Letters to the Editor
Anti-business attitude harms 'sense of place'
"Let's give Waikiki a sense of place." How many times have we heard this? Now with Liberty House being taken over by Macy's, going down Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues, the few unique businesses we'll see will be ABC Discount Stores.
Sense of place?
It's no wonder, with the state government's poor business attitude. Remember, Hawai'i is rated dead last in the country.
Jack Law
Local business person
Why close freeways because of accidents?
What is it with closing the freeway in almost every accident case?
One example is the June 18 accident where the woman lost her life. And remember our favorite coach, who was in a terrible accident 20 yards off the freeway?
In California, only rarely do they close the freeway. They will only do so if other drivers would be in harm's way. If there is an accident, they take pictures and measurements instantly and open the lanes not affected ASAP. They don't close Highway 101 or any other highway unless absolutely necessary.
The citizens there are no less important than here. Why inconvenience tens of thousands of drivers every time there is an accident? Three hours to investigate a solo accident?
The police seem to relish freeway closures. They may need to take some lessons from some of the other large cities in America.
Larry Mark
Get involved to fight drunk driving in Isles
What will it take before we, as a community, decide that drinking and driving is a lethal combination? How many more deaths? How many more loved ones must Hawai'i lose before we stop getting behind the wheel after drinking?
The headlines over the Kamehameha Day holiday described a weekend of carnage on our highways. Summer months can be Hawai'i's most dangerous months for drinking and driving. These times of celebration — graduation parties, beach parties, farewell parties — are supposed to mark the best of times. Too often they end in tragedy.
In 1999, Hawai'i had 43 alcohol-related traffic fatalities. In 2000, MADD-Hawaii estimates the official number will be 52. Our feeling for 2001 is that we may end up with even more alcohol-related fatalities than in 2000. This is a scary trend.
Hawai'i's anti-drunk-driving laws are tougher than they ever have been. MADD-Hawai'i works relentlessly in the community to get our message out and it's a simple one: Don't drink and drive. If you're under 21, it's against the law to drink.
It's time to quit looking at "them" to solve this problem. Whoever you believe "them" to be, they are working to eliminate drunk driving. It's time we looked at ourselves and decided that enough is enough.
Please get involved. Call MADD-Hawai'i at 532-6232.
Kathryn Nelson
State chairperson, MADD-Hawai'i
HECO's free ride on energy nearly over
Luckily for the people of Hawai'i, Rep. Hermina Morita, in her June 19 commentary, shows she is one of a growing number of legislators who understand energy issues and know that HECO is not serving the public.
Hawai'i of all places should have cutting-edge energy policy: We're uniquely vulnerable to external dependencies (shipped-in oil) and also uniquely blessed with our own energy sources (sun, wind, wave, ocean thermal energy, etc.).
How has HECO responded? By lobbying hard against alternate energy while congratulating itself on a token solar-energy program.
But HECO's free ride is nearly over: The citizens — and their representatives — are restless.
Elisa W. Johnston
Dallas offers guide on keeping streets clean
I just returned from a business trip to Texas and was quite surprised that Dallas was so clean. The city streets, bus stops, etc., had not a speck of trash anywhere.
I mentioned to a cab driver how surprised I was on the cleanliness of the city and he responded that, since the city decided to give people a choice of paying traffic fines or cleaning the city's public streets, the city has become a much cleaner place.
I think we could use this idea to make Hawai'i a more beautiful place for everyone.
Bob Martin
Hawai'i Kai
Trolley's admission makes idea worthless
Regarding the Kaimuki-Kapahulu-Waikiki Trolley: I have spoken repeatedly at public meetings on why this trial will fail.
Asking $1 every time you get on the trolley is not a way to promote the area. A pass should be granted that could be used again and again on any particular day if going in the same direction. No one listens.
Diane Tippett
