Posted on: Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Letters to the Editor

Calgary shows how to take the 'C Train'

If the politicians in Hawai'i are serious about a transit solution to Honolulu's long-term traffic problem, they need to take a study trip to Calgary, Alberta, Canada — probably the best guide to what is possible in mid-sized North American cities with populations between 500,000 and 1 million.

The Calgary "C-Train" light-rail system carries 150,000-plus passengers per day on a three-route, 20-mile system. This is about two-thirds of its total "linked" transit trips (e.g., after transfers subtracted).

Calgary's population is only slightly higher (850,000, plus or minus) than O'ahu's, as is their downtown employment. But Calgary's transit patronage is somewhat higher than Honolulu, despite the facts that (1) the area is developed at much lower development densities — particularly in the core area, (2) it has more, lower-traffic-density corridors entering downtown, and (3) it has very cold winters, which one would think reduces transit usage (but it doesn't).

Light-rail system won't be panacea

The sky is falling over Hawai'i! That's true, according to Paul Sosso (Island Voices, Dec. 28). Hawai'i taxpayers should cough up their hard-earned money to build a $60 million-a-mile light-rail system. If they don't, he states, Hawai'i might become the "parking lot of the Pacific."

Well, light rail won't prevent this from happening. Fewer people migrating to Hawai'i might be a start.

Light rail is supposed to be cost-effective, while cleaning the air and reducing traffic congestion. In fact, it has never done any of these theoretical feats. There isn't one light-rail system that pays for itself. In fact, most need 75 percent and greater funding from, you guessed it, tax dollars.

Dallas' DART collects 12 percent of its operating costs from the rail rider.

There is no proof light rail has done anything to clean the air; in fact, there are studies that suggest light rail might actually be polluting the air. Causing motor vehicles to stop and go (just like the buses) also worsens air quality.

There is no noticeable reduction in vehicle traffic where light rail is used. Traffic congestion in Dallas has increased 25 percent since DART started operations. Those who used to use buses, whose routes are often closed, forcing them to use the light rail, often populate light rail.

Mr. Sosso also mistakenly makes reference to cities that have "heavy rail" and not light rail. Light rail is a trolley system that runs on tracks at road level, right along with motor vehicles. One thing for sure, since light rail's average speed is 15 miles per hour, you might be better off riding your bike with Mr. Sosso.

See the Hawai'i Bowl for its positives, too

Regarding all of the negative letters to the editor on the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl post-game brawl, I like to look at the more positive side:

• Hawai'i gets into a bowl game, which is already a win in a sense.
• Hawai'i-born and -raised UH quarterback Timmy Chang becomes third in the nation in all-time career passing yardage, as well as MVP of the Hawai'i Bowl.
• The game was televised nationwide via ESPN, which gives not only the team and school a chance to be showcased to improve the economy, but the entire state.

On a more personal note, my family and I were able to enjoy Christmas together doing what we love to do: supporting UH Warrior football. These are just a few reasons why I appreciate what football has brought to Hawai'i.

Sometimes we fail to see the good in things, as negatives are so easy to point out. However, you need to take a deeper look at the entire picture sometimes.

Warriors were simply defending themselves

After reading the initial blast of negative letters about the Hawai'i Bowl game, the UH players and June Jones, I thought I should balance the scale.

I was working on the field and had close-up observations from start to finish, which included Houston players trying to intimidate UH players with overly abusive taunting and cheap-shot punches throughout the game. It actually started from the warm-up period. Seemed that a Houston strategy was to scare the Hawai'i boys into losing the game.

Do the letter writers expect UH players to let Houston players continue to punch and kick them throughout the entire game if the refs don't stop the offenders?

The Hawai'i players were defending themselves and their teammates. After the initial pushing and shoving, the Houston players initiated the vicious punches and kicks, including flying blindside kicks. The Hawai'i players fought back. Some of the Houston coaches were double-palm-thrust pounding Hawai'i players in the chest instead of concentrating on pulling their own players back. When several Houston players got a Hawai'i player pinned down on the turf and pummeled him with vicious punches and kicks, the Hawai'i players went berserk. Does anyone think that the other Hawai'i players should run away from a teammate in peril?

The UH players played their hearts out and left it all on the field for themselves and for us, the people of Hawai'i. They deserve much more from the uninformed false-crack critics.

Madness is found in the eating of animals

Countless millions of human beings suffer all manner of viral, bacterial and other diseases transmitted from "food" animals (not to mention the horrible suffering of the animals).

The recent mad cow disease scare in Hawai'i is just another entry in a long series of animal-to-human infections. When will the disgusting habit of eating dead animal carcasses stop? Eating dead animals is horrible for the human body, horrible for the environment and horrible for the animals being slaughtered.

Please, stop the "madness."

