LITTER

TOURISTS SHOCKED BY BEACH TRASH ON O'AHU

We have visited O'ahu more than 10 times, and on a recent trip noticed there was going to be a beach trash pickup.

We decided to use one of our vacation days to give back to what we enjoy. The beach was Chun's Reef. Only four of us showed up, two of us from Kansas City and two from Chico. Marlu West, who heads up the cleanups, said a trash pickup was just performed two weeks before.

Most of the beach traffic consists of surfers and locals; there seemed to be very few tourists.

We were shocked by the amount of trash found from just the parking areas — beer cans, fast-food containers, personal hygiene items and hundreds of cigarette butts.

We came away that day very saddened by what we saw.

I am 50, and started coming to O'ahu at the age of 11. My fondest memory of the island is the aloha spirit of its people.

Please, please, to the younger generations: Do not lose what makes you so unique around the world.

REGULATORY AGENCIES

FEES AND TAXES QUICKLY ADD TO COST OF LIVING

With the cost of living going so high, I thought I would take a quick look at the additional expenses for the average household that are imposed by our regulatory agencies. For my telephone, the basic flat rate for a line is $44.30 plus $2.15 for touch call. The local regulated tax surcharges and regulatory fees are $17.44 — that amounts to 37 percent. Fee charges for cable are almost as bad.

It would seem that we pay a substantial amount of money to the government through our income taxes, and to the federal, state and local governments to take care of operating the government. But as we know there are a ton of other charges and taxes that are added to our everyday living.

If we then look at our gasoline taxes, I believe that the state and federal taxes exceed 50 cents a gallon. It isn't the big oil companies that are gorging us, it's the government and the Arabs.

These are the same politicians who promise to fix our roads, fix our schools and make life better for all of us, but it doesn't happen.

It would be helpful if someone with your stature and the power of the newspaper took a stand on all these excess charges. Point out what our government is really doing to us.

RAIL

DON'T BE FOOLED AGAIN, SUPPORT RAIL TRANSIT

I don't know whether to laugh or get upset when I read about Stop Rail Now advocates. Their voodoo math is comical. Don't be fooled.

They say there are better alternatives to rail, but offer no meaningful solutions. They want to stop the city's rail project to build toll roads and high-occupancy toll lanes instead. This would put more, not fewer, cars on the road. But they want you to believe this will solve traffic congestion and can be a viable alternative to rail. They say adding more buses would supplement the HOT lanes. Buses will only add to the traffic congestion. Does anyone like being stuck behind a slow-moving city bus?

They say their alternative will save tax dollars. But the general excise tax surcharge won't fund these HOT lanes, so how will we pay for these new highways? With new taxes? And who wants to pay $10 each way on these toll roads after paying to build them? They call them "Lexus lanes" on the Mainland.

The Stop Rail Now group consists of tour bus companies, taxi operators and automobile dealers, some of who opposed the light-rail project in 1992.

Local forecasts predict a slumping economy that will only get worse. Gas prices are over $4 a gallon and rising.

The only bright spot is the rail-transit project, which will bring in new jobs, new investment and new economic development.

Rail transit is long overdue for Honolulu, and these same people want to stop it. Don't be fooled again.

OPPOSITION TO HIGHER TAXES IS NARROW AGENDA

A June 16 letter described rail opponents as having a narrow agenda and selfish reasons for trying to bring the issue to a vote.

The letter writer is correct. Opposition to even-higher taxes is a narrow agenda, but one that is at the heart of why it is so expensive to live here.

And, yes, it is selfish to want to keep more of one's own money. However, it is shibai to accuse citizens taking an active role in trying to protect Honolulu from a financially reckless project of some personal financial agenda.

One of the rail opponents mentioned owns a taxi company. A train would be great for that business!

RAIL WILL SAVE OUR CHILDREN TIME, MONEY

I travel to the Mainland monthly for business, and continue to choose rail transit when moving from airports to downtown areas.

Three weeks ago, I left downtown Portland and took the 20-minute ride on rail transit to the airport for $2.05 and saw the most stunning view of Mt. Hood against a blue Oregon sky.

I hope my friends and neighbors can stop fighting this system, which will save our children valuable time and money. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day.

AIRLINE LUGGAGE

CAN'T ISLES NEGOTIATE EXEMPTION FROM FEE?

I am a small-business owner in Hawai'i. My business depends on visitors coming from international locations and the Mainland.

I don't understand why HVCB has not been negotiating with the airlines to make Hawai'i the exception to the charge for a second checked bag.

Hawai'i depends on retail sales. If we continue to let the airlines charge our visitors a $25 second-bag fee, they will spend less money here in our state, which will affect our entire economy.

RED, WHITE AND BLUE

SHOW NATIONAL PRIDE, FLY THE FLAG ON FOURTH

As a retired Army Vietnam veteran, I am proud to be an American and very proud of my country and the men and women who have selflessly fought to protect her, many who have shed their blood and given up their lives. I believe, as does our nation, that the best way to honor these patriots is to display the U.S. flag, which I respectfully saluted after returning from Vietnam, after each foreign deployment and now during every national holiday.

I've lived in Hawai'i for more than 25 years. I know many veterans, active-duty service members, friends, neighbors — all free Americans.

Yet I am embarrassed, saddened and insulted every Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day and Labor Day when the only flag I see flying is my own.

Across our nation in small towns, medium villages and large cities, houses are awash with red, white and blue pride — many also fly their state's flag and their ancestors' nations' flags next to Old Glory.

Hawai'i, it's time to show our own national pride. If you are an American, on July 4 begin an honored tradition and display our nation's colors — fly the red, white and blue.

LINKING OUR WORLDS

PAPER BRINGS NEWS, TREASURED MEMORIES

Every morning as my daughter and I start our day in Phoenix, I know that my father is waiting quietly in his living room back in Honolulu. His day begins with the sound of a familiar thump at his front door.

The morning paper arrives, and he sits and reads the paper with no articles left unread.

It's like he's uncovered a hidden treasure when he finds an article that triggers a childhood memory or reminds him of his own children.

Meanwhile, 3,000 miles away, we anxiously wait to see if we've received any new e-mails from Grandpa. We look forward to hearing about the new treasure he's discovered and viewing the article ourselves online.

You see, it's more than just an article to us. Grandpa's "Super Trooper" and the rest of the family know we've been blessed with another day not to be taken for granted.

We've been given another day and another memory to treasure.

Let Father's Day and Mother's Day be every day!