Racers should leave early and not hurry

I am saddened that it takes a slew of deaths to get our eyes to open to the fact that these speed racers go out and endanger everyone with their reckless acts.

I would like to point out one thing that caught my eye when i read the article about the accident resulting in the death of Elizabeth Kekoa. One of the racers interviewed said that he felt that they were being singled out, just because they had a modified car. My question: If you're not a racer or a "show car" advocate, why modify your car. A stock car itself is adequate enough to take you to whatever place you have to go to, and in enough time.

Many people drive fast because they have to get there in time or risk being late. If you have time, may I offer this suggestion? Leave earlier. It actually helps and you find that you will get to your destination in time and with less stress.

Blake Manabe
Kaneohe

Customized car owners shouldn't be blamed

I would like to ask each and every one of those who criticize and blame every owner of a customized car what right they have to judge all of us because of the actions of a few?

How many of them are guilty of inattentive driving because of a distraction in their vehicle like a cell phone, a radio, or a screaming child? How many are guilty of speeding?

So much inaccurate and biased attention has been centered around the unfortunate accident on Aug 17. Yes, it's a tragic event, but that event does not mean it should be open season on all the owners of these types of vehicles.

Lets get the facts straight: The vast majority of customized cars do not have the full-blown modifications listed on the front page of the Sept. 2 paper.

Most rims do not cost $2,900-$3,100, and not everyone drives around on 19-inch rims, or spends $600 for an exhaust system. Did you decide to take only the most expensive figures and use those exclusively?

Don't judge all owners of a car like this and presume they're bad seeds, a menace to society, because of the actions of a few.

Yes, every vehicle has the potential to kill, but please don't assume that the person next to you in a lowered import is a punk or criminal because of it.

John Hyytianinen
Kapolei

Coqui is deafening and dangerous

On the alarming spread of coqui frogs, some suggest that cultural differences are part of the lack of appreciation of the coqui in Hawaii. I ask those who suggest this to stand in the middle of a nursery with several hundred coqui calling all at the same time. You would not be able to carry on a conversation with the person standing next to you.

When this density occurs near homes, hotels, hospitals, the effects can be unbearable.

Then there is the environmental issue. The ecological consequences of NOT eradicating these organisms will most likely be just as severe as that from other animals such as feral deer and plants like Miconia. The detrimental effects on Hawaii's native ecosystems caused by the coqui's voracious appetite for insects could well be irreversible. It is imperative that these small, but potentially devastating, am- phibians be eradicated.

Richard Palmer

[Quotables] "Their stories are always going to be told. When the patients are gone, their stories won't be gone." Rev. Lon Rycraft Pastor of Kana'ana Hou Church in Kalaupapa, Molokai, on the church's future as a retreat and study center once its parishioners, about a dozen leprosy patients, are gone. The church is embarking on a $250,000 fund-raising effort to repair termite damage and other deterioration. "I didn't realize the magnitude until we saw the numbers beginning to increase." Raymond Fujii Principal of Makalapa Elementary School, on an incident Friday in which 16 children and one adult were sent to area hospitals after experiencing skin, eye and throat irritation. Fire Department officials suspected exposure to mace or pepper spray may have been the cause.

Beloved coqui doesn't belong in Hawaii

As a Puerto Rican, I value dearly the cultural and emotional significance of the coqui to our people. Having lived in Hawaii and Puerto Rico, I have been able to appreciate the cultural, geographical and biological beauty and difference on both islands.

I am also aware that there are some cultural "crossovers" in Hawaii that originate from Puerto Rico. I'm sure that there are plenty of Hawaiians who have experienced the flavor of Puerto Rico with gandule rice, pasteles and party to cachi cachi music. And many Puerto Ricans appreciate one plate lunch with two scoop rice, mac salad and Huli Huli chicken while listening to the sweet sound of the ukulele.

Like the melodious sound of the ukulele, I love the sound of the coqui and respect the significance to Puerto Ricans. However, the coqui is a cultural and biological item that should never have been introduced to Hawaii. I am distraught at the selfishness and ignorance of the individuals who have imported coquis to Hawaii.

Julio A. Zayas
Sierra Vista, Ariz.

Frogs could introduce unwanted nematodes

A Sept. 4 Star-Bulletin story, "Shrieking Puerto Rican coqui frogs are overrunning Hawaii," says, "Biologists are also fearful that coquis in greenhouses could spread tiny worms called nematodes and could upset a precarious balance in native forests, causing trouble for native Hawaiian species."

For this reason alone (not that there aren't other good reasons), Hawaii should continue to try to find a way to rid itself of the coquis.

Alan Quintana
Castro Valley, Calif.
Former Hawaii resident

Strung out about missing guitars

The six-string guitars that were as stolen from Cyril Pahinui's home can be seen in the photo with your Sept. 5 article. I'm a guitarist and can only imagine the deep sense of loss that Cyril must be feeling. These instruments become one with our souls. The stolen guitars have Cyril's mana with them and need to be brought back to him.

Dave Cogswell
San Francisco, Calif.
Former Hawaii resident

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