Letters to the Editor

It's a bit hard to feel sympathy for the Hokuli'a developer 1250 Oceanside Partners. It bought ag-zoned land — that's "ag" as in agriculture. It was obviously hopeful of changing the zoning so it could build big homes on big lots for non-farmers — that is, it made a bet. Turns out to be a very bad bet.

Then not only did the developer never get the zoning changed, it ignored it and built the big lots and homes regardless. So now we should feel sorry that "anti-business Hawai'i" has taken it to court and gotten the project stopped — in spite of all the environmental and cultural damage its dozers have caused? I don't think so.

Instead of sympathy, the developer had better be required to start healing that hillside and the reef it spilled mud all over. Judge Ibarra, please make it buy a bond that it will do so before you let it out of the state.

Rees' commentary was wrong on Abercrombie

Bob Rees' Aug. 31 opinion piece on Native Hawaiian issues includes two erroneous statements about Congressman Neil Abercrombie.

First, the pocket-sized copy of the U.S. Constitution to which Rees refers was given to Abercrombie by Sen. Spark Matsunaga, not Gov. John Burns, as Rees states.

More importantly, Rees discusses Abercrombie's televised comments about Hawaiian issues (broadcast Aug. 21 on KHON) under the apparently mistaken impression that Abercrombie was commenting on the Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy. In fact, the interview covered every major Hawaiian issue except Kamehameha Schools.

The issues mentioned in the Abercrombie interview included OHA, Hawaiian Homesteads, ceded lands and the Akaka bill. Although the Kamehameha Schools issue was the lead story in the broadcast, the Abercrombie segment contained no reference to Kamehameha Schools by either the interviewer or the congressman.

In his televised comments, Abercrombie defended Hawaiian programs and said that challenges to them are setting the stage for legal actions to extinguish Native Hawaiians' interest in ceded lands. He also made the point that the Akaka bill, which would strengthen Hawaiian claims to ceded lands, would pass Congress easily if it had the support of the Bush administration.

BRT system will increase congestion

The city is getting ready to spend millions on a Bus Rapid Transit system that will increase traffic congestion, create unsafe conditions for pedestrians and not reach its goals.

In reading the plans for the route for the BRT, I have discovered some alarming elements. Several of our most important transportation arteries will be losing driving lanes. Dillingham will be reduced to one lane in each direction. King Street at Kapi'olani will be reduced from five lanes to three and, farther along, from six lanes to four. One of the lanes being taken away, the mauka curb lane, will have BRT buses on it running contraflow. Auahi Street, which has Ward Warehouse, Ward Centre and the huge theater complex, will be reduced to one lane in each direction. There are also other roadways that will be adversely affected.

The City Council must immediately halt this plan. There are other solutions to traffic problems. This is not a good one.

'Slut stereotypes' takeout was tasteless

With so much turmoil and bloodshed in the world, I found it extremely disturbing that you chose to feature two large front-page Focus pieces (Sept. 7) associating African American females with nudity, porn and "slut stereotypes."

The enormous picture of the scantily clad Vivica Fox with gangster rapper 50 Cent was totally prurient and unnecessary. Especially when contrasted to the tiny inside-page photo of the similarly provocative Britney Spears, Madonna and Christina Aguilera.

By including Arnold Schwarzenegger's comment about "a black girl who came out naked (at Gold's Gym)" whom "everybody jumped on ... and took ... upstairs," you have exceeded the Enquirer, Star and the Globe in tastelessness, not to mention racism.

UH online bidding system has a fault

It's a wonderful idea when the government can find ways to save money in today's tightening market. It is a tragedy, however, when it seems to be at the expense of the public.

The UH Board of Regents has begun to outsource contracts through an online service ("UH regents approve online bid process," Sept. 9). This does indeed seem quite cost-effective. However, the article does not mention the half a percent that is to be paid by the highest bidder. That, too, sounds acceptable, but at www.commercepoint.com, a FAQ is asked, "Do I (the bidder) have to absorb the transaction fee?" The response is "No. The buying group fully anticipates that the fee will be passed on in the price quotation as part of the cost of doing business."

So if a winning bid is $100,000 and half a percent of that is $500, who's paying for that? The University of Hawai'i, right? And who funds the University of Hawai'i? Taxpayers, right? You and I. Multiply that $500 by numerous bids. Is this online service really that cost-effective?

Gas companies should provide lower octane

Would you like to know one reason for the high gas prices in Hawai'i? On the Mainland, the regular unleaded gasoline is 85 (octane); for some reason, here in Hawai'i the regular unleaded is 87. I use 87 in my truck because it is a newer model. Older-model vehicles do not require 87.

Why not ask the oil companies why they are, basically, forcing us to use higher-priced gasoline? Unless there is something in the air that makes us use higher-priced gasoline, why not change?

Why no consultation on recycling program?

I live in Mililani and am all for recycling. But what a surprise! I can't recall being consulted on participating in a recycling program (public hearing?) — just that I was "told" in the papers that I would be doing so in November.

I sure wish I'd been given prior notice and an opportunity to put in my two cents' worth. At a minimum, a letter survey/input form would really have been nice. Then my questions about the implementation of the program could have been answered. Who knows, my input (if permitted, that is) may have made a small difference on how this is going to happen.

I do know I now have a bad taste in my mouth about how I learned of it, and I do have a number of questions. After all, this program will affect my daily life. I'm probably not alone here. That is not a good thing for those who voted for recycling and want to see the program succeed.