Harbor fee hikes sound suspicious

Beware the “;Renaissance”;! The state Department of Land and Natural Resources proposes to again raise user fees at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.

Fees were raised last year by a reasonable amount, but this time rents will nearly double what they were. At the same time, the boat repair yard is proposed to be leased to a wedding chapel. Over 700 boats at the Ala Wai need periodic maintenance—and the repair yard will be a wedding chapel?

How do you get rid of all of the recreational boats and make way for tourist development? Well, just raise the fees to levels that they cannot afford. It does not appear to matter that the Ala Wai Harbor has paid for itself over the years, and has actually subsidized other small boat harbors even before the fees were raised.

If the harbor were a financial drag on the state, or the local boaters were not paying enough to sustain the harbor, then maybe one would not be so suspicious about a DLNR hidden agenda.

Eddie Hamada was a loving light

Every once in a while a light goes out in the universe and we don't realize how much we needed and appreciated that light until it is gone. Such is the passing of “;Mr. Iolani,”; Eddie Hamada.

All of the great accolades will be written, and have been written, by the Iolani School grads and those who played for him, including our mayor. The newspapers did wonderful stories.

But these really don't capture the measure of the man, because when you were in the coach's presence, you felt special, appreciated, calm, comfortable, safe and being understood—all rolled into one. He was always on your side. One of his qualities was that everything was OK when you were with him. I felt that way and I didn't even go to Iolani.

I knew Mr. Hamada initially through the media and then as a friend—and as I look around now, I know that the world has become a slightly darker place. So long, Eddie. We will miss you.

Safety demands ban on fireworks

The letter from Bill Wong was as impressive as a flat tire (”;Fireworks show draws support,”; Star-Bulletin, Jan. 7). When illegal homemade bombs shatter neighborhoods at night from Halloween to past New Year's, it's time to stop this insanity. Mr Wong might not remember about nine years ago, 81-year-old Lillian Herring was sleeping in her home and fireworks landed on her roof, which burned her house down and the poor woman died. Do you think that's entertainment?

Two children had third- degree burns and were in critical condition this year, not to mention many other injuries that were reported. Do you think it's fun that our firefighters are put in harm's way when they have to put out brush and house fires from senseless fireworks? If our lawmakers really care for the people's safety, they have to pass a total ban on fireworks.

Postal Service performed well

I feel I must write in defense of the U.S. Postal Service (”;Let post office face competition,”; Star-Bulletin, Letters, Jan. 5).

On Dec. 15, a large flat-rate box was mailed to me from New York; it was delivered on Dec. 20. Five days from New York to Hawaii—amid the Christmas rush. And on Dec. 18, my friend in Montana mailed me a largeflat-rate box that was delivered here on Dec. 22—four normal working days to cross the country. With all the bajillion cards and packages for the holidays?

No, I don't work for the U.S. Postal Service.