MAKAPU'U TRAIL

IS HAWAI'I BECOMING LESS FRIENDLY TO PETS?

I was dismayed to find out that Makapu'u Lighthouse trail is now off limits to pets. Why did they change the policy? How can we prevent more places from being closed to pets?

I recently visited Florida, which was not very pet-friendly. (No dogs allowed on any beaches!)

I kept telling my friend I was glad I lived in Hawai'i, where I could enjoy the outdoors with my dogs.

Now I worry that Hawai'i is moving toward being less pet friendly.

ALLOW PETS, OWNERS TO WALK LIGHTHOUSE PATH

For years, I have enjoyed the most beautiful place in the world — the southeastern edge of O'ahu eading up to the Makapu'u lighthouse.

My leashed dog and I have begun each day with a walk up the paved path leading to the lighthouse. It's the best time to reflect, exercise and prepare for the new day. Along the way, we have made numerous friends with other dogs and their responsible owners.

Last week, I was informed that due to a Hawai'i revised statute, a new sign would be posted prohibiting pets, even with leashes.

Before the improvements at the Ka Iwi coastline, we were allowed to walk at any time with our leashed dogs. Now, there are time constraints and our dogs are no longer allowed. We are unable to watch the sunrise because the gate does not open until 7 a.m. and our cars are ticketed if we park along side the road in the early morning. What's next, DLNR?

Please allow us to enjoy the Makapu'u Lighthouse road again.

ENVIRONMENT

ALL SHOULD HELP TO PROTECT OUR CORAL REEFS

The International Year of the Reef, a campaign to raise awareness coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, is being celebrated worldwide.

Hawai'i's coral reefs hold more than 1,250 unique species of marine life.

To help take care of of our coral reefs, we must take care of our beaches. By doing this, we must throw our trash away in a trash can or recyclable bin. Also, we need to dispose of other materials properly, like oil, because they can be very poisonous to the marine life and coral reefs. The International Year of the Reef is a great campaign that teaches people everywhere about the coral reefs.

The things we must do to help our coral reefs is entwined withstopping global warming so that the generations to come can enjoy the same wonders we enjoy today.

SMOKERS

WHAT ABOUT THE RIGHT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR?

I have read the numerous comments about smokers' rights in the comments to Sunday's article, "Smoking in living spaces under fire."

However, very little is said about the rights of nonsmokers to breathe clean air.

Several times a day, I am forced to shut my windows and run my A/C because there are at least three smokers who live around my unit.

They know that their smoke stinks up their homes because they go outside to do their dirty business. Because of the way the wind blows, the stench comes right into my home.

Sure, smokers are entitled to commit slow suicide if they want to. But they should do it in their own homes, with the windows closed so that they don't infringe upon my rights.

RENEWAL NOTICES

WARN ISLE DRIVERS OF LICENSE EXPIRATION DATE

The City and County of Honolulu needs to change its policy of not sending out renewal notices when driver's licenses are about to expire.

Right now, a regular driver's license is for six years and there is a grace period of a year after it expires to renew (with a written test). The theory behind not sending out a renewal notice is that the one-year grace period is sufficient so that no one will fail to notice that the license has expired. The theory, unfortunately, is wrong, as my wife and I can testify from bitter experience.

The problem is that because fewer and fewer people use the license for check writing or other identification (given new credit and debit card procedures), they do not have occasion to check on the status of the license.

Once that seventh year has passed, the driver has to take the full written examination and the driver's test which, even as a lawyer, I can say is not easy, as well as burdening DMV unnecessarily

It would be of little cost and great benefit to the general public to require that DMV send out a renewal notice 90 days before the license is to expire.

I suspect that a number of drivers reading this letter will find to their dismay that they are in this situation or about to be. The mayor and the City Council should make this a priority immediately.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

URGES MILITARY TO DRIVE RESPONSIBLY ON O'AHU

Let me say that for those of you military motorcyclists who drive responsibly, I applaud you.

This letter is for those of you pulling wheelies at more than 80 mph in the fast lane on H-1, hastily changing lanes, swerving and gunning it to high speeds (sometimes even in uniform) and posting YouTube videos of yourselves going 135 mph through the tunnel from Kane'ohe to Honolulu.

Your senior officers are driving on the same roads as you. I know senior officers who care enough about your safety to get your license plates and contact their provost marshal to find your unit and contact your commanding officers about your conduct.

For the military leadership on this island, I urge you to educate your soldiers and have a no-tolerance policy concerning the dangerous motorcycle driving here on O'ahu.

FREEWAY THEFTS

DON'T REPLACE COPPER, ENJOY THE NIGHT SKIES

No need replace the copper wires. Leave the lights off. This will cut back on the city's electric bill.

The night skies are beautiful without light pollution.

Drivers will slow down because they no can see.

Use the kala to fix the roads.