Recycling big item is easier than trashing it

That was a great article in the Dec. 1 paper ("Sometimes talking trash can be a good thing," Under the Sun column). Recycling can actually be easier than trashing, and your paper sparkles with it's "free-recycle" ads and the "Bargain Corner" which allows you to advertise your treasures again for free if they're under $100.

So, rather than drag said treasure to the sidewalk and wait for bulky item (large truck, two laborers, petroleum wasted hauling them to an overflowing landfill) your recycled items are taken away and put to another use. There's now even "recycling" for pets -- a Web page clearing house, the Hawaii dog foundation and Hawaii cat foundation; rescues and adoptions. The Hawaii Cat Foundation is www.hicat.org and there's also www.hawaiipetadoption.com.

City's changed position on Natatorium work

On Dec. 3 the Star-Bulletin chronicled Mufi Hannemann's strong statements about halting the city's $6 million repair job at the Waikiki Natatorium. Since then, Managing Director Ben Lee has stated that despite the mayor-elect's intentions, the city will move forward with the project. The public should know that Lee's position contradicts a previous pledge made by city officials.

On Nov. 24, I met with a delegation from the city to review our concerns over potentially serious harm to our fish and facility if the Natatorium work moves forward. The city's delegation included a city attorney, the city's project manager, the deputy director for customer service and the president of the construction company, Healy Tibbits. All agreed that if initial pile-driving tests resulted in stress to our fish, they would immediately halt work until alternatives can be implemented.

We also asked what would happen if Mayor-elect Hannemann stated his opposition to the repair effort. The unequivocal response from this group was that the project would not move forward. Unfortunately, Lee has taken a different position.

We believe it is a colossal waste of taxpayer money to begin a project that the new mayor has wisely stated he will halt. It is also a strong indication that the outgoing administration intends to push past obstacles that stand in the way of its agenda.

Each year more than 300,000 people enjoy the Waikiki Aquarium. We sincerely hope it and its unique collection of animals will not become the next obstacle the city pushes aside in its rush to dump more money into a doomed project.

Restoring Natatorium is principled course

I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the Star-Bulletin for its editorial on the Natatorium in yesterday's paper ("Natatorium was a promise to honor war veterans"). I was beginning to lose hope that anyone would see through the politics, propaganda and pettiness that threaten to derail a 30-year effort to restore the Natatorium to its rightful place as one of Hawaii's most revered and unique historic sites.

Thank you so much for refocusing the public's attention on the core issues of honor and stewardship. One statement in the editorial powerfully summed up the situation: "That is has become an eyesore is a shameful testimony to the ineffectiveness of elected officials and to a community quick to forget the sacrifices of a generation."

Bravo and mahalo for your publication's leadership and integrity!

Too many ads spoil movie experience

Are you sick of the numerous commercials that we have to put up with at our local movie theaters? I counted nine commercials before the six previews of new movies before another commercial before the movie that I paid to see. Is this what we go to the movies for?

I'm heading to Blockbuster.

Warriors measure up to mainland standards

While Hawaii may not produce Ashley Lelies, fortunately we did produce Chad Owens ("Warriors should turn to mainland players," Letters, Nov. 30). I hope that Dane Lee feels the need to eat his words, since University of Hawaii receiver Owens was named WAC player of the week the same day his insulting letter was published.

Not only do his words sting Hawaii, but they sting anyone not from the "inner city," who apparently does not live up to his imagined standard. I hope that athletes from Hawaii, small-town USA and suburbia continue to open Lee's eyes to the diversity of talent out there.

Owens fares well against mainlanders

I chuckled when I read Dane Lee's Nov. 30 letter requesting that the University of Hawaii Warriors get more inner-city, mainland talent and complaining that the local receivers were too slow.

I laughed even harder when I realized that he was right, especially when it comes to the slowest receiver on the team: Chad Owens. He was so slow that he only scored five touchdowns against a Big 10 team. I'm sure if Owens was from a city on the mainland he would've scored 10, instead of a measly five.

Immigrants should be eligible for presidency

Regarding the "Schwarzenegger for President" issue, I believe that the proposed "Presidential Eligibility Amendment" should be passed. Just because a person is born in the United States doesn't mean he is loyal. John Wilkes Booth and Timothy McVay are prime examples. Naturalized citizens give up everything they owned in their homeland to come to America, and many are loyal and committed to this country because of their sacrifices.

Naturalized citizens who have lived in the United States for 35 years, instead of the proposed 20, should be eligible to be president; this would ensure their stability and loyalty to America, especially since a citizen can only become a president when he or she is at least 35 years old. A citizen who has been here in the United States for 35 years should have the same rights as any other American.

We are a nation of immigrants, and everyone who lives here came from other lands at one point in time. Being born in the United States does not mean that someone will be a better president than a naturalized citizen. In short, naturalized citizens should be treated equally to those born in America.