Shopping trip wasn't ruined by smokers
My wife and I strolled through Ala Moana Center Friday night and were thrilled with the smell, or should I say lack of smell. It was amazing what a difference it made to not have smoke-filled common areas to walk through. We used to cringe when walking right behind a smoker, but last night we realized that we were suffering everywhere in the center. The air felt cool, light and clean. We encountered only one lawbreaker, and could smell her from 50 yards away (outside of Longs).
I'm wondering, who is going to enforce the law? $50 and $100 fines are deterrents for sure, but only if they have to be paid by the violators.
Ron Martin
Honolulu
Kahuku Hospital should be kept open
It was Sunday, Aug. 22, 1982, and I was involved in a hit-and-run accident near Kahana Bay. Being in the Navy and knowing that Tripler was too far away resulted in a timely introduction to Kahuku Hospital, where I ended up for emergency room treatment and stabilization before being medevac'd to Tripler for a three-month recovery.
That this institution is being forced to close its doors due to a revenue shortfall is a crisis (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 15). Kahuku Hospital does serve a critical function for the community and anyone in need of care. I know that firsthand. I am glad it was there for me as it likely made the difference between having one leg and having two. I am sure that there are many other people who would have been worse off if not for the location of this facility.
I am surprised by the dearth of outcry from the body politic about this impending closure. It is incumbent on this state's leadership (City and County of Honolulu, state and federal) to keep this essential hospital viable. They need to act now, and not later, as then it will truly be too late.
Norman Verbanic
Kurtistown, Hawaii
Why is line at stadium box office so long?
I am an avid University of Hawaii football fan and am concerned about the Aloha Stadium box office's poor service. I attended Saturday's game and waited in line for about a half-hour before deciding to purchase tickets from a man selling his own tickets. The delay is inexcusable. I tried purchasing the tickets online before going to the stadium, but was unable.
I ended up paying $25 for each ticket for two of my children. These tickets were not next to each other. But if I had waited in line to buy the tickets, I probably would have missed the opening kickoff.
Something must be done about that inept box office. Many people must have been discouraged as much as I was. Although UH is doing very well, $25 for a child's ticket is downright ridiculous.
Jason Tani
Honolulu
Cost of rail system will go on and on
A thought that comes to mind is the hope my children and grandchildren will live a financially stable life, prosperous in every means, having no lack in anything.
The cost advertised for the proposed transit system is a project to reckon with. I would like to ask the people of Hawaii and all the supporters and counterparts of this transit proposal this very important question: Do you think about the ongoing astronomical maintenance cost for this probable rust-infectious structure?
Billions of dollars will be spent to build this system, and equal to the cost is maintenance. Remember Aloha Stadium? There is no room for hasty, unwise or indiscreet decisions.
Dig deep and search your hearts and your minds for the right answers to this dilemma. Utilize and make efficient what is in place. Invest wisely for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. Please don't throw hard-working money away just for the sake of spending it.
Gertrude K. Zane
Hauula
Where are investors for toll project?
Regarding the discussion that toll roads as a mass transit solution would not cost the people of Oahu: Where's the private company that's going to build the managed-lane toll road?
We've been talking about this project for more than a year. News of the Honolulu transit study has been published in some of the best financial forecasting publications out there. If having toll lanes is such a good idea, why hasn't a private company already stepped up with their $2.5 billion to build the system? Because its not a good investment for Oahu.
Mark Russell
Mililani