Time is ripe to merge Aloha and Hawaiian

A while back Aloha and Hawaiian airlines were talking about merging. At the time the motivation was probably for profits, but that deal failed.

Now the situation has changed. Hawaiian is bankrupt and Aloha is suffering. Now the motivation for merging is one of need, for survival, for salvation. On this basis perhaps the merger can be successful. Let's talk.

W.W. Robinson

Stagger work times to cut down traffic

Our politicians are like politicians everywhere: They think the solution to every problem is to spend money. The traffic problem on Oahu can be solved without spending any tax money and would probably increase tax revenues.

Commuter traffic is caused by people going to work at the same time. To cut traffic we need to get people to go to work at different times.

There is a three- to six-hour differential between Hawaii and the mainland and at least 18 hours' differential between Hawaii and Asia. The window for dealing with the mainland can be as few as two hours a day. Dealing with Asia becomes more complicated because of the international date line.

The solution to some of the traffic problems is to start work from six to three hours earlier than we do now. This could reduce traffic by one-third. It also could help relieve unemployment, as business offices hire people to fill the extended day and industries that cater to office workers make their services available for longer periods of the day.

Some businesses would go to 18- or 24-hour days by using two or three shifts. Coordinating starting times to avoid traffic jams and making some family adjustments would be necessary to accommodate different work schedules.

Otto Cleveland

'Aloha' legislation showed Hawaii values

I am submitting this letter to clarify the misunderstandings that our HR164HD1 and HCR211HD1 have engendered, as evidenced in the column by Charles Memminger (Honolulu Lite, April 8).

How can anyone argue against our culture of aloha, which distinguishes Hawaii and makes us the envy of the world?

Well, the Republicans can, if Democrats introduce the resolutions -- even though they co-sponsor and/or vote yes in committee.

These resolutions were introduced by Rep. Sol Kahoohalahala before the start of the war in Iraq, but were not heard in committee until after it had begun. The only change was to take the word "potential" out of the title. This resolution was co-signed by the following Republican representatives: Colleen Meyer, Mark Moses, Lynn Finnegan and Brian Blundell.

In our International Affairs Committee, two other Republicans voted "WR" (With Reservations), which is recorded as "aye"; so in effect it passed unanimously. By the time it got to the floor, the minority party decided to make a divisive issue of the resolution, saying all kinds of untrue things to indicate that anyone still for it was a traitor or even worse.

Hawaii should be a world leader in proving it is possible for people of many different races, cultures, religions and national backgrounds to live peacefully together. This is the spirit of aloha, which is all the resolutions were trying to say.

Rep. Helene Hale
District 4 (Pahoa, Kalapana)

Hawaii group helps needy get medication

I wish to applaud Dirk Maurins for his recent letter to the editor concerning the new Medicare plan (Star-Bulletin, March 10). However, regarding "relief for runaway prescription drug costs" and a "subsidy for poor seniors," a group exists right now that is assisting those who can't afford their medications. MEDS is a nonprofit organization in Hawaii that helps the needy, young or old, obtain their medications at either very little or no cost at all. MEDS uses the pharmaceutical manufacturers' Patient Assistance programs, which are already in place and working. Its services are entirely free. MEDS also can be contacted at www.hawaiimeds.org.

John James

Rocks, concrete should be easier to recycle

I have reviewed the Sunday, April 6 newspaper insert regarding recycling with considerable interest. There is one type of refuse that I think requires more thought prior to implementation of the program: that is, "rock, dirt and concrete." According to the insert, the only disposal point is the Waimanalo Gulch Sanitary Landfill. There is no pick-up for this material; it must be hauled to the site by the citizen. I consider this to be unreasonable.

I have undertaken several garden projects. They were all small in scope and included some type of the materials mentioned. I invariably had a bit of material left over, requiring disposal. A few bricks or decorative stones, a broken cinder block or two, part of a sack of cement, and so on.

It is 12 miles from my home to the landfill. Requiring me to drive this far to dispose of a few broken bricks seems unreasonable. And think of people who live in Haleiwa, Kaneohe and Laie, and those who depend on public transportation!

It seems that there must be a better way; perhaps a few more collection points closer to population centers. Perhaps the home improvement retailers could help out with this suggestion.

I support the program in principle, but I think it requires more thought.

Louis H. Trigg
Pearl City