Free printed information and public access computers in the permit center provide basic processing answers and permit status.

We should be thankful for the strong economy and not forget the days of the construction slump when there were no lines at the building department.

DHS

THOROUGHLY PROBE CASES OF ALLEGED ABUSE

In her commentary on July 29, Lillian Koller, director of the state Department of Human Services, sure spent a lot of time patting herself and her agency on the back.

Maybe she should spend more time making sure that cases of alleged child abuse are thoroughly investigated and followed up on.

All the back-patting and glad-handing isn't going to help children like the young girl starved to the point of brain damage.

And it certainly won't bring back our lost keiki, like Peter Boy Kema Jr.

AUWE

HDTV VIEWER WILL BOYCOTT KGMB SHOWS

For several years — since the advent of HDTV service in Hawai'i and since my purchase of my first HD television shortly thereafter — I have carefully studied the evolution of HD service provided through Oceanic.

As more HD stations became available, I was all the more thrilled that I owned an HDTV, since the quality of viewing HD programming is vastly superior. Also, being an NFL fan for more than five decades, I have been overjoyed at the recent availability of many NFL games in HD through my Oceanic service.

Now that KGMB-9 is the only major network that has not joined the HD bandwagon via Oceanic, I must suffer the indignity of viewing any CBS-televised NFL games in "regular fashion."

That enrages me. For Rick Blangiardi to make a pompous statement, such as appeared in the Aug. 4 Advertiser (i.e., "We have different business strategies") reflects an absolutely reprehensible disdain for KGMB-9's viewers.

I plan to boycott all future KGMB-9 broadcasts, NFL or otherwise, until Blangiardi and his obviously non-caring staff decide to bring their station into the 21st century.

"Auwe to the max" to KGMB-9.

REFORM BILL

ABERCROMBIE VOTE ON ETHICS IS QUESTIONED

Regarding Congressman Neil Abercrombie's latest voting record:

The only "window dressing," to quote the congressman, concerning the House vote on ethics reform, is the one he is performing on the electorate he purports to represent.

Just think of it: He found five other Democrats who thought the way he did.

Please, folks, go out and vote next time. Just because he's a Democrat doesn't mean he's fit to represent us.

CASE PROJECT

COSTA RICA GOLF COURSE, RAINFOREST WON'T MIX

I hope no one was fooled by the Aug. 4 article promoting Steve Case's new project in Costa Rica.

His pledge to create an "environmentally friendly and culturally sensitive destination" gave me chills. I once lived in Costa Rica and know the area he proposes to forever alter with a 650-acre resort.

He claims it's possible to mix luxury accommodations and a golf course with a rainforest while "preserving" the local terrain.

"Cacique" is a wolf in sheep's clothing, just like the Lipoa Point development planned at Honolua Bay on Maui.

Shame on you, Steve Case. There is no such thing as an eco-friendly golf course, unless you are playing golf with a Frisbee.

Hopefully, the folks in Tamarindo have already circled their wagons in opposition to this horrific plan.

IRAQ WAR

POLITICIANS DON'T SHOW RESPECT FOR OUR TROOPS

Wake up, America. Our nation is at war. Reading and hearing the rhetoric from Washington, D.C., especially from the politicians, it is obvious that winning the war is not on their agenda. "Let's get the troops home now," is their cry.

They show little or no real support for our military service members, the commander in chief and our nation. I wonder what their rhetoric will be when our service members eventually return triumphantly.

The most troubling aspect is that we have some politicians who fought in previous wars and had unquestioned support from the American people as they fought and served their nation.

This is especially shameful behavior on the part of our own congressional members who have served in our military forces and do not show overt support for our service members.

Our service members face a determined enemy in the Middle East despite knowing that many Americans do not support them. What more can we ask of them?

Our service members and our nation deserve better.

INCONSIDERATE

PARKED DELIVERY TRUCKS SLOW WAIKIKI TRAFFIC

We all understand that Waikiki hotels and restaurants need to be restocked with food and beverages every day.

However, vendors and establishments that allow delivery trucks to block lanes on Kuhio and Kalakaua every morning are being very selfish.

It is bad enough that we have to deal with many road construction projects. Many people are still trying to get to their jobs before 9 a.m. Auwe!

INFRASTRUCTURE

CRISIS LOOMS ON MAUI, LET'S PROTECT RESOURCES

Our island's reefs are declining, and studies suggest nitrogen from sewage injection wells is a likely contributing factor.

Upcountry Maui has been plagued by water shortages. More and more new developments will compound these problems unless we act to prevent more building, or at least stop granting permits until adequate infrastructure (especially for sewage) is in place.

A good West Maui reclaimed-water system may be as much as $40 million, which seems an impossible figure to work with, but it also seems like the best long-term, sustainable solution.

In the last 20 to 30 years, Maui experienced tremendous growth, and now, because our infrastructure needs have been pushed behind developers' wants, a crisis looms.

Please take whatever steps are necessary to fix this problem before the damage done to our island is irreversible. Do not leave future generations with a legacy of pollution and depleted resources. There is a solution — that is the good news. It costs a lot — that is the bad news. Isn't protecting Maui worth it?

PARK MAINTENANCE

MAJOR WORK ON HOLD UNTIL SHELTERS ARE BUILT

I want to add to the "Honolulu park cleanup will displace homeless" article that was printed Aug 1.

The city did not close any of the parks on the North Shore to do major maintenance this past weekend. More than 200 city and community volunteers, led by Mayor Mufi Hannemann, spruced up the overall park appearance by painting, doing minor landscaping and other minor repairs, just as we did at Poka'i Bay Beach Park in Wai'anae a year ago.

The city is ready to address maintenance issues relating to homeless at North Shore parks once the state provides shelter for them. We feel that without a place to go, the homeless will just move to another park, public area or private lands. This city/state effort has been effective on park cleanups that affected homeless at Ala Moana and Ma'ili beach parks, and we believe it is an excellent model to follow for the North Shore parks.

We've had meetings with the state to seek assistance to relocate homeless from North Shore parks. The state Public Housing Authority, Homeless Programs Branch indicated that they have no plans to open any homeless shelters on the North Shore. Consequently, we have put any major park maintenance projects that involve homeless on the North Shore on hold.