Dems, don't wimp out on gas cap law
Eh, House Democrats, what's up? I read about how the gas cap has saved us $33 million and then I read that you guys want to repeal the law that is working. Look what we are paying for diesel fuel! Common sense should tell you that gas would also be as high. You guys also talk about getting pricing information; do you think that the oil companies are really going to tell you their costs and profits? What are you guys smoking in the Capitol?
It can't be legal.
Jeff Ulep
Waipahu
We need to clarify meaning of ag land
With the Hokulia lawsuit resolved (
Star-Bulletin, March 15), the Legislature needs to clarify what is appropriate use in the agricultural districts statewide. A stepping stone to do this is to determine what is prime and marginal agricultural land in Hawaii.
Ninety-six percent of the agricultural district on the Big Island is considered marginal, 79 percent on Maui, 75 percent on Kauai and 66 percent on Oahu. The agricultural districts should not be used to bank land. Instead, only "real" prime agricultural land should be in the agricultural districts. "Real" marginal agriculture lands should be classified either rural or conservation.
In other words, current proposed legislation (Senate Bill 3097) that would allow development on marginal agriculture land is like writing a blank check to pave over our island.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Dead intruder got what he deserved
Well, the police want to prosecute a man for defending his home because our islands are behind the times with laws that protect their citizens. The guy was defending his home and his person, the intruder, got what he deserved ("Apparent burglar is stabbed to death,"
Breaking News, March 20).
Don't prosecute this man for doing what every citizen would have done, including a cop found in the same position. Instead, change the laws to allow people the right to protect their freedoms, liberties, property and persons against hostile acts.
Please, Hawaii, take care of the few true born-and-raised islanders left on island shores.
Jimmy Gomes
Las Vegas
Former Hawaii resident
Green is nice, but we need places to live, too
In her
letter published March 21, Liz Nelson of Kaneohe criticized the development of new condominiums in metro Honolulu. Instead of pointing out the good points such as the addition of inventory, thereby increasing the supply and lowering the median price of homes, she suggests that these residential units should be replaced with trees.
I would completely understand if she were campaigning to keep her area of residence green, but because it took her this long to realize that new buildings were being constructed in Kakaako, she obviously hasn't visited the area in months or even years, and should have no right whatsoever to complain about the improvements to this cosmopolitan city where many of us live, work, play and love.
Rather than transforming Oahu into one huge suburb, we should appreciate its diversity and our ability to enjoy country, suburban or city life without needing to catch a flight.
Justin L. Tanoue
Kaneohe
It's no big surprise when the floods come
The
Friday, March 10, Star-Bulletin showed an interesting dichotomy of rules, ridiculous if not absurd, as one read on the front page about the dastardly deeds of James Pflueger performing illegal earth movements on his property at Pilaa Bay, Kauai. Erosion and damage to the delicate reef and beach by an errant mudslide amounted to a
$12 million settlement via a federal Clean Water Act lawsuit, filed by two local associations in the name of preservation. Well done, one might say, and environmentalists laud the settlement as a resounding success for community activism.
Inside, one learns via editorial comment about the ever-consistent and abundant sewage spills into our pristine waters, not forgetting precious reefs, every time the heavy rains come, as though Honolulu officials and residents expect it. Polluting ocean, streams and brooks and endangering people's health.
Familiar signs go up, as standard routine, warning our bread-and-butter tourists to stay out of the water.
Perhaps we should blame President George and Laura Bush.
John L. Werrill
Honolulu