Gambling might ease pain of high fuel prices
With the astronomical increase in fuel prices, the Legislature should consider legalizing gambling in certain areas of Hawaii, i.e., casino-type gambling on Molokai or Lanai. Slot machines could be installed in the lobbies of hotels. To protect against the ill effects of the gambling environment that the opposition will most likely bring up, hire more security personnel with the increased revenue to enforce any illegal activities this may bring. Good bye, Las Vegas, until fuel prices get back to normal.
Toshio Chinen
Pearl City
Bill will give farmers tools they need
I have worked with Dean Okimoto and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation on many events to promote Hawaii's agricultural industry. I am impressed with their passion and vigilance in being involved in so many issues facing our farmers and ranchers.
As I have worked toward including many local products into my menu, I have learned about the many challenges that face our local farmers.
While land and water are the two key ingredients in agriculture, we also need other ingredients to make our farmers viable. We need a menu of tools that the farmers can choose from to help them be competitive in this global economy. This menu is called incentives for Important Agricultural Lands. These incentives need to be bold enough to make a positive impact in the agricultural industry.
I urge the governor to support this legislation to establish incentives for preserving important agricultural lands. We must have strong policies and actions to ensure the success of our farmers.
Roy Yamaguchi
Owner and chef
Roy's Restaurant
Living with less can sustain the world
It is becoming increasingly clear that the Earth cannot sustain our continuous overindulgence in its resources. We have grown to be a culture that figures out how much we can get away with instead of how little we can get by with. From eating super-sized meals, to driving gas-guzzling cars, to living in big homes and using lots of water and electricity, we tend to overdo it. By and large, we are relatively unaware how much we have and use.
While living in Africa serving in the Peace Corps, I saw how little most people survive on and what ingenious use they made of "trash." For example, they cut up metal cans to collect rain water from their roofs and fashioned sandals from discarded tires.
I greatly appreciate our comforts and abundance but am dismayed at how much we waste. I wish we could load up Matson liners with all the extra stuff we accumulate for garage sales and donate it to needy countries.
If each of us does our part to cut down our consumption, donate to others and share our resources in the spirit of aloha, the whole world would be more sustainable. Let's do more by using less.
Suzanne Hammer
Honolulu
Crack down on drivers with unsafe vehicles
I was watching a TV newscast the other day about the concern over uninsured vehicles. Since it is a requirement that drivers have a current insurance policy and vehicles have a safety inspection, it seems to me that if the police would be more observant of expired safety stickers some of this problem could be resolved. As I go on my daily walks I count at least three vehicles with expired stickers. Over the course of a year that would be approximately 780 vehicles.
Robert Mandap
Mililani
Is it childish squabble or diplomatic incident?
I have a daughter who attends an all-girls' school. She tells me that when the girls do not like another classmate, they stop talking to the girl and start rumors about them. This is the "mean girls" syndrome.
When I hear that Barack Obama is somehow naive for wanting to talk to hostile countries, it puzzles me. Are we talking about little girls or leaders of countries and large organizations?
If Obama talks to a hostile country, the hostile country will scold Obama and Obama, being weak, will follow the dictations of the other side? Do people who routinely behead other people they do not agree with feel offended or hurt that we do not talk to them?
I cannot tell if this is international diplomacy or grade school behavior. It amazes me the amount of spin a person can get away with.
Warren Kim
Honolulu