Buying Aloha Air would help Hawaiian

It's sad that our local airline had to shut down the passenger side of its business. My wife and I were talking and had an idea, why don't Aloha and Hawaiian become a joint company and see what happens with go! then? Maybe it will put THEM where Aloha is now.

Don't blame activists for ranch's failure

Molokai Ranch wants to blame activists for their failed development of Laau? In truth, it never had the guaranteed source of water, or the community support required by any successful venture in Hawaii. The harsh reality of finite resources on small islands is being overlooked in the search for a scapegoat.

Most residents here are not activists, but advocates for development that is suited to our size and nature and a simple lifestyle. Our future is already in the works. Who are we? We are this last Hawaiian place.

Quiet life is gone forever on Oahu

Oahu is too far gone. With new attractions, such as the Superferry, springing up everywhere and Ala Moana Shopping Center growing unnecessarily larger each year, the island I call home now meets tourists' needs more than residents'. I am a freshman at Saint Martin's University, a small private school in Lacey, Wash. When I first arrived at school I expected to find a city bustling with activity and thought I would be yearning for the quiet life of the islands.

It turns out life on Oahu is nowhere near as quiet as life at Saint Martin's, which is surrounded by a serene forest and a town that sometimes shuts down by 9 p.m.

Realizing that there is no turning back for Oahu, I was so happy to hear about Molokai's land victory ("Molokai Ranch to quit island," Star-Bulletin, March 25). Knowing that there will not be 200 luxury homes muddling Laau Point gives me hope that other parts of Hawaii can avoid becoming as congested as Oahu. No matter what, though, home will always be home. Hawaii no ka oi.

Subsidizing ferry, rail might sink taxpayers

Mayor Mufi Hannemann stated in a press release, "We are pleased that many residents continue to use TheBoat as a transportation alternative." This occurred when ridership on the commuter ferries hit 20,000 during four months of operation (Star-Bulletin, Feb. 9). At the stated cost of $6 million per year, the actual cost per rider is $50 while the fare is $2. If our mayor considers a 96 percent subsidy a success for mass transit, just wait until we see the cost of subsidizing the mayor's rail system.

Bill would rob voters of presidential choice

Senate Bill 2898 SD1 currently under consideration in the Legislature would allow Hawaii's electoral votes to be given to the winner of the national popular vote. We all should be against this disregard of the U.S. Constitution.

Why would we want to give Hawaii's historically low turnout voters another reason to stay home during a presidential election?

With this legislation we can just wait to see how the mainland votes for president. Good enough for the mainland, good enough for Hawaii. Right?

What if, in a close election, we don't like the probable winner of the national popular vote? In 2000, this happened in Tennessee. Tennessee did not like its home-state presidential candidate and he lost his own state. He went on to win the national popular vote. If Tennessee had a SB 2898, it would have had to cast its Electoral College votes for the candidate voters didn't want. If you're wondering, that candidate was Al Gore.

Currently, we have little say in the presidential selection, but it is our say. Only Hawaii legislators who want the people of Hawaii to have no say in the election could support SB 2898 SD1.

These reasons along with others are why we should leave the Electoral College system as it is. The Constitution has served us well for more than 200 years.

So call your state senator and put an end to SB 2898 SD1. Tell your senator that the Founding Fathers still know best.

Saving beach seems a losing proposition

The story about the woman on Maui who "won the fight for public beach" (Star-Bulletin, March 25) said that "she felt the need to do something." It should have said "she felt the need for something to do."

After an eight-year fight to make the current owners give up their homes to "see this important coastal area protected for public use," she says, "It would be great as a senior citizens' center."

Wouldn't that be great? I can see it now, a shiny new senior citizens' center with a homeless tent city view. Mo bettah?