Moanalua Gardens an island treasure

The Outdoor Circle has always considered Moanalua Gardens to be an island treasure. Perhaps the park's most endearing and valuable qualities are its beautiful trees, including Honduran mahogany trees and the park's signature monkeypod trees.

Some of these trees are on Honolulu's exceptional tree registry. These trees are protected by law and we trust the law will always be upheld. But protecting the trees without preserving the park itself doesn't make sense. Simply transferring ownership will not guarantee that Moanalua Gardens will be kept as the important landmark and inspiration it has become to both residents and visitors.

The Outdoor Circle hopes that as the heirs of the Damon Trust become the beneficiaries of its fabulous wealth (Star-Bulletin, Nov. 28), they will understand the importance of this property and provide for it in perpetuity.

U.S. should take lesson from Romans

Virtually all Americans want fewer U.S. casualties in Iraq, especially since we now know the reported 10,000 killed and wounded troops is only about half the actual number.

A guaranteed way to cut back on our losses is to reduce the number of our troops there. Unfortunately, we seem to be going in the wrong direction, with a current force of more than 140,000 from a low of about 100,000. And now that Spain, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and the Philippines have taken out their forces, while Hungary, Ukraine, Latvia, Italy, the Netherlands and Poland are planning to soon withdraw, the situation is going to get worse.

The solution, however, is simple. Countries such as Romania and Bulgaria have serious unemployment problems, and the wages of the average American GI would seem munificent to their young men. Let's pay them to fight for us, and then we can bring our troops home.

The Roman Empire lasted for nearly 500 years, mainly because it made full use of mercenaries. It's time we take a lesson from history.

Why does state want to evict farmers?

Regarding evictions in Waiahole and land transfer to the Department of Hawaiian Homelands:

The Department of Hawaiian Homelands cannot by law manage residential leases involving non-Hawaiians. Even agricultural leases in Waiahole include house lots. These lands cannot be transferred to DHHL as long as the existing tenants remain.

The Housing and Community Development Corp. of Hawaii is making serious efforts to evict tenants. Failure to build a house and insufficient land in agricultural production are the reasons cited for eviction.

Banks will not issue mortgages to Waiahole residents because of the lease terms so tenants cannot obtain funding to build their homes. Despite four years of negotiation by the tenants and the Self-Help Housing Corp., HCDCH has refused to allow tenants to purchase the lease interest in their land, a step essential to obtaining a mortgage. These tenants must put up a bond of 100 percent of the construction cost within 30 days or face eviction, an impossible task.

HCDCH insists that every part of an agricultural lot must be in active farm production. HCDCH staff members fail to recognize that some land is not farmable and plant diseases and flooding destroy crops. We are following U.S. Soil and Water Conservation Service recommendations about appropriate use to maximize farm production while conserving our precious soil and water resources.

If Waiahole residents are evicted, the lands can be transferred to DHHL. Why is the state so eager to evict families from the land where they have lived and farmed for generations?

Slower drivers mean fewer fatalities

The "Yokoso! Japan" campaign is bringing many tourists from Hawaii to Japan. Upon returning after my successful autumn tour, I was saddened to read the Oct. 28 Star-Bulletin article "Woman is Oahu's fourth elderly traffic fatality this month." Especially close to me is the fatality at Liliha and Bates streets. Only a block mauka from where Tsuma Matsuyama was hit by a pickup, Mr. Kotomori was also hit and died. I helped Mr. Kotomori's son carry a sign for three weeks subsequent to his death. The cars traveling on Liliha Street are coming down very fast.

On the other hand, the drivers on Bachelot Street are reminded of the 25-mph speed limit every morning. So far we have not had any accidents on Bachelot Street.

May I thank the 230-plus drivers who travel during the two hours I hold a sign to remind them to slow down. Appreciate your watching for the blind, handicapped, elderly and Kawananakoa Middle School children using the street. I look forward to greeting you each morning.

Ground transportation needs overhaul

It's time to fish or cut bait on the selection of ground transportation for the island of Oahu. I propose: