Letters to the Editor
POSTED: Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Let's all make 2009 good for Honolulu
Hauoli Makahiki Hou.
The dawning of a new year is always an exciting time, filled with the promise of new opportunities, a chance to make amends or to begin a new chapter in our lives, or just a spirit of renewed purpose.
The coming year will be challenging, to be sure. But we also have so much to be grateful for: the bounty of life in Hawaii and a strong nation, the love of family and the companionship of good friends. We should use these blessings as the inspiration to reaffirm our commitment to our families, friends and community, and to do our best in every endeavor large and small. With this renewed spirit of purpose will come a better home, a better Hawaii and a better world.
Gail and I welcome 2009 with you, and with gratitude, hope and confidence in our future.
Honolulu mayor
Face it, Hawaii, we're really not that friendly
I chuckled reading Lorraine Cobcroft's letter yesterday about the rudeness of our people. And I thought it was only on the Leeward-bound buses that I ride daily and in shopping centers where I found these ill-mannered and rude people. But to find it in Waikiki and the airport as well is really hard to swallow. After all, these two public sectors are what feed us in Hawaii. I too was always horrified by the unfriendliness at the airport compared to other places, or other developed countries for that matter.
Hawaii, be nice and friendly. If we lose tourists, what are we going to do? Go back to agriculture? Raw material sources? Manufacturing? - that's a joke.
Makakilo
Why is Phoenix's rail so much cheaper?
Phoenix just opened its light rail project on Dec. 27. Like Honolulu's planned system, it runs 20 miles with future extensions planned. It also has free park-and-ride sites with security and enhanced bus service. Tickets are $1.25 one way. Unlike Honolulu's rail project, all this cost $1.4 billion, with the federal government paying almost half. How come ours is going to cost more than five times as much and the federal government is expected to put up only $900,000?
Pearl City
KSSK performed well during big blackout
I wanted to correct your editorial yesterday about KSSK's performance during the islandwide outage. You incorrectly conclude that, “;Instead of seeking information from authorities, the station simply waited for them to call in.”;
Listening to the radio one has no idea of the beehive of activity behind the voices. As a communications representative of Hawaiian Electric, I was at the station from about 7:30 p.m. on Friday and for most of the duration of the outage.
Two KSSK news team members were calling out to gather information and arrange for call-ins from authorities. Several producers and on-air personalities like Kathy w/a K were notating, recording and posting information for broadcast by Michael W. Perry and Larry Price.
In the studio Friday night, a Department of Transportation representative was calling out and receiving information that was promptly on the air, in addition to DOT Director Brennon Morioka's call-ins. State Civil Defense, Board of Water Supply and other official spokespeople were promptly put on air live - as were the governor and mayor - and in many cases their remarks recorded for rebroadcast.
When it comes to communications in a major emergency, we always seek ways to improve. However, KSSK should be given credit for the considerable effort that were made early and often to gather and broadcast information for the public.
Hawaiian Electric Co.
Breaking law, being rude aren't 'tradition'
It's that time of the year when many constituents express their frustration about the inability of police to do anything about irresponsible people setting off fireworks in total disregard of the law. Enforcement is near-impossible since the police must actually witness someone breaking the law.
Over the years, I have introduced bills to return the regulation of fireworks to the counties, where it rightfully belongs. After all, what might work on the Big Island might not work on Oahu. Once again, I will be introducing legislation to ban fireworks in counties with a population of more than 500,000; however, the argument for an outright statewide ban becomes more compelling due to:
» a noticeable increase in the use of illegal fireworks, including aerials and highly explosive devices;
» a growing number of people who disregard the legal time period and set off fireworks at all hours;
» the desire of businesses to capitalize on the demand, allowing unlimited purchases;
» the increasing danger of storage and transit of illegal fireworks on the black market;
» the lack of supervision by adults, resulting in injuries and fires.
“;Culture”; is the main reason cited to keep this tradition alive. I don't know of any tradition that encourages the breaking of laws, depriving neighbors of their right to a safe and quiet community, and imposing great risks to pets and to those with health problems.
D, Pearl City
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