharon's Kau Kau Wagon soon after she was placed on administrative leave from the Honolulu Police Department?

Justice will prevail and Sharon's innocence will be proven. She has continued to run her Kau Kau Wagon outreach to the homeless (which is funded nearly 100 percent by her own money), served Thanksgiving dinners to police substations and organized the Saturday after Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless (where many politicos show up to help serve) ever since she was placed on administrative leave last year. She continues to seek ways to help others and is trying to find a way to obtain a lunch wagon so she can expand her outreach. The people who are responsible for the charges against her will pay the price on their judgment day. Sharon will continue to help others selflessly.