Posted on: Tuesday, December 14, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Waikiki residents were inconvenienced

With all due respect to the Honolulu Marathon runners, I hate to complain considering the hard work they have put forth and the distance they have traveled to be part of this world event.

As a resident of Waikiki for almost 13 years now, I was appalled at the very poor coordination efforts of the Department of Transportation and the Honolulu Police Department. In an effort to get to work on the morning of this event, I was told that both Kalakaua and Ala Moana Boulevard would be closed from 4:30 to 8:30 a.m. and that there would be no other exit for residents with vehicles needing to leave the area.

Logistically, this seems to be absolutely ridiculous — the world should not stop revolving due to this event. Residents do live in Waikiki and do have jobs. To stop all traffic in and out of Waikiki shows no respect. It's evident that the money that this event brings in speaks louder than any aloha for its people who reside here.

Let the NCAA know about the injustices

To our beloved Rainbow Wahine volleyball team and coach Dave Shoji and staff: Once again, thank-you for a spectacular season. We thank you from the bottom of our much weakened hearts for all the highs, lows, digs and kills. We are all so proud of your effort and quiet humility despite glaring injustices.

To all the thousands and thousands of fans: What the NCAA did was wrong in not letting Hawai'i host any postseason games after an undefeated season, and we all know it. I didn't enjoy watching helpless in front of my TV while my girls got booed by Wisconsin fans, and I'm sure you didn't either. Let all your voices be heard so this never happens again. Below is all the contact information of Myles Brand, the president of the NCAA. Write, e-mail, fax, phone — tell him how you feel, he can't ignore us all:

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Attn: President Myles Brand, 700 W. Washington Street, P.O. Box 6222, Indianapolis, Ind. 46206-6222

Phone: (317) 917-6222

Fax: (317) 917-6888

E-mail: mbrand@ncaa.org

Stop wasting our money on Natatorium

Restoring the Waikiki Natatorium to its former glory would be fabulous in a perfect world. But unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world.

Millions of Hawai'i taxpayer dollars have already been wasted on trying to restore it. The city and state are always saying that they have no money for school improvements, homeless shelters, raises, etc. And now Mayor Harris wants to spend another $10 million and more on this financial black hole.

I know it's close to Christmas, but does Mayor Harris have to spend taxpayer money so fast and frivolously to restore a large saltwater pool right next to the ocean? Keep the monument at the entrance, but remove the pool and make it a sandy beach. Or just leave it as it is.

Motorcycle clubs' generosity unselfish

So let me get this straight: Motorcycle clubs here in Hawai'i get together and deliver food to the elderly for Thanksgiving and toys to needy children for Christmas. They do this out of unselfish generosity and receive no compensation for their time, money or fuel. And Justin Hahn of Waikiki says they are the "evil" ones?

Perhaps instead of sitting on his 'okole watching television, Mr. Hahn might for once actually do something unselfish and help out his fellow human beings. I'm sure in his perfect vision of the world, Big Brother Big Sister collection vans, Salvation Army bell ringers, Meals on Wheels and whatever else he considers a "nuisance" would be outlawed.

You'll hear from us again next year

I read Justin Hahn's comments on the Toys for Tots motorcycle event ("Never mind toys; the point's the noise," Dec. 9).

First, there were not "a hundred, two hundred" of these "idiots" — there were thousands.

Second, it did not benefit only a few children. These biker "idiots," men and women from all walks of life, collected more than 10,000 toys. Biker enthusiast "idiots" who share a passion for riding motorcycles and have big hearts help organizations like Toys for Tots, Bikers Against Diabetes, Muscular Dystrophy Association and many other good causes. Nationwide, motorcycle events bring in millions of dollars to those organizations. Yes, Mr. Hahn, millions of dollars.

Mr. Hahn, you stated that these "idiots" make noise that "echoes through the canyons of Waikiki like gunfire in Baghdad." Well, most of the biker "idiots" served in the military and many who were riding that day are serving our great nation today.

You commented about our legislators being "timid and lazy." Legislators have a difficult job trying to balance the whims of all of us, but thank God they have hearts to understand the needs of our community.

Mr. Hahn, you wrote about how you can't enjoy a TV program or a meaningful conversation. You are a lucky man. You have a home in Waikiki, you own a TV and you either have family or friends with whom to have this "meaningful" conversation. Many of these children who receive the Toys for Tots don't have homes or TV sets or even a caring person to have a meaningful conversation with.

Well, Mr. Hahn, you will be "hearing" from us again next year.

Hawai'i no barrier for visually impaired

We just returned from a month's vacation in Waikiki. It was not our first visit, but this one was different. My husband is now visually impaired due to a stroke.

