Bring back 'tali-vans' to improve safety

To reduce speeding I think we should bring back the white "tali-vans." Speeding has become a habit for many. Yes, I along with many people, speed up sometimes but just a little over the limit. But 10 or 15 mph over the speed limit is not good, especially if it's raining.

I noticed that when the white vans existed, drivers followed traffic laws and became more cautious. But when the white vans disappeared, it was off to the races again.

If fewer people speed and more follow the traffic laws, we'll have safer roads.

This is not like the mainland, which has big highways and fast speed limits. We live on an island and we have densely packed freeways and roads. Let's drive with aloha.

Basketball players need a new league

The recent brawl at The Palace between the NBA Indiana Pacers players and the Detroit Pistons fans is the pinnacle of what's wrong with major league sports in America.

It is high time for our Hawaii congressional delegation, in a bipartisan effort, to remove the exemption the NBA, NFL, NHL and Major League Baseball enjoy from the anti-trust act. If these were simple, privately owned businesses, I would not say this. But they enjoy their unchallenged status primarily because local governments subsidize them with multimillion-dollar stadiums.

Basketball is the prime example. The NBA has set the tone for, and now defines, the game of basketball. It is no longer basketball, it's a cross between field events and professional wrestling, and this has permeated the sport down to the high school and neighborhood levels.

What we need is the RBA (Real Basketball Association) to promote sportsmanship, athleticism and basketball talent. It's all I would watch.

Saddam needs to see justice for his crimes

The United States and its allies should start the trial of Saddam Hussein instead of having him languish in prison. It would be a popular move, especially with the Iraqis. He had tortured, killed and imprisoned hundreds of thousands during his regime. He had mismanaged the country and spent billions for his own benefit.

Start the trial!

Stadium, police punish enthusiastic UH fans

I'm part of a group of people who buy University of Hawaii football season tickets, buy the shirts, tailgate and cheer on our Warriors. We are enthusiastic fans and often stand, stomp our feet and start chants to give our players our support. We are similar to many football fans you see on television at mainland games, standing, yelling and cheering.

Yet at UH games, we're constantly harassed by ushers and the police. The ushers want us to sit throughout the game, even though there are no other fans around us. When we refuse, the police get involved. After arguing with the police about the fact that we really hadn't broken any rules, we were banned from the next two games.

The stadium staff is comfortable only with quiet fans. I doubt the players, coach June Jones and Athletic Director Herman Frazier feel the same way. Police and stadium staff need to let fans be fans, or spend a week at mainland football games to understand how real fans behave at a game.

Superferry will bring islands together

For years auto/passenger ferry boats have linked populated islands and regions worldwide. In 2006, Superferry service is expected to link Hawaii's major islands. Our neighbor islands will instantly become neighbor communities. Our friends, families and businesses -- now separated by miles of ocean -- will be linked by a short drive over a Superferry Highway.

Can you imagine driving between Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island and taking family (poi-dogs and all) with you? Business located near Superferry terminals will likely benefit as well. Resorts or homes in other island communities will be as close as a short drive via the Superferry.

A new Hawaii is on the horizon. The Superferry is coming here to change our world and bring us together as an island state -- instead of a state of islands!