Popularity is killing Hanauma Bay
The
Star-Bulletin's June 30 report "Update Hanauma plan, audit says" is very important. About a decade ago, this "nature preserve" began to deteriorate. We used to see five to 10 turtles every time, many eels and ulua, and other beautiful fish. Now, turtles are rare, and some varieties of fish are disappearing. I believe the bay is required to accept excessive visitors. The city allows illegal buses to bring many hundreds from the hotels. In another decade of excess, the bay will be a sad memory.
Jerome G. Manis
Honolulu
We have enough cars -- let's try rail
According to a recent story, there are now about as many registered cars on the road as there are people. That's one car for every man, woman and child. And the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association says its benchmark is 60,000 new car sales per year. Where will we put all these cars?
If we do the simple math, we will never be able to build enough roads and parking lots to accommodate the additional cars. And more automobiles do nothing for our sustainability and protecting our fragile environment.
As a college student, I don't want a future of gridlock, road rage and increasing hours lost in traffic. And no one wants more pollution from greenhouse gases and emissions.
We cannot continue on this path of more cars, more oil consumption and more global warming. We need better, more rational ways to view transportation and moving people around our island. This is just one more good reason to support the city's rail project.
Joel Pang
Honolulu
All in America should listen to wise words
As we celebrate our independence tomorrow, we should also give thanks and reflect on our revered U.S. citizenship. President Theodore Roosevelt's ideas on immigrants should be inculcated in the minds and hearts of every naturalized and would-be citizen and native American.
One hundred years ago, Roosevelt said, "Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is a loyalty to the American people."
One of his five principles, included in the Oath of Citizenship, is "renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country or leader to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances to."
Also, we should be reminded of President Kennedy's quote. To paraphrase it: "Ask not what benefits you want to receive from your country, ask what you can do to solidify and strengthen the ideals of your country as a citizen of the U.S.A."
Tony Garcia
Honolulu
Concern about cruelty to vermin is ridiculous
This is why America is laughed at: Pamela Burns of the Humane Society wants us to be concerned with how we exterminate rats and mice (
"Letters," July 2). As Americans we do it to ourselves -- we teach others to laugh at our foolishness. There are much bigger issues than the safety of rats.
Jimmy Gomes
Hawaii and Austin, Texas
Why even allow private use of fireworks?
Here we go again, a
plea by Fire Chief Kenneth Silva to be prepared and use care while some go through the asinine ritual of playing with fireworks, otherwise playing with fire. "We encourage everyone to leave fireworks to the professionals and to take your families out to enjoy one of the many commercial fireworks displays all around the island," Silva said. And where do our lawmakers stand on this issue?
It's purely negligence on the part of this state's leaders to allow the use of fireworks by the general public. With all the public displays available, why is it necessary to allow use by the general public?
Although there are laws governing the use of fireworks, it's common knowledge that these laws will not be followed. We will see aerials, which are illegal. There will be fireworks going off on our public streets, which is illegal. Kids under the legal age will be setting fireworks off without adult supervision. The legal hours to use fireworks will be violated. And law enforcement will be nonexistent.
Additionally, people and their pets will suffer. Property will be damaged or destroyed. Our scarce water sources will be drained. And taxpayers' money will go up in smoke as the Honolulu Fire Department and other responders work overtime.
Mel McKeague
Ewa Beach
Poor education leads to bad legislation
With the political correctness and New Age crap being the curriculum in our public schools, along with the worshipping and constant barrage of pop culture items, the more important things of making sure that a student can read, comprehend, do math correctly, know the complete true history of mankind, civics and the basic operation of our and other countries, along with the other old school things, we end up with representation that legislates ignoring the guidance and requirements of the U.S. Constitution.
That is why McCain-Feingold's campaign "reform" is, and that is why the First Amendment could be assaulted again with the so-called Fairness Doctrine. Aw, come on!
Russell Pang
Kaneohe
Visitor-spending story ignored a major factor
My wife, Maryanne, was in Hawaii for all of May, yet you do not mention her in your
June 29 report "Isle visitor spending up."
I hope you will rectify this glaring omission on her next visit (13th) to your lovely state.
Fred Smidt
Woy Woy, New South Wales
Australia