Recycling goals might cancel each other out
If we can ship rotten fruit to the mainland by trash barges, will that mean we can then ship fresh fruits? Instead of shipping our garbage, why don't we build a bunch of incinerators? We could attach electrical generators later when needed. Find 40 acres to dig a hole to bury the ash and use the dirt to build up some low lands.
We should have recycling islandwide but to have Hi5 and recycling is ridiculous. You are tempting people to pick up cans from all the bins. The government and society as a whole should try to reduce problems, not increase them.
Warren Fukushima
Pearl City
Let high-end gamblers bring money to Waikiki
I have been on the fence about gambling since the debate heated up. But after reading an Associated Press story about creating "mini-Las Vegases," am I the only one who sees where the high-end tourist money will go? Macau island is the start of an Asian gambling boom. Indonesia, as strict and rigid as they are, allowed gambling to come in. I am not hearing about mob killings or the devastation of Macau.
One thing is for sure: The neighbor islands want to remain the way they are. Oahu is the home of Waikiki, the tourist mecca. Take a look at what is happening. It is catering to the very folks who want to play craps and blackjack. They just won't do it here. They will go to these gambling destinations to have fun and, yes, gamble!
Because of lack of enforcement and vision, Waikiki is a cacaphonous, concrete beige resort town. Waikiki can either be a true Hawaiian experience or the noisy mixed-up scenario it is today. I hope, for the sake of our tourist industry, our elected officials have the courage to make the right decisions for the future of Waikiki.
Johnny Miro
Honolulu
Many joined to support Sept. 11 walk
To everyone who joined and supported the city for the second annual Mayor's
Remembrance Walk on Sept. 9, I express my mahalo for showing your aloha spirit. Together, we reflected on the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001, renewed our commitment to freedom, and honored our first-responders and armed forces.
The walk served as a reminder of the acts of human kindness and the spirit of duty and heroism summoned that day. We often take for granted that we are safe because we live in Hawaii. Our message was this: Honolulu remembers ... never forget.
None of this would have been possible without the support of many city agencies and community organizations, including the Honolulu Police and Fire Departments, emergency services and emergency management departments, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Transportation Services, Department of Design and Construction, the Royal Hawaiian Band, Kawaiahao Church, Celtic Pipes and Drums of Hawaii, and radio personality Michael W. Perry.
It was a heartfelt outpouring of aloha for those who serve us so capably every day of the year and who contribute to our well-being. Thank you, and I invite everyone to join us again next year. Mahalo nui loa.
Michael Pili Pang
Executive director
Mayor's Office of Culture and the Arts
City and County of Honolulu
Anti-Hawaiian groups have just one goal
Regarding the
Sept. 7 letter from Sandra Puanani Burgess: While I agree that the purpose of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission is to ensure equal rights for all, tell me: Is everyone treated fairly and equally under the law as we speak? I think not.
It seems that anti-Hawaiian groups are using the Civil Rights Commission as a vehicle for one single purpose: to tear down any race-based programs that benefit native Hawaiians, period. It seems equal rights under the law only applies for those who are "victimized" by race-based programs. Forget the fact that social programs don't treat individuals fairly. Let's also forget that our justice system has been known to treat minorities unfairly when it comes to sentencing. Forget the fact that minorities are known targets for poor access to myriad social service programs. When a non-Hawaiian is denied access to Kamehameha Schools, apparently he or she is denied equal treatment under the law.
Ryan Loy
Honolulu
Irrigation intended for Molokai farmers
You folks missed the ferry in regard to your
Sept. 10 editorial on an environmental review for Molokai Ranch. The question is, should a private entity be allowed to use a state irrigation system to transmit its water 20 miles away to a resort destination through Hawaiian Home Lands without an environmental review?
The state made a rash decision more than 30 years ago by approving the use of this system only days before key environmental laws were passed. This is even more suspect when the consultant for the developers later became the chairman of the state Board of Natural Resources and approved his own proposal. Just because you made the wrong decision 30 years ago doesn't make it right today.
The purpose of the Molokai irrigation system is to deliver water to farms. This system, built with state and federal funds, was in fulfillment of the Hawaiian Homes Act to deliver water to homestead farmlands. Prior to this, homesteaders faced water rationing where water was available only every other day, and they carried water by buckets to their crops to keep them alive. During droughts, they would come together as a community to fast and pray for rain so their crops would survive. It was because of this "experiment" by the federal government that we have Hawaiian Home Lands today. Water is life, and the life of this land is perpetuated only in righteousness.
Glenn Ioane Teves
Hoolehua homesteader
Molokai
Let Superferry bring us out of Dark Ages
The Canary Islands, like the Hawaiian Islands, consist of seven islands in the middle of the ocean. These are volcanic islands like ours; the main industries are tourism and agriculture. They are part of Spain.
Fred Olsen Line has been providing car/passenger ferry service between these islands since 1989 with a fleet of five fast ferries of the same design as our Superferry. The largest travels at 42 knots (6 knots faster than our ferry), and carries 1,250 passengers and 400 autos. This fleet is vital to the commerce of the local population.
They have never hit a whale or harmed any marine life and invasive species have never been a problem. The major invasive species issue comes from the cruise/cargo vessels and airplanes arriving from foreign destinations.
The Superferry will take us out of the Dark Ages and into the 21st century and finally provide us with transportation between the islands at least comparable to those in Europe, Asia and even the third world countries in Africa and Latin America.
It is time for all the unfounded emotional arguments that are inflaming those ignorant of the facts to be set aside so all parties to come together to allow this huge improvement to our transportation system.
Donald R. Stiger
Waikoloa, Hawaii