Someone is sending a mite-y message
Regarding
yesterday's report on the recent dust mite infestation at Honolulu Hale: Don't blame the former mayor. Could it be that this and the mysterious discovery of mold throughout the building are the first of several divine judgments that will plague the mayor's seat of power and City Hall for his mistreatment and oppression of the homeless?
Listen with your heart, Mr. Mayor: "Let my people go!"
Ron Valenciana
Haleiwa
Public-private balance adds transit choices
I think many of us will agree, the real solution to Honolulu's transit problem is modifying our cultural mindset by getting commuters out of their personal vehicles and off the road during peak commuting periods. This can be achieved only when commuters are provided a cost-effective, expeditious, comfortable and safe alternative.
One initiative that has demonstrated its effectiveness in other metropolitan areas would be to strike a balance between public and private bus operations. The coordination of private transport services with transit and other passenger transportation providers has the potential to improve efficiency and promote service capabilities from all providers, both public and private, by increasing options for passengers. This is especially true in rural areas where passengers have fewer mass transportation services available and the marginal cost of operations in these areas is higher.
We should support programs that enhance and encourage public-private sector cooperation in services and facilities.
William Anonsen
Kaneohe
Hawaiian protesters should look to future
In reading through all of the coverage about the
celebration of statehood held at Iolani Palace, I am dismayed and ashamed by the actions of a handful of local dissidents protesting the use of the palace. Are Hawaiians so thin-skinned and lacking in aloha that they turn to bullying the people of Honolulu in order to force their opinions into the public eye? Why, the state Capitol was not the seat of power at the time of statehood, nor even in the Territory of Hawaii. Iolani Palace was the site of authority that represented our island nation.
The times are a-changing and we as the descendants of the indigenous people of Hawaii must change and prosper with them or become just a memory of what once were a proud people who conquered the Pacific. I, too am a descendant of Hawaiians, and to reclaim our past, we must look to the future.
Erin K. Smith
Honolulu
Statehood protest ended on calmer note
After blasting their loudspeaker, surrounding Sen. Sam Slom, sticking cameras in his face and shouting, trying to drown him out, the
Statehood Day protesters advanced on the members of the high school band seated in their chairs with their instruments ready to play. The protesters pointed bullhorns right at the students, yelled at them that they had been lied to, defrauded, that the United States illegally occupied Hawaii and imprisoned their queen at the palace, that the students playing there were insensitive and that the protesters could not guarantee their safety. The protesters were angry, loud and menacing. The kids were wide-eyed and looked scared to death. The band leader or parents then told the students to leave, and they did.
The rest of us stood our ground and sang the "Star-Spangled Banner" and "Hawaii Ponoi," despite the bullhorns and interruptions, "discussed" the issues with the protesters and after another hour or two shook hands with some and agreed to have further discussions in a calmer atmosphere in the future.
H. William Burgess
Honolulu
Racial bill's supporters should be voted out
Voting is a right and an obligation so as to keep our nation great or it will cease to exist as a great nation.
Locally, there are some divisive issues, and politicians who support these issues, which need attention and must be decided by independent-thinking voters before it's too late.
Perhaps one issue would be the Akaka Bill, which is designed to create a fourth form of government in addition to our federal, state and county governments. I feel the Akaka Bill is a racist bill that will benefit only those who have a least 1 percent of Hawaiian blood, and will cause racial discord within our social system. We should vote against all politicians who have endorsed and worked to pass this bill and have stated that they will continue to work toward its passage.
In the Hawaiian kingdom, people of other ethnicities were citizens and members of the Hawaiian government. So if you believe the Akaka Bill conflicts with the actions of the former kingdom, vote to get all the supporters of the racial Akaka Bill out of office.
Wilbert W. Wong
Kaneohe
Leftists trying to bring down President Bush
President Bush has kept our country safe since 9/11. Henceforth, however, any future attack will happen because of the political agenda of the left, whose members are more interested in bringing down our president than in protecting the rest of us 300 million Americans.
The latest ruling against the National Security Agency surveillance program, which monitors international communications from terrorists, is a case in point. The American Civil Liberties Union sought a known liberal court when filing its lawsuit. It will be overruled, however, as our Constitution does not allow others to conspire to kill us.
But by continuing to reveal the tools used to trace the activities and financial transactions of Islamic fascists, liberals undermine the war on terror and threaten our national security.
If we are attacked again, we will know whom to blame, and it will not be George W. Bush.
Janice Pechauer
Honolulu
Let Iraqis leave us out of their fighting
I am concerned about the situation in Iraq; the violence is getting worse the longer that we stay. The president ought to pull our troops out.
I do not believe that peacekeeping is a valid argument; we have done our job by liberating the Iraqis from Saddam Hussein. Granted, we should be there while they put a government together, and from what I've seen on the news, they're ready and willing to do so. We should let them. I don't see the need to have our military forces out there risking American lives because of their beliefs or petty squabbles. If they want to kill themselves, let them. Just don't drag us into it.
We've lost enough lives out there. Like many here in Hawaii and across the United States, I have friends out there who are like family to me, and I don't want to see any harm come to them. I urge everyone to write their representative and/or senator to ask them to take action before things escalate even further and more lives are lost.
Kyle Oyama
Honolulu
Hospitality workers rescued disastrous vacation
My husband and I arrived on Oahu recently and were met with two surprises. The first was the shocking condition of our Windward condo rental; a roach-infested, moldy, dirty hovel with an iron-clad contract and inhospitable housekeeper and owner. They did not care.
In desperation, we called Ohana Hotels. They got us one night at Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach. Upon arrival (near midnight) we tearfully told Mim, and she upgraded us to oceanfront and wished us aloha.
Our second surprise: Troy the bellman hugged me and carried our luggage to the Beachcomber the next morning, where we found a week's lodging. Since then we've met Ryan and Chris at Top of Waikiki, Audrey at Polynesian Cultural Center, Catrina at UPS Store, Edith at the Royal Hawaiian, Luke at Cheesecake Factory, Matt at Hula Grill, Randy at the Photo Store and the great staff at Duke's and Hilo Hattie. We bowled with locals at Kam Bowl and had a blast.
We thought the aloha and ohana were gone, but they were right here in the people. We are grateful to each one for redeeming a horrific experience. We'll be back to Waikiki, returning the smiles we've found.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Fraze
Danville, Calif.