Tourists face ugliness from airport to Waikiki

I recently moved back to Hawaii from Utah and wanted to share a suggestion regarding improving a section of Oahu. My husband and I drove along Nimitz Highway from the Honolulu airport toward Waikiki and couldn't believe what our tourists have to look at.

It must be pretty disappointing coming to a place you think is paradise and being welcomed by going through that area. Nimitz Highway needs major landscaping all the way to the Aloha Tower area, and the medial and the buildings in that area are beat up. My husband mentioned this to some tourists and they agreed.

How can people like me, an average housewife, have a say in this? What can be done, and whom should we talk to? I know we can't just go out there and landscape the area ourselves. Maybe getting the businesses along the way to beautify their establishments would help.

Danielle Hoopii
Waipahu

Don't let show-off candidates fool you

I'm glad Star-Bulletin contributing editor John Flanagan was able to attend the Republican rally at Kaiser High School. In his "Talk Story" column (Star-Bulletin, Aug. 8), Flanagan called the lieutenant governor's race the liveliest GOP race. Unfortunately, he chose to report on Dalton Tanonaka's grandstanding rather than Duke Aiona's 20 years of public service.

Tanonaka claims he wants to abolish the lieutenant governor's office, and in the very next breath tells everyone what he'll do when he's in that office. He presents pie-in-the-sky theories about bringing in business from Asia because he interviewed a few government officials there. Ask anybody who really knows about trade with Asia: Dalton's plan will not work.

I attended the same rally, have been doing research and talked to all three candidates. Instead of watching candidates trying to win this election with sound bites, I tried to find a candidate with substance. I have found such a candidate in Duke Aiona. He talked about education, government and the economy. He cited his record. He's been working as a public servant in Hawaii and making the news, not just reporting it.

I implore the people of Hawaii to do the research, meet the candidates and make educated decisions. SHOPO made its unprecedented endorsement of Linda Lingle and Aiona with the same sound judgment. It's time we recognize Lingle and Aiona as the best candidates with the best platforms.

James Choy
Aiea

Waianae landfill keeps housing affordable

I work at Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill in Waianae. What I see is, if the landfill closes the only people who will benefit are the rich. Maybe the landfill has been a friend in disguise all these years, keeping land prices and taxes low and making the Leeward Coast a place where some of our children can afford to live.

The people of the Leeward Coast should be fighting to keep the landfill here.

Lewis Edwards
Waianae

Let's celebrate state's 43rd anniversary

Happy anniversary, state of Hawaii! In 1954, a petition with 120,000 signatures demanding statehood was given a huge send-off with hula, chants and kahili at the Territorial capitol building (Iolani Palace), and sent to Congress. In 1959, 94 percent of Hawaii's voters said "yes" to statehood -- an overwhelming majority of every ethnic group. Despite some naysayers, we citizens of Hawaii remain strong in our American patriotism.

In the year ahead, let's say nay to the naysayers. No carving up Hawaii to create a race-based sovereign political entity (the Akaka bill). No to government agencies handing out benefits restricted by race (OHA). No to a segregated school protecting a billion-dollar tax exemption by hiding behind a brave, token 8th-grader. No to radicals wanting to turn Hawaii into an independent nation by a vote where they say only 20 percent of currently registered voters could participate.

Let's say yes to the affirmative. Celebrate diversity while protecting unity and equality. No citizen of Hawaii is merely a guest in someone else's homeland. Some ancestors came here on voyaging canoes, some on whaling or merchant ships, some on airplanes; but we all are full partners through our contributions, labor and love for Hawaii and America.

Ken Conklin
Kaneohe

Kamehameha movie is as solid as the Rock

Last night when my friends and I were looking for a movie, I was wondering what's happening with that movie Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson was going to make.

Being part-Hawaiian and having worked in our tourist industry for years, I've known for a long time that people from the mainland already have misconceptions about Hawaii's culture; however, most of them have no interest in learning, so why not let the Rock portray King Kamehameha in a movie? The movie may spark curiosity; perhaps people would want to learn more about Hawaiian culture.

Then again, I doubt it. If people had an appetite to watch historic documentaries, Hollywood would be cranking them out like action flix.

So, I don't see the harm in an action film loosely based on our cultural history. Besides, I seriously doubt that people will confuse this movie with an anthropology lecture. I hope the Rock makes the movie because if it's anything like "The Scorpion King," people will be leaving the theater thinking, "Wow! Hawaiians are awesome," and that's fine with me.

Gerald K. Nakata
Kapolei

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