State sign planter runs amok on North Shore

Who is responsible for planting 73 new "no parking" signs along both sides of a 1.7-mile segment of Kamehameha Highway between Sunset Elementary School and Sunset Beach Colony on the North Shore?

These new signs are much larger than the existing no parking signs. Are they designed for a four-lane highway? Some of the signs are placed next to deep ditches where it would be impossible to park. Others are hidden behind pre-existing signs. Some face the highway and some face up or down the highway.

If there's such a surplus of signs, too bad they weren't put where they are needed, such as the top of Waimea Bay. And how about the delayed traffic caused by cars backing onto the highway at Laniakea, Chuns and Three Tables? As a taxpayer, often stuck in traffic between the bypass and Pupukea, I want an explanation for this waste of money.

Get rid of bad doctors before tort reform

In response to "Isle doctors lobby for tort reform" (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 5): As a local health care professional of 16 years in radiology, my heart goes out to our Hawaii physicians. They are a rapidly dwindling resource that we all need. Office space is expensive, Medicare reimbursements are low and malpractice insurance rates are indeed high.

In my limited experience, however, I have witnessed a few medical situations that have raised my eyebrows, regarding the competence of a physician's judgment. Along with my own observations there have been several medical malpractice tragedies that have made headlines here. The instance where a surgeon substituted a "screwdriver shaft" for a part in an orthopedic set in Hilo and the anesthesiologist who administered CO2 instead of O2 in delivering a baby at Tripler immediately come to mind.

Instead of putting the cart before the horse and asking our Legislature for tort reform on malpractice insurance, let's ask our health care administrators and physicians to help police the "malpracticing" doctors who shouldn't be practicing anyway.

Buying the bay would be dream come true

A conflagration starts with a spark. In her State of the Union proposal to purchase the Turtle Bay resort to preserve an admittedly beautiful stretch of coast for the people of Hawaii, Gov. Linda Lingle lit a spark. Negativists, naysayers and political partisans have rushed in to put it out, to extinguish the dream solely because it is a dream. Our country was created from the dreams of those who dared to dream.

It would behoove the electorate to espy now and to remember later those who would seek to douse the spark and extinguish the dream.

Don't continue dynasty of Clintons and Bushes

Everyone knows that Hillary Clinton, Mike Huckabee, John McCain, Barack Obama, Ron Paul and Mitt Romney are hoping to be candidates for the U.S. presidency. But do all know that the Bushes and the Clintons have been in office since 1989? That's nearly two decades! Should Clinton be elected as the next president, the political dynasty will continue with no change in sight and with Bill helping his wife to reign over issues in the White House. And that's scary! As Mr. J. Fink would say, "Think about it."

Yo ho ho for my friend Joe

My friend Joe, almost always on the mark,
But on foreign cruise ships in Hawaii is sailing in the dark.
No taxes paid or labor standards met; that's their criteria.
Did I mention that they could be registered in Liberia?
Level the field and let them compete.
American-flagged cruise ships will not be beat.
Get on board, Joe, the water's fine.
Hawaii's cruise ships are da kine.

One gate doesn't restrict beach access

I support public access to Kailua Beach. It is unfortunate, however, that the media and news agencies fail to report both sides of the Kailua Beach access issue. This weekend protesters in front of L'Orange Place in Kailua claimed restricted access to Kailua Beach because of a gate installed at the makai end of L'Orange. What was not reported is that less than 500 feet both north and south of L'Orange there are well-maintained public access paths to the beach.

The public has unrestricted access to Kailua Beach from numerous beach access paths along Kalaheo Avenue and Kailua Beach Park. L'Orange is a privately owned street that is maintained and insured by the residents of L'Orange, not by the state or county.