Letters to the Editor

Mass-transit system offers better solution

The article "The BRT fiasco finally ending" by Cliff Slater once again reveals his prejudices against the fixed-rail mass-transit system. As usual, he offers a negative attitude and no alternatives to solving our inevitable and growing traffic problem here on O'ahu.

There are no perfect solutions to traffic problems, but with proper planning, the fixed-rail mass-transit system can alleviate things.

Apparently, Slater is not aware of how island communities such as Singapore and Hong Kong have successfully reduced their traffic problems with fixed-rail mass-transit systems. Their respective geographical situations are very similar to ours and they are even more heavily populated. Both cities have instituted various incentives to make it feasible to use mass transit.

Slater has requested that the members of our newly elected City Council keep an open mind with regard to our traffic problem, but in his column he has presented only the "evils" of a fixed-rail system.

Philip C.S. Loh

Slater's views of O'ahu traffic are fairy tales

If The Honolulu Advertiser is going to continuously publish the same old tune from Cliff Slater, it should give him a travel budget. Instead, he relies on his chums from Berkeley, MIT & Texas A&M.

These buddies sit in windowless rooms all night and get sublimely jaded while trading fairy tales over the Internet. I challenge Slater to name one person from those ivy-covered halls who ever solved anything closely resembling the traffic problems on O'ahu.

I'll take the collective visions from our community any day over the fairy tales from academia.

Wes Frysztacki

Democrats aren't easing the transition

If it weren't so serious it would be comedy, as the state's "Democratic leadership" twists and turns to make the new governor's job as difficult as possible.

Linda Lingle made a brilliant move by talking early to Marion Higa, a respected champion of reality and probity. She hopefully has chapter and verse on who will be the next corrupt officials to occupy the prison that Ben Cayetano is so anxious to have built to specification — Democratic spec, that is.

Evan Dobelle had the stupidity to back the wrong horse. He should at least have the decency to hand in his resignation, but then decency and common sense are notably absent in the present governing elite.

Last, the present administration wants Lingle to "just ask them for a briefing." When you buy a trashed-out building for renovation, since when do you ask the former owners for advice on how to proceed?

Doug Arnott
Hilo

Lahaina needs its own special events arena

The current Lahaina Civic Center is obsolete — it is merely a gymnasium. The Maui Classic is an elite college basketball tournament. If we had an arena that could seat at least 7,000 people, more boosters from other schools could make the trip and in turn add more money to the economy.

Also, Lahaina is like another island compared to the east side (Kahului and Wailuku). An arena here in Lahaina could also act as a convention center. With the hotels and condos on this side, it would be an added plus when tour operators book tours. Not to mention concerts or various types of live entertainment that could use this arena.

The funding could come from a variety of sources, both private and government. And with local halls always being requested for parties for 'ohana, it could be well worth having. Meeting rooms could be used daily — and this type of investment would be equitable. When a Republican convention comes to town, they can use it. Hint, Linda and Duke. Hint, Alan Arakawa. Hint, Joanne Johnson.

Ron Sambrano
Lahaina, Maui

Stadium Authority ban on Thunderstix stupid

I have had it with Eddie Hayashi and the rest of the people at the Stadium Authority. I'm tired of their rules they claim are for our safety. The last straw is the ban on the Thunderstix.

I recall using them two years ago at a UH game. I saw them being used two weeks ago at a high school game. They're fun. I sure wish Hayashi had returned your reporter's call so I could read his explanation of why Thunderstix are unsafe.

The UH Warriors are doing really well, and I'm sure a lot more people wish they could be at the games. But with ridiculous rules — like no umbrellas or purses allowed (but strollers and huge diaper bags are OK) — it's perfectly understandable why people choose not to go.

I hope our governor-elect can do something to turn things around: like replacing the Stadium Authority.

Stephanie Kiyosaki
'Ewa Beach

A lasting legacy

If soon-to-be-former-governor Ben Cayetano succeeds in finalizing the new jail project, thinking perhaps it will be his administration's final legacy, then may I suggest having the jail named after him?

G. Ihori