Trump tower project not very well planned
Donald Trump's selection of a four-star location for his presumably five-star, 462-unit "condotel" is surprising (
Star- Bulletin, Nov. 11).
I would rate Waikiki locations as two-star at Ala Wai Canal, rising to five-star at the beachfront.
In my opinion, Trump should have bought out the Kaimana Hotel, leveled it and placed his project on its site with a sandy a beachfront.
The other two comments I would make are:
» The 355-square-foot studio suites are too small and should have been a minimum of 450 square feet, unless Trump took a page out of the old Soviet formula of providing a communal washroom and kitchen per floor.
» The timing of the project is somewhat overdue, due to market conditions.
Boris Neptupsky
Honolulu
Moderate drinking not as bad as smoking
I agree with the statement that drinking and driving kills (
Letters, Nov. 17). But do those who drink in moderation have to suffer due in part to a few inconsiderate and selfish drinkers?
Let's see, smoking does nothing to improve your health and second-hand smoke actually harms those around you ALL the time. Drinking in moderation can be good for your heart and drinking in moderation doesn't harm those around you. Half of all long-term smokers die of smoking-caused diseases, heart disease is the overall leading cause of death among women and smoking accounts for one of every five deaths from heart disease (see ourbodiesourselves.org).
Smoking and excessive drinking are both dangerous and unhealthy but ultimately, drinking is the lesser of two evils.
I'm thankful for this new law and will do my part to inform all smokers of this new law if I see them breaking it. I hope that those who do smoke will understand the reasoning behind this law and will respect this law for the sake of those who wish to stay healthy.
Carl Meyers
Mililani
Yakkers almost ruined Yoakam concert
I went to the Dwight Yoakam concert at the Waikiki Shell Thursday night. It was a great show where we got to hear some really fine music from a great singer/songwriter and a great band -- that is, when I could hear above all the talking going on all around me.
What's with you people? You get all attentive when Dwight sings the hits, but then you lose interest on the lesser-known stuff, so you think it's OK to yak it up? Some of us want to hear ALL of Dwight's songs -- not just the ones you want to hear.
I don't want to stop people from partying and having a good time, but as far as I'm concerned you disrespected those around you and the performers on stage. If you're not interested in the music, then take it outside; then you can party to your heart's content.
Byron Lai
Honolulu
Strict measures might curb copper thefts
The recent theft of copper wire from the Sand Island park's sewage pumping station (
Star-Bulletin, Nov. 16) should be the last straw. Taxpayers cannot continue paying to repair the damage that thieves are causing to city and state infrastructure.
Why hasn't law enforcement cracked down on the recycling businesses? Perhaps it is time to pass a law requiring recycling businesses to buy back copper only from licensed contractors. Clamping down on the recycling businesses and ensuring they do business only with licensed contractors should make the "easy money" much more difficult for the thieves and give law enforcement an edge on curtailing this criminal activity.
Charlie Colburn
Honolulu
U.S. troops not 'oxen' to be ridiculed
In response to Yoshie Tanabe's
Nov. 16 letter, I take exception to the characterization of our servicemen and women as "dumb oxen" because they follow orders given to them from their superior officers.
Regardless of their convictions concerning the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, these heroes live up to one value that many like Tanabe and the Watadas (both father and son) have long since relegated to being insignificant. Taking the oath to serve their country honorably represents their "word of honor." Those who serve honorably should be honored and held up as the shining light of our country, not ridiculed and likened to "dumb oxen." Those who take the oath and murmur under their breath "as long as it fits my comfort zone" represent the opposite of who our heroes are and should be held accountable to the highest extent under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice.
If found guilty, 1st Lt. Ehren Watada should be forced to apologize to his subordinates for abandoning them as their leader.
Manu Josiah
Makakilo