DUI offenders should be removed from roads

When I pick up my 10-year-old daughter, Seiko, from school, she doesn't jump in the back seat to watch a DVD. Instead, we discuss current events and things that happened at school that day.

Recently we talked about the arrest of state Sen. Ron Menor for drunken driving. She wondered why so many people continue to drink and drive. Reflecting on a conversation we had last week about ignition-interlock -- a device that requires passing a breathalyzer before you can start your car -- she thought that it would have been good if the senator had it installed. Ironically, it was Menor who proposed legislation requiring ignition-interlock for repeat offenders; he's obviously aware of the dangers of driving under the influence.

Statewide there were 6,340 DUI offenders -- 3,951 in Honolulu alone. Given that a number of these people are repeat offenders, that's still more than 5,000 people who should be removed from our roads all together. Did someone say an ease in traffic?

Army has made good contributions to Hawaii

As a retired soldier who spent years at Schofield Barracks and at Pohakuloa on the Big Island with the 25th Infantry Tropic Lightning Division, and who is now an annual Hawaii visitor at the Hale Koa at Fort DeRussy and still contributing to the Hawaii economy, I could not disagree more with Tamara Paltin's assessment and rash statements that the "Army has abused Hawaii for too long" (Letters, May 5).

On the contrary, the U.S. Army has been a good steward of the Hawaiian Islands and has contributed for decades to its preservation and has additionally been a good neighbor and boosted the economy with its continued presence.

She should think back to Dec. 7, 1941, a date that will live in infamy of what could have happened if the Army had not been present on the Hawaiian Islands to defend them from more attacks and possible invasion.

I am glad the Army remains in Hawaii for the islands' security and contributes to Hawaii's economy.

Considerate drivers use signals, keep right

I would like to address one significant problem that we have in our means to correct. That is the huge lack of concern for traffic regulations. The two biggest laws that I see violated daily are those requiring the use of turn signals and those that require slower traffic to stay in the right lane.

Why is it so hard for people to obey these two simple regulations? They are in place for our safety. I can't tell you how many near-miss accidents I have been in because somebody decides to make a sudden turn without so much as a hint with their turn signals. That is what they were designed for.

Second, the left lane is not a cruising lane, it is a passing lane. You cruise in the right lane and when passing slower traffic, use your turn signal to let people know what you are doing, then use the passing lane to pass slower traffic, then use your turn signal again to let the people behind you know you are moving back over. It's there for everybody's safety.

Oh, by the way, for those of you who are cruising in the left lane, ignoring all of the "SLOW TRAFFIC KEEP RIGHT" signs, please ... stay off of your stupid cell phones. You are a rolling accident waiting to happen, oblivious to the world around you. You are not the only person on the road. I commend the Honolulu police for aggressively addressing the speed limit violators. Would it be possible to enforce some of the other traffic laws as well?

It is not only courteous to let those around you know your intentions when you are driving, but it is for safety reasons as well. And if safe driving is such a big inconvenience for you, then you should turn in your driver's license and ride the bus.

Bakery doing just fine under new owner

I met Peter Kim, the new owner of Liliha Bakery, and for a well-known businessman he is very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. He listens to everyone's suggestions, and before we knew it things were changed. No more long lines in the bakery section with one cashier. Everyone does everything, from dining to bakery to cashiering. He added steaks and chicken and papayas to his menus, and more seats in the dining area.

I can order as many cinnamon breads to give away to friends at Christmas, and they even do fundraising!

There should be more business owners like Peter who take the time to talk and listen and really care about what customers want. Mahalo, Kaiser High All-Star kicker Peter Kim!

It's just too bad that we can't eat golf balls

Only faulty logic could motivate legislators to produce and approve a bill that aims to promote agriculture and food self-sufficiency in Hawaii but that will actually convert cultivatable lands into sprawling developments. Senate Bill 2646 CD 1 gives landowners a loophole to reclassify a major portion of ag lands to rural without public input in order to build the mansions, the roads, the sidewalks and the golf courses they've long desired.

When importing food becomes prohibitively expensive or otherwise impossible, and we're forced to produce a sustainable, self-sufficient food supply, short-sighted legislators and greedy landowners will learn too late that you can't eat golf balls.