Mufi tells voters little concerning his views
I'm not sure who's getting my vote for mayor, so I went to the Waikiki Neighborhood Board's candidate form to try to learn more about the candidates. I have to say I was pretty much disgusted to see Mufi Hannemann repeatedly attack Duke Bainum instead of telling us his own views on the issues.This kind of campaigning has no place in Hawaii politics and does not help us to determine who's best for the job. I know Mufi's done this before, so it will be hard for him to change now. But I hope he does, for the sake of the voters.
Roland Louie
Kapolei
Kuhio project makes problems even worse
Local motorists have stayed away from Waikiki in droves during the past decades because the problems of traffic congestion and scarcity of parking have not been addressed. The city's Kuhio Avenue improvement project will exacerbate, not alleviate, these problems. The city's attempt to make Kuhio Avenue "pedestrian friendly" with broader sidewalks, decorative lamp posts and a landscaped median strip will result in a street that will be less safe and more congested due to fewer, narrower and swerving lanes that will be more difficult to negotiate.Additionally, nothing is being done to relieve Kuhio Avenue and other Waikiki streets from the growing problems caused by the increasing number of giant trolleys, serpentine trams, intercontinental-sized buses, super-stretch limos and oversize delivery/emergency vehicles that take two lanes to turn, block a traffic lane when standing or parked and have difficulty staying in their lanes.
Moreover, in a couple of years, greater demands will be made on Kuhio Avenue when the redevelopment of the International Marketplace, Consolidated Theatres and the Outrigger Lewers Street proj-ects are completed and add their traffic woes to current ones. The ever-changing Bus Rapid Transit plans also might affect Kuhio Avenue.
It's regrettable that not even bus and emergency vehicle drivers were asked for their input prior to now. Beautification should not result in median lanes and sidewalks swallowing up space necessary for safe, straight and swift passage through Waikiki.
Richard Y. Will
Honolulu
Take repeat offenders off our roadways
We know Japan has long had much stricter laws for drunken driving than here in America. The result is a more ordered, civilized automotive society.The difference was poignantly and tragically illustrated recently with the death of newlywed Hikari Ishiyama, who was struck on a Waikiki sidewalk by an apparently unconscious driver with past citations (Star-Bulletin, May 28). Her dream honeymoon turned to a wasteful nightmare of death.
Until we enact more properly restrictive laws for repeat offenders, then Japanese visitors to the wilderness streets of Hawaii had better have eyes in the back of their heads -- even on our sidewalks!
John W. Connor
Waikiki
Case's 'disease' keeps him out of touch
I heard U.S. Rep. Ed Case on the Mike Buck radio show recently talking about the use of his congressional expense account. His defensive reaction to criticism about his use of tax dollars for his interisland and media campaigning, and his attempts to obscure the issue, surprise me. I'm surprised Case seems to have no "sensitivity antenna." Most people, especially politicians, have such an antenna and sense when they're doing something that others don't like. The only explanation I can think of is that Case has grown accustomed to doing what he wants regardless of how the people feel about it. Of course, this is a disease that many professional politicians come down with.
Sarah Chan
Makakilo
Waldorf School lets students get creative
Hawaii has been concerned about improving its public education program. The curriculum is more important than dividing the state into seven districts. Many students begin to dislike school after the third grade. There will be a trial council system in several schools next year. I feel it will be difficult to get these councils to function, for people are very busy.The Waldorf School system has been successful. The students enjoy school. The curriculum is different. The students make books about the subject matter. The arts emphasized are music, crafts, metallurgy jewelry, sewing, cooking. Literature is important. The students put on plays, create a costume wardrobe and make the set.
Each child has the same teacher throughout elementary school. First-graders have already met their teacher for the next year at a potluck dinner. This is expensive but would improve our society. We need to revive the aloha spirit in Hawaii.
Rose Norberg
Honolulu
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[ BRAINSTORM! ]
The ponds at the state Capitol are full of icky green stuff. What, besides holding an election, can we do to get rid of all that scum at the Big Square Building? Or should we just replace the ponds with something else?Tell us what you think, whether you know of a way to clean the ponds or if you'd rather see a remodel of the Capitol grounds. Anything would be an improvement.
Send your ideas by June 16 to:
Or by mail:
Brainstorm!
c/o Nancy Christenson
Star-Bulletin
500 Ala Moana
7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813Or by fax:
Brainstorm!
c/o Nancy Christenson
529-4750
