New monument may be best solution
When I was growing up, I learned how to swim at the Natatorium. To see it falling apart now is sad. What is even sadder is that the city has been putting a lot of money into this project and getting nowhere with the repairs. Haven't the engineers figured out yet that you cannot save an old relic with a few bucks here and there?The state and city should have been keeping up with repairs all along. We cannot blame the present mayor for trying when no one else did.
The front of the structure seems to be in good shape; perhaps this could be moved or rebuilt in another location and a new memorial built to honor World War I veterans. This might be a more cost-effective way of doing things.
Kaneohe
Portland's pedestrians safer than Honolulu's
I just returned to Honolulu from an annual summer visit to Portland, Ore. Both President Bush and Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry were campaigning there last week. However, the point of more interest to me was that the Multnomah County sheriff's department had set up a "sting" operation to cite drivers who did not yield to pedestrians.The undercover sheriffs go to different areas of Portland and step into a crosswalk. If a driver does not stop and yield to them, they are ticketed. The ticket holds a $237 fine. Last Tuesday, more than 66 drivers were cited in Portland bringing in more than $15,000 and creating a safer city for pedestrians.
A similar operation earlier in the month resulted in 73 citations around Portland in one day. Drivers are beginning to take pedestrians more seriously in Oregon!
Honolulu needs to institute a program like this one immediately. Hawaii had more pedestrian deaths than any other place in America last year. Yet currently nothing is being done about it.
Our retirement homes are being built closer to many main streets and school is about to begin. These are the most vulnerable pedestrians of all.
Hawaii Kai
Education's Act 51 rests on full funding
Governor Lingle's restriction of $4.3 million in appropriated funds under the Reinventing Education Act of 2004 (Act 51) is a setback to the initiatives and strategies in the law to improve student achievement.The restriction prevents key educational restructuring components from moving forward by holding back essential funding for: technology to support school operations; parent-community networking centers that create supportive relationships among school, home, and community to improve student achievement; student activities coordinators in all public high schools; and programs that support parents in working with students who require additional help to succeed in school.
The release of the appropriated funds is necessary to strengthen educational accountability and compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and support school-home-community collaboration and participation in raising the educational experience and success of students.
Act 51 represents the end product of the 2004 legislative session in which the Board of Education, Department of Education, legislators, educators, unions, parents, student organizations and others in the community participated to improve student learning and achievement. Planning and implementation of Act 51's educational initiatives and strategies rest on the governor's release of the remainder of funds.
First vice chairperson
Board of Education
Kuhio may be better, but derelicts spoil it
Our family has been visiting Waikiki for 30 years; it is our home away from home. We love the ambience, the people, the beach and the warm temperature, as we often visit at Christmas and during New Zealand's winter through June and July.We wish to praise the city for the splendid job that is being done in Kuhio Avenue as parts of Waikiki were looking a little tired and this will bring a fresh look to a very busy street. We also believe TheBus service is equal to, if not better than, any we have seen worldwide.
Our only complaint would be having to share the footpaths and seaside benches with derelicts and homeless people who destroy the appearance of what is probably the most beautiful beachfront anywhere in the world. The worst aspect is the men begging for money, something you would only expect to see in a Third World country.
Keep up the good work, Honolulu. We hope to be visiting for many years yet.
Manukau City, New Zealand
A priceless suggestion for new UH logo
How about making the dollar sign -- $$$ -- the new logo for the University of Hawaii?It could stand for all the time and money wasted in pursuit of said logo (we're at $142,000 and counting), as well as the salary of the university president (in both his old and new jobs), and the legal money spent in that legal fiasco (close to a zillion and still going).
People of Hawaii could look at the logo with pride and say, "I helped finance that."
Honolulu
Voters should make up their own minds
In Aug. 11 letter to the editor, W.W. Robinson says he will support President Bush because shock-jock Howard Stern is pro-Kerry. One must analyze Bush as well as Sen. John Kerry on their own merits and not just say, "If you're for him, then I'm against him."What really scares me is that there are too many non-critical thinkers who can vote.
Honolulu
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