What's the problem? Just recycle it

I am writing to inform fellow readers about the advantages of recycling. By recycling your cans and bottles, you can not only conserve resources, but you can also redeem money from local recycling places.

Sometimes when I go to someone's house, I ask, "Where can I recycle this can?" Their reply often is, "Oh, we don't recycle, just put it in the trash." Then I stand there, thinking, "Why don't you recycle?" It couldn't hurt to make a separate bin!

Fault lies with drivers, drivers and drivers

I am not so naive to think any letter sent to the editor will change anyone's made-up mind. I just need to vent. Anyone who thinks pedestrians are the problem is the real problem himself. Every driver should drive with the attitude that pedestrians have the right of way. The problem cannot be solved studying the victim. Just round up the usual suspects -- it's the drivers, stupid.

If a driver hits a concrete wall, don't study the PSI of the concrete; a pole, measure its diameter; a hydrant, check the water pressure; a guardrail, study its height; if the car goes airborne, call the FAA. It's the driver, stupid.

No driver has a right to hit pedestrians, no right to proceed without seeing what's in his path. Why do you think they give you an eye examination?

Pedestrians come in all kinds of sizes, shapes, forms, young, old, deaf, blind, careless, stupid. As a driver, if you can't see any of the above, you need more than an eye exam -- you need a mechanic to remove the lock nut behind the wheel.

Rudeness not common trait among visitors

This is in response to Raj Bose's July 6 letter to the editor. I spent 30-plus years in the visitor industry, primarily in hotels. I don't know in what area of the visitor industry Mr. Bose is employed, but I can honestly say that 95 percent of the visitors (a term I much prefer to "tourists") I interacted with were nothing like those he described.

Now semiretired, I'm still peripherally involved with visitors to Hawaii and find that they consistently appreciate what we have, from the pleasures of Waikiki to our many cultural offerings. I feel tremendously fortunate that I can share our aloha and say mahalo to our wonderful visitors!

'Culture' no excuse for low volunteering

Yesterday's report on our state's low volunteer level is disheartening. Again, we disparage a national study as not being "culturally sensitive" so our numbers won't look so bad.

We do have lots of neighbor-to-neighbor kokua and helping out relatives in need, but is helping out people we already know really volunteering? Volunteering usually means helping out people we don't know or normally come into contact with, or maybe even not want to associate with. Having to go out of our way, our comfort zone, and helping a stranger in need is volunteering. Are we so wrapped up in mainland vs. us that we forget what the study was really about -- helping our fellow man?

Put the flowerpots back on Kuhio Avenue

A few months ago the city removed the flowers from the light-pole flowerpots that beautified Kuhio Avenue. We local residents waited for their return. It never happened. A couple of weeks ago they removed the flowerpots from the light poles. Alas, our street has lost its lovely glow. I don't remember voting on that. Many local people live on Kuhio Avenue. We pay our taxes, unlike the visitors on Kalakaua Avenue (where the flowers still exist). What are we, chopped liver? We who live on Kuhio Avenue want them to put the flowers back.

Another problem is the dirty sidewalks. The city paid for beautiful colorful flagstone walkways and never made a provision to keep them clean. It's disgusting. In many places the sidewalk is covered with black soot from the street. Our condo washes the sidewalk all the time. Why can't the other residents do the same?

Downtown sprinklers drench bus commuters

I was walking to my bus stop and realized, just like every night, I forgot to bring a newspaper. Not a paper to read, of course, but rather to sit on because the sprinklers have drenched or are watering the benches and sidewalk available for public transit. I also walk in the road at night because there is no way to reach the bus stop without walking through the sprinklers' shower while remaining on the sidewalk.

Every night, I walk to my bus stop downtown to get the bus to Kaneohe, which does not come for at least 20 minutes. And because of this oversight every night worker of Honolulu must stand and wait for the bus. People with physical disabilities (bad legs) and workers who have been on their feet all day are forced to stand and wait for the bus because someone did not think about the effect the sprinklers would have on the surrounding area.

Is it possible that the buildings downtown could postpone their nightly sprinklers until after the last bus? All workers of downtown would deeply appreciate it.