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Confusion abounds about sharing the road

Your Jan. 5 article discussing the results of a state Department of Transportation poll has a chilling effect on those of us sharing the road in anything smaller than an Army tank. It goes a long way toward explaining why so many folks insist on buying SUVs. Clearly, we need to raise the level of driving awareness and expertise.

Given that nearly half (44 percent) of all respondents don't know that pedestrians have the right of way, the carnage on roads such as the Pali Highway should surprise no one. Adding crosswalks will do no good if people don't understand their purpose.

Equally worrisome is your cycling discussion. A bicycle is considered a vehicle, and the operator has the same rights and responsibilities as a motorist. Therefore, there should be no question of what to do when driving next to a bicycle.

State law says cyclists traveling straight ahead and slower than the prevailing speed of traffic should keep as far to the right side of the road as is safe and practical. Faster-moving vehicles may safely overtake the bike as the situation permits.

Of equal concern is the observation that motorists often don't have the foggiest idea of how fast cyclists are going. This leads to numerous near-misses. I know of only one cyclist in Honolulu who rides at speeds anything close to the 2 or 3 mph that you report.

This article points out the need for uniform, enlightened and vigorous enforcement of the traffic laws, tougher skills and knowledge tests for roadway users, and a bigger bus fleet to get that 44 percent out from behind the wheel (or handlebars) until they learn how to safely share the road.

Khal Spencer
Via the Internet

Mayor's plan for Hanauma is too costly

Help! Save Hanauma Bay from the mayor. His plans to build there are much too intrusive and are opposed by the community.

The buildings are too expensive and will be a drag on our property taxes for years to come. They are not necessary for any "education" at Hanauma. Several signs should suffice.

Save Hanauma Bay! Stop the development!

Mark Terry

Quotables "I guess you could say this is a childhood dream of mine. Ever since ninth grade I've heard of this competition, and wanted to enter it. I've had to make a lot of sacrifices." Lizhou "Lisa" Wang 15-year-old senior at iolani On being named one of 40 U.S. finalists in the Intel Science Talent Search "It worries me. It shuts down their lungs. If you can be so cruel to an animal, it's an easy step to be cruel to a person." Cynthia Trawick Maui veterinarian On whoever is poisoning animals with paraquat on the Valley Isle. So far, about 50 animals on Maui have been killed by the herbicide over the past 10 years, including some pets

New Year's mayhem should inspire ban

In response to Kyle Kajioka's Jan. 12 letter, he is either deaf or having too much fun with fireworks. He should talk to the Fire Department and Health Department to get the facts on the smoke on New Year's Eve; a reading was taken and the smoke was 10 times worse than the worst day in L.A.

Why were hundreds of dead birds found on Kailua Beach on New Year's Day? How did a 14-year-old girl lose her eye? Are fireworks the only kind of fun that people need?

I'm sure the agony outweighs the "fun." Lawmakers had better get their act together and enact a total ban.

James Cordeiro
Pearl City

State has bigger problems than fireworks

The newspapers are filled with articles and letters demanding a ban on fireworks in Hawaii. Of course, you publish this stuff because it is a safe topic for the papers to harp on and for our legislators to grasp tightly and hold to their bosoms.

It is a nonproblem! Aside from being a heck of a lot of fun, they don't really make any difference -- unlike tax reform, solving our terrible traffic problems, reorganizing and abolishing arrogance in our state Senate or improving our terrible public education system.

Most of the people complaining about fireworks are folks who have moved here from elsewhere (as I have myself), because Hawaii is such a special place. But when you move somewhere, you have no right to force that place to change its traditions to suit your prejudices, unless those traditions conflict with the Constitution.

Who were all those people setting off fireworks, anyway? Neanderthals or invading Martians? For the most part, they were thousands of tax-paying citizens, all having a good time.

Stop beating fireworks to death and do something that matters. Stop this journalistic abuse.

Dennis R. Meyer, M.D.
Via the Internet

Mililani theaters are eyesore to community

Not long ago, when you passed the Mililani Town Center, you could see the mountains over the roofs of the low-rise shopping center. Was it greed on the part of Castle & Cooke that led to its new theater complex?

Consolidated Theatres selected an architect from California to design the project. It would look great -- if it had been built in California!

First they built 50-foot-high blank concrete walls. Next came colors not allowed anywhere in Mililani. To top it off, they have wrapped it up in neon sign lights that burn brightly and can be seen from miles around.

Castle & Cooke and Consolidated should remove this eyesore now! If you would like to join me in helping to rectify this, e-mail me at mililani.eyesore@juno.com.

Doug Fabrey
Mililani
Via the Internet

Government is intent on overbuilding

What is happening to once beautiful Oahu? Thanks to a local government that is very generous with spending taxpayer money, the island is being changed, remodeled and spoiled more each day.

Recently, it was proposed that lights be put on Diamond Head. Then came the idea of turning the Ala Wai Golf Course into a park. And Hanauma Bay is soon to become a "tourist circus."

Don't the wishes of the residents and taxpayers count? It's like a mania of building and razing. Somebody, stop the destruction!

Anne Graven

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