DBEDT, Stillwater opted not to attend hearing

Sen. Fred Hemmings is wrong in his assessment of the informational briefing on the gas price cap. DBEDT and Stillwater were given a copy of concerns that would be brought up at the hearing, and for some reason chose not to attend.

Since the hearing, Stillwater and DBEDT have collectively responded to the concerns that were presented to the Legislature, and again they chose to avoid answering our very direct questions.

Our group of concerned citizens is comprised of some very prominent citizens of Hawai'i who have held executive positions at our local refinery. Someone has to tell the people of Hawai'i the truth.

Don't blame 'act of God' for whale boat tragedy

I worked as a deck hand and captain for almost 10 years on two different tourist cruise boats in Waikiki (the Leahi and the Alealekai catamarans). These boats are similar in role to the American Dream, on which a boy died from a head injury caused by the boat's collision (or near collision) with a humpback whale off Waikiki.

After seeing the videotape on the evening news and reading about the incident in the paper, all I have to say is that during the 10 years I spent cruising off Waikiki, I don't remember having once been "surprised" by a pod of whales.

In fact, we became quite adept at spotting them from miles away.

To try to blame the collision on an "act of God" is ludicrous. Dream Cruises needs to show some integrity and take responsibility for the incident; blaming it on God is a little too convenient.

Bad precedent was set

I am part-Hawaiian and I am very upset that the trustees buckled on allowing a non-Hawaiian to attend Kamehameha. This will set a precedent. Now what is to stop non-Hawaiians from applying for benefits that should be for Hawaiians?

Conservative views are rare in newspaper

I moved to Hawai'i in April and started taking The Advertiser at that time. I have noticed that there are few, if any, conservative commentaries from the national services. Why is that? Why are all the pieces generally from the Los Angeles Times or New York Times? There are hardly any conservative pieces in the paper.

The piece on the worst moments in journalism (Dec. 28) was terrible. David Shaw really doesn't like Newscorp or the Bush administration.

Sure, there were stories that, it turns out, were not true, such as the Jessica Lynch rescue, but there were stories like this during all previous wars (even ones with Democratic administrations).

It would be nice if just once in a while there were a commentary from someone like George Will. I know I can't be the only conservative on O'ahu. Conservatives are not bad people, and liberals are not all wonderful people, either. There are good and bad in each group.

Hawai'i has two very classy comedians

What a wonderful Comedy Scene review by Wayne Harada. We have two great local performers at the Ohana Reef Towers in Waikiki, with good, clean and professional comedy routines.

I recently saw Robin Williams on TV entertaining the troops in Iraq and could not understand half of it, then realized every few words were being "bleeped." I saw Bob Hope on TV numerous times entertaining the troops with standing ovations and never once was he "bleeped."

Needless to say, I am so pleased with Frank DeLima and Andy Bumatai for giving us terrific comedy that everyone can enjoy. I plan to take my grandchildren to see their shows when they come back to Honolulu.

Two really "class guys."

We don't have to build new prisons

Today in America, at this very moment, we are growing a new crop of prisoners. They are young still. Some are just born into a family decimated by drug abuse. The baby cries, but no one comes.

Some are toddlers, getting into everything, and are being burned with cigarettes when their curiosity gets too much for their caretakers.

Some are 3 years old, and they have already learned when to hide from their raging father.

Some of these future prisoners are 4 years old, and already they fantasize about revenge to the mother who hurts them.

Some are 5 years old now, and their kindergarten teacher notices that the child cannot sit still and this 5-year-old is quick to misinterpret his peers' intentions and often gets into fights. So the other children stay away from him, and he feels lonely.

All across America, like amber waves of grain in Midwestern fields, on California beaches, in urban housing and in suburban homes, we are growing our next crop of criminals.

Some are growing in the light of day. People notice them; perhaps grandparents take over childcare. They may even be receiving interventions. People care. But some are growing in the dark. No one seems to notice. No one knows the inner world of these children. They grow unattended, unseen, but harbor all the seeds of criminal behavior. They are filled with hatred and self-loathing.

This crop is still young; the children still look cute. They can still be cajoled, loved, hugged and played with. They and their families can still be treated, and there is still hope.

We can intervene now or we can build more prisons. We can provide better screening, provide more intensive services and intervene earlier. We can refer more families for treatment; we can provide more inexpensive parenting classes. We can get rid of ice. We can offer assistance to our overwhelmed neighbor, provide better financial assistance to single mothers. We can provide high-quality childcare to mothers who have to return to work. We can call 911 when we hear domestic violence. We can report bruises.

We could do a lot if we really wanted to. We could stop growing this next generation of prisoners. The mechanisms are mostly in place and just need to be expanded. We could spend the money now or later — and we could probably do it for under $87 billion.