New bottle bill must be given a chance

Recent letters denouncing Hawai'i's new bottle-recycling system made it clearer to me that the biggest obstacle to full implementation and success of container recycling is the poor attitude of some and refusal to accept personal responsibility for the condition of Hawai'i's environment.

Then last weekend, while walking from my car to the grocery store, I stooped to pick up a discarded bottle to toss it into the trash bin. As my eyes caught the "HI 5¢" stamp, it suddenly hit me: This stuff isn't "rubbish" anymore — it's money!

Our new deposit system, properly run, promises to unleash a wave of environmental and social entrepreneurism. More than "dumpster diving," recycling has potential as a serious addition to economic development. The marketplace, properly enabled, creates powerful incentives for positive human behavior. But both government and consumers should add their own incentives to ensure maximum possible container collection, even from the most lazy or affluent among us.

Join me in communicating to management of stores where you purchase beverages that if they desire our continued business, they should establish container collection centers on their property. Government and private-sector cooperation is the solution to minimizing Hawai'i's litter stream.

In areas with insufficient private collection centers, public drop-off facilities should allow for both elimination and collection of now-valuable "waste."

The shape of the environment is an inheritance to future generations. Let's do our part before it starts costing us all.

Gay marriage is not about a piece of paper

I just don't get all the hubbub about gay marriage. My boyfriend and I have been together for a long time and we are planning to be married. Granted, in the state of Hawai'i we cannot get a license, and the only piece of paper available to us at this time is a registration of reciprocal beneficiary relationship. We don't care; after all, it is not the piece of paper, or being able to file a joint tax return, that makes us a couple.

We are planning to invite members from each of our families and of course a handful of close friends to the ceremony; we are going to exchange vows and rings. The reception is going to be great, filled with all the memorable traditions that accompany marriage: champagne toasts, dancing, cutting our wedding cake, throwing the bouquet and of course a lavish buffet of delicious food. We have not decided on where we want to honeymoon yet. He likes Paris and I like Bandung, Indonesia.

Neither those in this elected administration nor other U.S. citizens dictate whom we can date, hold hands with as we walk down the street or choose to sleep with. Talk about treading on "the pursuit of happiness" and a few other rights.

Dandi and I wish all the best to other couples considering marriage. Remember that it's not about a piece of paper. It's about finding true happiness and loving the one you are with.

Solutions should be sensitive to individual

The "crime" of homelessness is rightly blasted in your editorial. What you did not discuss were community attitudes.

The look of the urban environment is a big issue with Hawai'i residents. Providing truly inexpensive housing such as tent cities, trailer parks or the type of common wall tenements found elsewhere is opposed because they are ugly.

Homeless people are shooed out of the park because community members don't want to see them there. Some even express groundless fears that homeless people are a danger to their families. The hostile environment for the poor and homeless continues here because our government puts "community" ahead of individual rights and property rights. If a neighborhood group doesn't like a certain activity, the government is quick to respond regardless of the basic rights of the people being attacked.

Libertarians support a greater respect for property rights that would allow much more housing options and a sharp reduction in housing costs. We suggest not harassing people out of parks, airports or elsewhere when there is nowhere else for them to go. We suggest "solutions" to public problems should be sought that respect individual freedom and not simply pander to whoever has more political power.

Don't make race track out of Kaluanui Road

When you check out Kaluanui Road in Mariner's Ridge, you will find it is actually the drivers who are dangerous, not the road. Try driving up or down the hill at the speed limit (25 mph), look in your rear-view mirror and you will no doubt find a wild-eyed, white-knuckled, riding-the-brakes tailgater staring at you from three feet behind you.

These are not just young people but grandma and grandpa vintage as well.

Some of these impatient people want the city to rebuild the road. They apparently would like, in effect, a slippery slide, with banked curves, etc., so they can go even faster than they do now, when someone is not in front of them.

Maybe instead of spending millions on a new "race track" for these few daredevils, a gate and kiosk could be installed in the middle of the U-turn at the bottom of the hill. This would force the speedsters to slow down to get around the gate, save the few trees they have not yet knocked down and maybe even help the increasing theft problem by monitoring who comes in and out. Makes sense to me.

'Filling' lagoon story missing key details

I was amused to read that we in the public are now protected from more heinous crimes committed by John King ("Kailua man fined $50K for filling bay lagoon," Nov. 18).

If he is given credit for past community work, he will still have a credit balance, I am sure; 100 hours of community service will be no problem based on what he normally does.

I nearly bought the property in question in 1972. I am aware of the lagoon that he "filled" (according to your headline). Putting dirt into the area where he did is akin to filling your own swimming pool and then having the state fine you for it. The lagoon is a large opening in the middle of the lot (about 50 feet from the bay) that is connected to the bay by a narrow channel.

You neglected to point out that John King (or his son, now) owns the lagoon. It was dredged out of his lot back in the 1939-1940 period by Kaneohe Ranch as part of its development. The only reason the state claims any jurisdiction is that the state's water fills the lagoon. John didn't even pump the water out and steal it. Whatever was displaced when he put dirt into the lagoon merely flowed back into the bay.

Campbell High should get air conditioning

It's hot and sweaty at James Campbell High School in 'Ewa Beach. Do you know why? Because there's no air conditioning. Kapolei has air conditioning; it is a new school. So what about us? We've been here forever. When is it our turn?

The students, staff and faculty talk and complain about this. We need air conditioning because it is hot over here and there's barely any shade. At lunch it's hot; people complain in the classrooms that it's hot. The students get sleepy and don't want to work.

Everybody has been saying that air conditioning will make teaching easier. The students won't fall asleep. All I'm saying is, it is our turn. Not later, now.