We encountered so many caring people while we were vacationing. First of all, most people immediately moved out of my husband's way when they saw his white cane. There were occasions when he was out on his own and someone would walk him to the correct bus stop or walk him down all three levels of the Ala Moana Center so that he could find his way to the trolley. The bus drivers were patient and considerate of his slower mobility.

We had a great vacation and will certainly return. Your citizens have ensured that. Thank-you from the bottom of our hearts.

Rumsfeld's excuses aren't acceptable

It was disturbing to learn how Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld responded to an American soldier in Iraq who informed him that U.S. troops are not being provided with enough armor to protect their vehicles. When the soldier asked why they have to scavenge for scrap metal, Rumsfeld replied, "You go to war with the Army you have, not the Army you might want or wish to have" ("Disgruntled U.S. soldiers put tough questions to Rumsfeld," Dec. 9).

That kind of thinking may have been acceptable if the United States had been attacked by another country and didn't have time to prepare. However, Rumsfeld engineered the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and he had the opportunity to make all necessary preparations beforehand. Foolishly, he ignored Gen. Eric Shinseki's advice that many more troops would be needed for the occupation phase. Now Rumsfeld is trying to brush aside responsibility for the inadequate planning that has become so glaringly apparent.

He then revealed another inconsistency in his thinking by saying that armor doesn't guarantee protection because, "You can have all the armor in the world on a tank and a tank can (still) be blown up." In Rumsfeld's mind, that kind of fatalistic reasoning may be good enough for our troops, but it's not good enough when it comes to his own safety. Otherwise he would eschew the protection of the many security personnel who try to keep anyone from harming him.

Gensiro Kawamoto the renters' Grinch

As renters of a Gensiro Kawamoto property who just received their three-sentence eviction notice 12 hours after your article was printed, we have something to say.

We can deal with the fact that the man raised our rent by $200. We can even accept the fact that after numerous attempts to get our Realtor (whoever it happened to be that month) to make major improvements to the house, nothing was done.

What we find hard to understand is why this individual (who has consciously stomped on every aspect of both the aloha and holiday spirit) decided to assume the role of Grinch and evict all of us renters two weeks before Christmas.

Did he find it that infeasible to extend our "month-to-month" lease to March of next year? A lot of us renters who managed to stay below the radar at our own expense deserve at least that much courtesy.

Mr. Kawamoto is all about business. He obviously finds it more feasible to evict loyal tenants, make the necessary improvements that should have been made years ago and sell at the market price, rather than give us the option to buy.

And the saddest part of all is as long as his money is just as green as the slopes of Koko Crater, Mr. Kawamoto will still be allowed to do business here in Hawai'i — regardless of the many lives he has disrupted.

Merry Christmas!

Symphony started holidays off right

Thank you to the Honolulu Symphony Pops and Matt Catingub, who again started off the holiday season with a tremendous concert with two Hawai'i stalwarts, Na Leo Pilimehana and the Brothers Cazimero.

On Saturday night, from the first number, a heartwarming rendition of "O Holy Night" by Na Leo, the classic "Pua Lilia" (where Robert seemed to modulate four or five times!) to the always fun antics of the trombone section, the concert hall was filled with the beautiful music and the holiday spirit.

Matt Catingub and the Hono-lulu Pops always deliver high-quality performances and are a valuable asset to our community. They deserve our support, not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.

Honolulu's police force is among finest in the nation

After more than 35 years in law enforcement, I know well that people are quick to complain and criticize the police and very slow to praise them. So it is with extreme pride and gratitude that I write this letter of commendation for outstanding police work for the officers of the Honolulu Police Department.

On Friday, at approximately 11:30 p.m., I was the victim of a "cat" type home invasion burglary. While my daughter and I watched TV, the perpetrator cut and unlatched my back screen door, crept in unseen and unheard, and stole my work backpack, which contained a number of very important items, from my desk chair just 15 feet from where I sat.

I noticed the theft a few minutes later, called 911, and checked the area of the yard and street but saw no one in the area. Within minutes, officers Tony Bustamente and Mike Ganigan arrived and conducted a thorough and professional crime scene investigation.

In law enforcement, luck is always a factor. But luck is useless without diligent and conscientious police work. Several hours later, officers Charles Crowder, Tracy Matsukado, Jake Miyashiro and Steve Lee apprehended two men and a juvenile from Kalihi and recovered my backpack and all of my property, along with the apparent proceeds of other burglaries.

In my long career in law enforcement, I have had the privilege of working with a number of different local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. So I can tell you as a professional, when it comes to integrity and professionalism, the men and women of HPD are without question among the finest in the nation, and I am honored and proud to salute them for outstanding police work.