Pilago would make a fine Hawaii mayor
I am coming out and giving my endorsement to Councilman Angel Pilago of North Kona District for the mayor's position of Hawaii County. I've known Angel for some time now and he is an individual who cares for the people (passing out food for the homeless, as an example) and has much honesty, integrity, intelligence and experience. His North Kona District has proper infrastructures, ocean thermal energy and connecting roads. And he has always bucked the "old boy network," which doesn't work and which we have to get rid of.
Yes, we face a recession and have to get Pilago in the 2008 mayor's office or else we will be in big, big trouble on the Big Island and Hawaii as a whole. The old boy network doesn't work and will never work, especially in these times of recession. Enough said!
Dean Nagasako
Pahala, Hawaii
Sewage waivers serve safe, useful purpose
The appropriate level of wastewater treatment must be selected based on the treated effluent disposal options available. The selection of primary treatment at both Sand Island and Honouliuli were made based on the favorable oceanographic conditions offshore and the feasibility of constructing deep ocean outfalls. In other cases on Oahu, such as the old Kaneohe and Ahuimanu treatment plants, secondary and even tertiary treatment was constructed, since the only available disposal options were into Kaneohe Bay and Ahuimanu Stream. Flows from both of these plants are now sent to the Kailua Regional Plant where it is treated to secondary levels and discharged through the Mokapu outfall offshore in Kailua Bay -- prevailing currents and winds at that outfall are not conducive for primary treatment.
For those on the mainland, it would surely be advisable to apply at least secondary treatment if their effluent is discharged into a river that is used for drinking water by communities downstream.
The selection of treatment level should be based on engineering design. That is why Congress added Section 301H to the Clean Water Act in 1977, and allowed waivers from secondary treatment as an option.
Before we commit to this drastic and costly upgrade, we must be sure that it is something we really need.
Jon Nishimura
Honolulu
Affordable interisland travel is a necessity
Due to the multi-island nature of our state, affordable, on-time interisland travel is a fundamental requirement for it to function properly. It should thus not be left to the mercy of market forces. Cities that are bisected by rivers routinely use public funds to bridge the gap. Such conventional bridges are, of course, not possible in the islands. However, the public need is still there for bridges, whether they be air or sea. As such, it is time the state itself began strictly regulating -- and perhaps even providing -- interisland travel. Resident, tourist and business needs dictate that the state step in and ensure that safe, affordable interisland travel be guaranteed to us all.
Terrance C. Horton
Honolulu
Opposing medication is morally bankrupt
The fact that Maui Police Chief Thomas Phillips has no medical education may be the reason he does "not believe in supporting the Medical Marijuana Program in its entirety" (KHNL story, March 18).
Even a first aid student can understand that it is impossible to take a Marinol pill when you are puking your guts out from chemotherapy. Trust me, the pills come shooting out like mung beans out of a pea shooter.
The nausea relief provided by a few puffs of marijuana is the only reason many people are able to endure their cancer treatments.
Anyone who stands in the way of medical marijuana has spiraled into a moral black hole where lies trump the plain truth.
Ralph Givens
Daly City, Calif.
Whole system favors thieves over taxpayers
If the legislative branch of our government does not enact the proper laws and punishment and the judiciary is lenient on the offenders, the prosecuting division will only be wasting its time. All this paid by taxpayer's money.
The criminal is a professional and he knows where the loopholes are. The government is in a bind. You catch them and let them go because the prisons are overcrowded or the present laws are too weak. And a new group of copper thieves are born. We will never catch up, but never mind, the legislative branch will think of something to increase out taxes to pay for the high cost of running our system.
Herbert Morioka
Honolulu
Other states also have problems with thieves
My wonderful friends living in Hawaii might want to know, here in middle Tennessee these thieving fleas are cutting catalytic converters out of new cars.
They sell for cents on the dollar at the scrap yard, but cost the owner $300 for a new one to pass yearly emissions tests.
Last year it was aluminum light poles on the freeway. Metro Police are trying to keep up with the demand. No matter where you live, people will steal anything for sale to somebody.
Paul D'Argent
Nashville, Tenn.
Formerly of Hawaii