Loud fireworks can upset combat veterans

Despite the warnings by police, firefighters and the medical community, fireworks remain a part of the New Year welcoming celebration. It is reported that arrests and injury this year have decreased over previous years. However, in our community it should be emphasized that a large number of combat troops who have served during wartime live among us. The senseless firing of loud skyrocket bombs can be extremely disarming and triggering to these individuals who might be dealing with the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of combat experience. This has been the case for me personally since my return from Vietnam more than 40 years ago.

Decals encouraging us to “;Support Our Troops”; are seen everywhere. Might not an additional way to recognize their service be to cease this illegal activity in honor of our troops, rather than to provide an occasion at year's end that can be emotionally upsetting?

Enough already - just ban them altogether

Illegal fireworks are back in full force, after a period of relative calm for a few years. The police argue that they haven't enough manpower to enforce the law; the selfish few argue their cultural right to explode fireworks (although I'd like to know if any of them are actually Chinese); and the rest of us do what we can to protect our property, pets and children from the ill effects of the immediate danger, stress and smoke. It's ironic that some folks who sought to avoid the craziness by attending the movies at Windward Mall on New Year's Eve were eventually forced out due to recurring smoke alarms, set off by smoke wafting in continuously.

Consider the question of smoking cigarettes. Society has finally gotten to the point of admitting that your rights end where mine begin. Why is it still OK for one's neighbors to subject the unwilling to something even worse?

The only way to deal with the problem is to outlaw fireworks altogether. A few still would manage to obtain them, but that would make prosecution easier. When so many folks are now flouting the law, how can the police be expected to enforce it? Sanctioned public displays could be exempted. We'd all be safer, saner and healthier.

Police let too many lawbreakers get away

It is not just the fireworks laws that the Honolulu police fail to enforce. The list is long, especially on the Windward side of Oahu. Motorcycles race on the H-3 every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, and many nights. Illegally modified mufflers on cars and motorcycles are all too common. Residents operate vehicles without insurance and with expired registrations with impunity. Noise (decibel) laws are ignored as cars, and now motorcycles, travel down Kaneohe Bay Drive with boomboxes blasting morning, noon and night.

I would also say that fewer than 10 percent of the drivers on Kaneohe Bay Drive (between Aikahi Park and the Bay View area) operate their vehicles within 20 miles of the speed limit.

Vacation rentals help Kailua's economy

The Maui County Council has approved a bill for permitting bed-and-breakfast operations. Proponents argue for these neighborhood rentals saying they provide a more authentic vacation experience.

Allowing short-term rentals is considered by many in the Maui business community to be a form of local economic stimulus.

This might be so. President-elect Barack Obama's recent Kailua beach vacation rental reminds all of us of the economic stimulus vacation rentals and B&Bs provide in Kailua.

Kailua has among the highest per capita income, the highest household income and the highest self-employment of all of the communities on earth.

Some part of Kailua's economic miracle must be laid at the feet of these neighborhood rentals for the income and jobs they create at all levels of our community. This has been accomplished without tour buses, hotels or taxpayer bailouts.

One of the first items of business for our new Honolulu City Council is B&B reform followed by some form of licensing and regulation of vacation rental homes like the one enjoyed recently by our president-elect.