Ewa road narrowing caused congestion

Thanks to the engineer or officials who contributed to the Keaunui Drive road narrowing in Ewa, the traffic in the area is even more messed up and congested than before. I see more disgruntled faces and an occasional child darting between the cars as motorists wait to turn in to Holomua School.

What was wrong with the previous two-lane scenario? There are crosswalk guards at every crosswalk, and the new Iroquois intersection stoplight made crossing the street a lot safer. This is another example of the need for an alternate entrance on to the freeway instead of using the Fort Weaver parking lot.

U.S. plays oppressor now in Mideast

Where is Israel's Mossad, the most feared and fearless secret police force in the Mideast, once famous for its daring commando forays into Africa and even South America to rescue innocents and bring criminals to justice or death? Well, that was a long time ago. Today it is easier to send bombers, or even unmanned drones -- no risk in that and paid for by U.S. taxpayers -- to demolish people's homes in Lebanon and kill hundreds of women and children, if a couple of Israeli soldiers are kidnapped. Which power cynically holds civilians hostage?

Sixty-odd years ago my wife and I were proud to shelter and assist a young American Jewish couple on their way to their newly founded homeland, running a dangerous British blockade on the way. Today their country has scuttled all its ideals for deranged dreams of an anachronistic theocratic empire, and is oppressor rather than oppressed. And I am deeply ashamed that my country plays Daddy Warbucks to the oppressor, always of course with its own illusions of empire in mind.

Court will decide dissident's sentence

I was amazed that Keith Haugen would write a letter in support of a coward who refused to carry out a lawful order (Letters, July 30). To justify his position, Haugen stated that the Uniform Code of Military Justice allows for individual interpretation. Quite the contrary: The code includes specific crimes and the corresponding punishment for each.

The court may consider any extenuating circumstances while deliberating the sentence. It is the court, not the accused, that will announce the extent of the punishment.

Why let Oahu panel block Maui hospital?

Please let us have another hospital on Maui so that we can have the medical facilities and care that the people of Maui deserve ("Second panel votes against Maui hospital plan," Star-Bulletin, Aug. 4). The panel in Maui voted for this certificate, and Gov. Lingle and Mayor Arakawa of Maui County are behind this hospital as well.

It does not seem fair that the panel on Oahu would vote on something that is not going to affect them at all since this is being built by private funds. Please let us have a second hospital on Maui. The island is growing so fast, and it is badly needed.

Would Akaka drill in Volcanoes Park?

Sen. Dan Akaka voted to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. What do you suppose he would do if there were oil in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

Ethanol will power us back to paradise

Can the auto dealers, the oil industry, government and the public pull together to formulate change for the environment, for the image, for the prestige of America and its people, for the quality of life for all on Oahu? Let's turn paradise back into paradise again.

Since the island is so small and the need to travel is within reach of electric cars, can the people of Oahu imagine the noise reduction If electric cars were used on the island? The quality of life would be vastly improved.

How about hybrid cars like flex vehicles that can burn ethanol from sugar cane? Maybe the growers can get a better price for their sugar cane now that gasoline is so expensive, and create more jobs as well with an ethanol industry. Can the powers that be build a sugar cane refinery here to process sugar cane into ethanol like they are doing in Brazil?

We had gasoline shortages in the early 1970s, and American industry has done practically nothing to improve America's fuel shortages. Where is the greatness, the genius of our nation and people now? Can we use the power of our imaginations to do better for the welfare of our people and our prestige around the world?

Ala Wai marina can be resurrected

The article by Peter Webb concerning the state of the Ala Wai Boat Harbor ("That sinking feeling," Star-Bulletin, July 30) was right on the mark on how the Department of Land and Natural Resources has let what should be the premier marina in the state turn into a junkyard of docks.

Mr. Webb presented some options but missed an obvious solution. Presently there are four entities already running successful moorage right in the Ala Wai: the Hawaii Yacht Club, Waikiki Yacht Club, Ala Wai Marine and the Magic Island fuel dock. The state should simply modify the present leases to allow each business to take over a reasonable number of slips from the state. Without the political constraints that have paralyzed any action by the state, these businesses could quickly bring the Ala Wai marina back to life.