TRAFFIC SAFETY

HPD SHORT OF OFFICERS BUT CAN NAB JAYWALKERS

Regarding the story on the April 15 front page of The Advertiser, "HPD facing critical shortage of officers":

Isn't it interesting that the police department has sufficient staffing to assign personnel to go undercover to arrest and give tickets to citizens jaywalking and to drivers who may not be obeying crosswalk regulations to the letter? Absolutely fascinating.

Incidentally, did I miss the fact that "sidewalks" have apparently been redefined as "siderides?" This change must have been instituted in our legal code, since I have yet to see or hear of any police personnel enforcing what I thought was an existing ban on bicycle riding on sidewalks.

Guess I just don't keep up on things very well.

DRIVER'S LICENSES

REAL ID PUTS UNFAIR BURDEN ON TAXPAYERS

Thank you for your recent editorial (April 3) on the challenges facing counties and states in implementing the Real ID program.

In testimony before the U.S. Senate at the invitation of Sen. Daniel Akaka, whose subcommittee held a hearing on this issue, Mayor Mufi Hannemann agreed that the nation should strengthen its security standards for driver's licenses and identification cards in the wake of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. However, he and others who testified expressed some specific concerns that have to be taken into account before such a program is implemented.

It would be unfair to ask Ho-nolulu taxpayers to bear the $25.5 million cost of implementing and operating the new system in Hawai'i in its first five years. The federal government should pay for the move to a new standardized system.

There is also the verification process, whereby city employees will have to certify the validity of a number of documents from several agencies before issuing a driver's license. To accomplish this, the Division of Motor Vehicles would have to expand into a massive bureaucracy. Higher fees may have to be charged.

The proposed rules would have drivers renew licenses every five years. In Hawai'i, licenses are renewed every six years. We recommend against the shortened reenrollment plan, and are asking the federal government to extend the renewal period to seven years.

In addition, we're concerned that massive amounts of personal and private information will be stored on interconnected databases.

MOLOKA'I

NOT ENOUGH WATER FOR LA'AU PT. DEVELOPMENT

In a March 29 Business section article, Moloka'i Ranch makes it sound like it is being benevolent by responding to the extensive public comments on the environmental impact statement for La'au Point, Moloka'i.

They are required by law to respond to all comments — there is nothing magnanimous about it.

No matter what "changes" they may make in their final EIS, Moloka'i Ranch cannot change the fact that Moloka'i is in the midst of a serious water crisis.

There is simply not enough water for this development, and what water exists is legally reserved for Hawaiian homesteaders.

Nor can it change the fact — despite any claims to the contrary — that the large majority of Moloka'i's people do not support the development. Indeed, they want to save La'au.

VIRGINIA SHOOTING

GUNS DON'T HAVE PLACE IN A CIVILIZED SOCIETY

After the senseless shooting at Virginia Tech, the major networks and newspapers have dissected the events and second-guessed how the tragedy could have been averted.

The killer's mind is analyzed, his roommates interviewed and the university's security department is under scrutiny as possibly being negligent in their handling of this unspeakable event.

Some campuses, including the University of Hawai'i wonder if security guards should be fully armed.

Somehow, the elephant in the room is once again overlooked, and the elephant is the gun. Once more, we are reminded that our zeal to protect the right to bear arms is the most dangerous of our liberties. Why exactly would a young man, an English major at an esteemed university, need two handguns and 500 rounds of ammunition unless it is to kill or maim.

Virginia got a C- rating from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Hawai'i has earned an A- grade from the Brady Campaign. No doubt guns still get into the wrong hands more often than not, but a rating of A- in Virginia might have derailed the plans of the killer.

Let's acknowledge that most guns have no place in a civilized society.

AGRICULTURE

BIOTECH RESEARCH BAN COULD HURT COFFEE, TARO

On Saturday, April 14, you reported that papaya ringspot virus has reached Lana'i.

You also stated that there is no cure. You are correct that there is no cure, but there are resistant varieties that allow normal levels of production of high-quality fruit.

The resistant varieties were the result of modern biotech research begun in the 1980s before the virus reached Hawai'i, and culminated with the release of resistant strains just when the commercial papaya industry was about to go under.

We now hear much about banning biotech research on taro and coffee. Our papaya industry would not exist today if such a ban had been in place in the '80s.

Why put coffee and taro in jeopardy by banning research? It just doesn't make sense.

DON HO

THE DAY THE WIND CRIED, SUN STOOD STILL

On April 14, the sun stood still in the sky, the sea was quiet and cold, the wind was crying through the valleys, and rainbows began their life with tears from our eyes.

On April 14 — Don Ho died.

Me ke aloha pumehana.