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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Saturday, May 14, 2005

Letters to the Editor

Rail isn't answer to our traffic problems

A rail system will not solve or ease Honolulu's traffic problems. Visions of driving on an uncongested freeway at rush hour while thousands willingly pack onto a tax-funded train is truly a foolish dream.

No matter how many rails are built, heavy traffic will always exist. People are always willing to tolerate a certain amount of traffic. They do it already. If they hate it that much, they move.

Most people who use public transportation do it because they either can't afford a car or have nowhere to park their car when they get to their destination.

I doubt people will leave their cars and opt to ride a train. They are all hoping that the guy next to them in traffic will.

Kimo Mack
Kane'ohe



Lifesmarts team deeply appreciative

We, the Kea'au High School State Champions of the Lifesmarts Competition Team Purple Monkeys 2004-2005, would like to thank the following people, companies and organizations whose support was critical to our success:

• Mary Correa, our complex area superintendent; Ann Paulino, our principal; Merle Okabe, our social studies department head; Jill Maruyama, our finance clerk; Cindy Kay, teacher; Greta Pung, Title 1 coordinator; Misti Quintel, substitute teacher; and our parents for their love and support to allow us to be successful.

• Jackie Choi and Bonnie Horibata, both Lifesmarts state coordinators who worked hard to coordinate the competition and travel.

• The Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, KTA Superstores, Amazon.com, Bridgestone Firestone, Catalina Health Resource, Experian, InCharge Educational Foundations, McNeil Consumer Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Ruby Tuesday, American Express, American Express Foundation, Bell South, Genworth Financial, Toro, Toyota Financial Services, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Fannie Mae, Hershey Foods, PG&E Corp., Proctor and Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, SBC, Southern California Edison, Verizon Communications, Amalgamated Bank, Chlorine Chemistry Council, DeMars and Associates, Direct Marketing Associates, NBC Universal, Verizon Foundation, Hawai'i's Gifts of Gold, Neos Productions, Honolua Surf, e808, Oils of Aloha and Noni Connections.

We have had the most wonderful educational adventure this year.

Jacqueline Miguel, Student captain
Desiree Manuel, Student
Nicole Reister, Student
Vince Fitzgerald, Student
Kathlynn Tabandera, Coach



Misinformation about coqui frog widespread

Paranoia and misinformation about the coqui has spread much faster and further here in Hawai'i than the frog itself has.

Organizations trying to eradicate the coqui have been successful in convincing the public of a whole range of untruths that they irresponsibly present as scientific facts. Without knowing any better, the local media spread the misinformation.

Since it isn't trendy right now in the sciences to show appreciation for non-native species, biologists in Hawai'i haven't bothered to come to the coqui's defense. But here's the truth:

• Unlike what you've heard, the coqui does have natural predators here in Hawai'i: Rats hunt them here just as they do in the frogs' native habitat.

• The coqui does not sing at 90 decibels. Real scientific studies have put the coqui's maximum volume at about 75 decibels — the same volume as your average songbird.

• Just because the coqui eats Hawaiian insects and spiders doesn't mean it's a threat to the native ecology. Many non-native bugs compete with and eat native ones, and coquis eat them too, so the overall net effect of the coqui is unknown.

Whether you like the coqui or not, it isn't right for anyone to make false claims and present them to the public as facts.

Eric Rosenfeld
Hale'iwa



What about planning?

Let me get this straight: The Honolulu Board of Water Supply would like us to take shorter showers and conserve water, but the city continues to approve gigantic new residential towers near Ward Centre and along Kapi'olani Boulevard and now Donald Trump is even considering building $400 million condos on the new Beach Walk in Waikiki.

Is there something missing here?

Tom Drolet
Honolulu



Carnegie Hall music program is wonderful

Our school got a grant from Carnegie Hall for LinkUP!. LinkUP! is a program that only a few schools were selected for. It is made for grades 4 through 6. Our school received packages sent from Carnegie Hall with a dark-brown recorder with case, two books and two CDs, which was paid fully by Carnegie Hall people.

The first time I touched my recorder, I felt overflowed with excitement. I love playing the recorder.

I learned how to play "Twinkle, Twinkle" and a "Simple Melody." I also learned to sing Franz Josef Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony and Simple Melody.

Kids should have the opportunity to discover their love for music. I really enjoyed learning music in school. We took a field trip to a music theater in Honolulu with my class where I performed what I learned with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. I was filled with pride sitting with the other students from different schools who performed with me.

Please let your readers know how important this program is to us kids. I ask your readers to support Carnegie Hall, the Ho-nolulu Symphony and Hawai'i schools by writing your support in keeping this program for years to come. For more information, you can go to www.carnegiehall.org/education. You can e-mail at link-up@weillmusicinstitute.org.

Brittany Lorish
Hickam Elementary School fourth-grader