Letters to the Editor

A reopened Midway would allow cleanup

It was with much concern that I read your article "Islands' trash shocks Cousteau." It was demoralizing to read that 60 to 70 tons of ocean trash had accumulated at Midway Island. Since the public has been denied access to Midway, the loss of volunteer programs has an obvious impact.

It used to be that visitors would pay to fly to Midway in order to participate in picking up plastic and other ocean debris. Since Fish and Wildlife has been unable to restart the promised visitor program, the good work of volunteer programs is missed — not to mention the terrific financial opportunities for Honolulu as a pass-through for these eco-visitors.

Now the taxpayers are paying over $5 million a year to run the infrastructure at Midway, and the public still does not have access to Midway. We cannot stop the trash from drifting in, but let's get going on getting Midway open again so volunteers can aid in picking up the trash on a routine basis. Midway, my home town, deserves better.

Government should provide the raises

In response to James Cowen's Aug. 4 letter: The bus drivers, police, firefighters and teachers all deserve more pay. The government needs to be more efficient in spending, raising taxes or creating a state lottery or a combination — not just say no more money.

Private industries need true collective bargaining with open ledgers for fair pay. In any potential strike, someone will say the workers are overpaid or fairly compensated. How much is your annual salary as head of OTS, Mr. Cowen? Or the rest of your management team?

Come on, Hawai'i workers: Don't fall for this tactic; don't be a bucket of crabs. Support our OTS drivers and maintenance workers.

Bus advertisements might be objectionable

Here we go. After reading about this proposal, I was immediately reminded of the bus and taxi system in Las Vegas. How long will it be before the escort agencies desire to advertise on such venues? Or, God forbid, companies promoting male enhancement.

I know it sounds corny, but is it really what we want our visitors to think of when they arrive? Mark my words, it's only a question of time before it happens, and then what — will the city appoint a council to review what is appropriate for advertisement (blue laws?) and what's not?

Rather than seeking new ways of generating revenue, how about managing what is taken in in a better manner? To quote a friend, "It's a no-brainer." Oops, I guess if that were really true, our situation wouldn't be bad after all.

City, Campbell park aren't conserving water

I believe we all need to conserve water always.

I saw on the news Monday that voluntary watering days are Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, but while driving to work Monday night from Makakilo to Campbell Industrial Park (I start work at 9 p.m.), I saw that the sprinklers were on — the sprinklers are on every night on Makakilo Drive through Kapolei city. Not only over-watering the median, but over-watering the roads, too.

On the way home at 5 a.m., watering again — same conditions. That was Monday — not a watering day. How does the Board of Water Supply expect people to conserve water while the City & County and Campbell Industrial Park disregard water-conserving recommendations? They will wait for mandatory restrictions, and how will the board hand out fines to the city and Campbell Industrial?

There are so many puddles my dirty truck needs to be washed every day. Who maintains these sprinklers?

Crack down on city

Regarding the Aug. 5 story "Board pressures big water users": The Board of Water Supply is going at this backward. Instead of "pressuring," the board should be "taking the pressure off." That is, going around to every control point for water going to city department users and cranking the valve back by 10 percent.

Police are worthless about motorcycle noise

I practically choked laughing at the article in the Aug. 4 paper on noise pollution. What island are you people from? It certainly isn't O'ahu.

I have called the police more than once, I have even stopped at the substation on Kalakaua and have been treated like an idiot, and rudely too, I might add.

I have been told there is nothing they can do about the motorcycles gathering here every Sunday; apparently that includes not ticketing them for speeding or excessive noise. When they park in the cutouts and rev their engines, the noise can be heard for blocks.

Since this occurs every Sunday, it seems to me the police could be, at the very least, around to caution them.

The excuses I get from the police would be laughable if they weren't so pathetic.

Hawai'i exodus due to exclusionary attitude

A recent editorial pointed out that "Hawai'i is not the Mainland." Is that meant to be a positive?

Recent reports have people leaving Hawai'i at a higher rate than any other state in the entire country. Many point to the economy, a lower cost of living and increased job opportunities.

How about a horrible public education system, very high property crime rates, illegal trash dumps, incredibly prevalent drug use, federal consent decrees for the education, hospital and prison systems, widespread strike threats by some of the state's highest-paid employees, and corrupt government officials at all levels?

Not to mention the fact that you are never truly accepted if you move here from the Mainland.

Every discussion for change concludes with "you haoles just don't get the local way." Lucky we live Hawai'i? If the only benefit is sunshine, waves and no bus ads, I implore you to revise your isolationist and exclusionary attitude toward malihini. It drove me away.

Army misusing 9-11 to justify its training

Regarding "Anger still burns at Makua" (Aug. 4): a sad yet maddening description of the scars left at Makua and its advocates after years and years of misuse and abuse by our military stewards. Good stewards who continuously ignore not only our pleas but the message that is sent their way every time a controlled burn goes out of control.

The anger only magnifies when the military easily slips into defense mode by using psychological blackmail to justify its continued occupation of Makua. Smart move, guys, but I thought Mister Bush said our war is a different kind of war. At least this is what was said post-Sept. 11. Since our troops are to be sent to Afghanistan, wouldn't it be more appropriate to train them in mountain conditions? Wait, it must be that they need to train for the ever-bigger threat that is North Korea.

Yes, 9-11 is a sensitive and heart-wrenching occurrence that will live in our minds and hearts forever. However, using the tragedy to further the means of destroying lives and land, in our own backyard, has no honor to it. The military should be ashamed of using such tactics.