Never mind toys; the point's the noise

Your coverage on the motorcycle toy drive was incomplete. Sure, you showed a few kids got some stuffed animals, a bunch of bikies got to flex their muscles and ride their hogs.

But what you didn't show were the effects of their bombastic antics on my, and the rest of Honolulu's, day.

Every year this happens: a thundering cacophony that ruins any meaningful conversation or television enjoyment I could be having in my home. It's bad enough that it happens every other day of the year; the motorized flatulence when one idiot does it echoes through the canyons of Waikiki like gunfire in Baghdad. This inconsiderate fool forcing his will on me is an evil I have to live with because the lawmakers of this state are too timid and lazy to do anything about this offensive, needless noise.

But for this paper to glorify a hundred, two hundred of these idiots shaking the peace and quiet of this town? To hold it up as worthy of praise and respect when it is just a needless indulgence in arrogance? That's just wrong.

Don't forget its original purpose

Does anyone care what the Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium is all about?

It appears that nobody really does. Look at the plaque across the street from the entrance to the monument with the names of those from Hawai'i who gave their lives for us during World War I. That's what it's all about.

It is what the present National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl is. Would anyone even think of desecrating that World War II memorial?

My brother and I used to jump off the high platform at the Natatorium in the 1940s. That's where I spread his ashes last February, as he wanted.

Move the Waikiki Aquarium to Kaka'ako, but please leave the Natatorium where it is.

Aloha spirit was there in airborne emergency

I was traveling home from the Mainland with my little sister and 5-month-old daughter last weekend and I became terribly sick en route. We were on Northwest flight 97 from Minneapolis, a direct flight to Honolulu, and I was so sick that I was blacking out.

A flight attendant paged for a doctor and several people came to assist me. Not only did they help to make me as comfortable as possible, but they continued to check on me and care for me throughout the flight.

Now that I am feeling better, I realize that I owe everyone a huge thank you.

Thank you to the doctors and nurses from Tripler who helped me and thank you to the other travelers who helped my sister with the baby — we could not have done it without you. I am grateful to live in a place where people are so willing to help each other.

Make freeway pay for itself with tolls

I have a perfect solution to the traffic problem in Hawai'i. Let's have a toll to get on the freeway. That way taxpayers won't have to pay for maintaining it.

Start charging a toll to access the freeway and lower the bus fare to 75 cents. The tolls will supplement the bus systems and help pay for the mass transit. So Mufi, you should consider it.

Thanks for making games so memorable

I'd like to thank all the University of Hawai'i band members who played in their last football game of the regular season Saturday night against Michigan State and especially to the students who will graduate this spring.

You bring an element to the game that embodies camaraderie, timing, concentration, togetherness and precision, but most of all, fun. All the big schools adore their bands, which are a huge part of their sports program. To all of you and especially our graduating members: You rock.

Sensible policies, absurd execution

I have been reading the letters to the editor regarding the "no aloha" at Aloha Stadium. On Friday night I realized how bad the situation has become.

My granddaughter spent the day, which was a waiver day for many Leeward schools, making candy lei to congratulate the Campbell football players who made it to the state finals. Imagine her surprise and anger when she was told she couldn't take the lei into the stadium because they would be "taking away from the concession stand revenues."

These policies have become ridiculous. Is anybody listening? Does anyone from the stadium authority care?

I am disgusted!

Don't weight-lift these monsters, return them

I got my new phone book late last week and I agree with other letter writers that it is so thick that it can't be used comfortably. Are we telephone patrons supposed to let the phone company get by with treating us like we were Olympic weight lifters, or will we fight back?

I say we fight back! Take the phone book to your nearest Phone Mart or Verizon store and tell them "I don't want it!"

You should be able to get by with last year's phone book.

If enough people take back their books, the phone company would get such a cry from advertisers that they would have to reissue them in two or more volumes.

Organize your neighborhood, community or social club to take the books back en masse and have a media event.

If we don't do something this year, next year the phone book will be even larger.

Extended tour in Iraq is not for the faint of heart

As you might have heard by now, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that several units in Iraq will have their tour of duty extended due to ongoing combat operations. This announcement extended our Battery, 1-62 ADA, two months past the scheduled one-year redeployment mark, extending us to March 2005.

I gathered the battery and personally told my brave young warriors our new redeployment date. As expected, a few heads hung low. I told them, "Our nation is calling upon us to fight beyond our scheduled redeployment date. The Army is not for the weak and faint-hearted. If Feb. 28, 2005, is the road to home, let's attack it head-on with renewed vigor and not fail the American people whom we swore to support and defend."

Afterwards I told them, "You have 10 seconds to scream, whine and complain at the top of your lungs." They let off a loud and thunderous war cry that echoed across the entire camp. To my amazement, few yelled, "Too easy." When the 10 seconds were over, these selfless warriors picked up their rifles, put their war faces back on, and went back to the business of defending everything we cherish as Americans.

I told them to call home and let their loved ones know. I'm certain tears were shed as their spouses, parents, and children heard the news over the phone. Nevertheless, I'm comforted by the fact that just like us soldiers, our Army families are just as resilient. Army wives are a special breed. They are one of a kind.

Team, the true measure of a man (or an Army family) is not during times of comfort and convenience but rather during times of challenge and difficulty. Your service to our nation has exceeded all measures of dedication and selfless service.

America is grateful for the sacrifices its troops and their families make while our nation is at war. You're an embodiment of everything that is good and noble as Americans. Thank you for your patriotism and love for our country. God bless all of you and God bless America.

The gift the thieves didn't intend

I want to thank the "elves" who stole my only car on Dec. 1. Thank you for making my birthday a very special day.

My husband and I awoke that morning at 4:30 to drive our car to work to earn money to buy those special gifts to give to our children and loved ones this holiday season.

Much to our surprise, "Christmas elves" had taken our car.

As I rushed to the bus stop to catch the express to Honolulu, my mind raced with thoughts of what had just transpired and the consequences of the "elves" on our lives. Knowing that our insurance didn't cover theft and due to the fact that our car was 10 years old — we had only liability insurance — this would be a complete loss.

I wondered if these "elves" knew that they had just taken all of my husband's drywall tools, which meant that he cannot work until we can replace these items; my husband thanks you.

My 9-year-old son who recently had surgery and cannot play outside until two days before Christmas due to the injury will have to be carried on a bus for doctor visits and simple trips to the local store for milk and necessary items; he thanks you.

My oldest son who recently was accepted into college after many struggles now has no transportation there; he thanks you.

Throughout the day I was consumed with how this Christmas crime was going to affect the future of my family. That evening as my family sat around the table to discuss our gift to the "elves," my youngest son said to me, "It's OK, Mom, if we don't have gifts. Many kids won't have Christmas this year because their dad died."

As we sat there in silence for a moment we all looked at each other understanding that our material car was not so important, and from there our conversation turned to those less fortunate and those families who have lost that which is most important — a family or loved one who won't be sitting around that Christmas tree this holiday season.

Thank you, "elves," for giving us that gift no one can take in the middle of the night.

As we get caught in the hustle and bustle of this season, remember the lesson of the "elves" — that what is important can't be packaged in a box and tied with a bow.