MAINTENANCE

CITY IS GOING ALL OUT IN WAR ON POTHOLES

Volker Hildebrandt's Dec. 4 letter ("Widespread potholes show city inefficiency") was a marvel of misinformation.

Long before Mufi Hannemann became mayor, he recognized the sad state of O'ahu's roads. That's why, when he took office in January, he immediately declared war on potholes and ramped up this long-neglected city core service.

The 2006 operating budget increases funding for pothole repairs by 250 percent. The Hannemann administration also plans to spend $30 million in capital improvement funds budgeted for the current year and is budgeting another $30 million next year for road rehabilitation.

The road maintenance workers whom Hildebrandt calls "incompetent" are the same people who have ramped up their efforts and more than doubled the amount of first-aid road repairs done under the previous administration. They filled more than 37,000 potholes from January to Oct. 31, in addition to fulfilling their other duties, such as clearing streambeds.

We inherited a road system that keeps growing but lacked not only regular maintenance, but also proper monitoring and record-keeping. That's why an inventory is needed.

We won't deceive taxpayers. It will take years to get city roads, as well as state roads, back up to par. We have begun that recovery and so has the state, to its credit.

Those are the facts, whether Hildebrandt likes them or not.

HONOLULU MARATHON

GOOD JOB BY ALL, BUT WHAT ABOUT CLEANUP?

Another great job by all associated with the Honolulu Marathon. The runners were awesome, as usual. Many thanks to the organizers and all the wonderful volunteers. It's a great event for the participants and the state of Hawai'i.

Traffic was a nightmare (more than 30 minutes from Kahala Mall to Kalani High School), but once a year, no problem. But what about all those cups? Hundreds of thousands of cups still blowing around on Kalaniana'ole Highway (and into the storm drains) even after 4 p.m.? Ouch!

'VACATION RENTAL'

MEDITATION CENTER IS FAR FROM A TYPICAL BUSINESS

I write in response to Jan Farrant's Dec. 1 letter ("Easy way around city's transient law") and her inaccurate portrayal of the Institute for Research in Human Happiness Meditation Center on Pacific Heights Road as a "transient vacation rental." The letter makes it sound like people will be coming to the meditation center for vacation. Nothing is further from the truth.

The center is a permitted use under the zoning laws. Our church members will be engaged in meditation and religious study for the entire time they are there. There are no vacation activities. And we have agreed to a number of conditions to ensure that the meditation center does not have an adverse impact on the neighborhood.

I am quite saddened by the assertions of Ms. Farrant that the meditation center is somehow a "business operation" rather than the religious retreat and training center that it truly is.

PARKING

DON'T BLOCK DRIVEWAYS WHILE ATTENDING PARTIES

Now that the holiday season is upon us and there are many gatherings to attend at various homes of friends and family, please remember to be courteous to your host's neighbors by not blocking their driveway when you park your car.

Every year we go through the same scenario — a neighbor of ours is hosting a party. Their guests arrive and try to park their cars as close to the party as possible, even when it means leaving a quarter of their car length in our driveway. If there is not enough room to fit your entire car length along the curb, do not park there. The mailbox is a good indicator. If your car extends past the mailbox, it's in someone's driveway.

And if someone requests that you move your car because they can't back their car out of their driveway, don't give them the "stink eye" while doing it. You are the one being inconsiderate.

CHRISTMAS PACKAGE

A GIFT REMOVED, ANOTHER MISROUTED

Inside of a holiday package that came to us from our family in Japan was a notice from the U.S. Customs Service that they had removed an item that contained poultry products from Asia, which are now currently banned due to the threat of avian influenza.

I must say that we are very impressed with the Customs Service for being so vigilant in the fight to stop avian flu from reaching our shores. The offending item that was removed from our package was a small bottle of furikake rice seasoning that contained chicken stock powder.

However, accidentally placed into our package was a wonderful holiday greeting card, some touching family photos and also what appears to be a prayer book and some other items from Poland. Written on that package is only the name "Suminska Marta."

In the spirit of Christmas and family unity we would simply love to get these items to Suminska Marta but have found no such person in the Hawai'i telephone directory. If Suminska Marta should see this letter please contact us at the following e-mail address: m_lauck@hotmail.com.

Aloha & Mele Kalikimaka

BLAME BUREAUCRACY FOR HALT TO WIDENING OF ROAD IN 'EWA

As 'Ewa Beach quickly gets painted into a corner by all the development on the 'Ewa Plains, it's become clear that the leaders and representatives of this area have been negligent in meeting the needs of their constituents. The traffic has significantly reduced the quality of our lives.

It's no secret that traffic on Fort Weaver Road is horrendous. It takes just as long to get from 'Ewa Beach to the freeway, as it does to get to town once you've reached the freeway. Still, due to as simple a reason as bureaucracy, the loudly trumpeted widening of Fort Weaver Road has come to a complete halt. Prior construction crews have managed to finish a quarter-mile length of lane added by St. Francis Medical Center-West, commonly referred to by those who suffer through this stretch of road as the "road rage" lane. Drivers use the lane in an attempt to speed up and go around the existing cars, maybe gaining a car length or two.

Meanwhile, the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board called for a moratorium on development in the area until the infrastructure shortcomings, primarily roads in and out of the area, were addressed. That was more than a year ago and yet development is moving along quickly. Within the next year or two, there will be hundreds, and then thousands, more vehicles using Fort Weaver Road with no relief in sight.

New residents move into the area daily so more cars are on Fort Weaver Road daily. If construction crews were to suddenly put their noses to the grinding wheel and widen the road, it still would be a couple of years away from completion, based on a lifetime of experience.

I think the leaders and representatives of this area and beyond have underestimated the grief experienced by the constituents of the 'Ewa Plains. It's not lost on us that road projects such as the freeway widening in Pearl City and the recent moving of a whole mountain in Kane'ohe/Kailua have continued quickly on to near completion.

The lack of a sense of urgency by our leaders and representatives in providing those of us who live on the 'Ewa Plains immediate relief is disgraceful. And, it most assuredly has guaranteed their removal from their elected offices come next election.

WAIMEA VALLEY

MAHALO FOR SAVING THE 'AINA

We would like to commend the editorial writers, reporters and photographers of The Honolulu Advertiser, and many other members of the local press, for your thorough and thoughtful coverage of the recent controversy over Waimea Valley.

In presenting a difficult, complicated, fast-moving story, you managed to be engaging as well as detailed. You were strong advocates for the public interest, while presenting the facts on all sides.

We believe that the near-unprecedented outcome on Dec. 7, in which the City Council reversed its 5-4 position and came through with a 9-0 vote in favor of an open public trial, would not have been possible without the continued drumbeat of coverage in the pages of your newspaper.

It's wonderful to see the processes of democracy at work — of a free press, of activated citizens and responsive public leaders — reaching a conclusion that will benefit all in Hawai'i, our native people and the 'aina for generations to come.

As we said in an open letter to the City Council: "We are the people of Hawai'i, and those who love this land from around world. We are old and young; new to the Islands and ancient; poor and rich; distinguished and anonymous.

"Uniting our voices, we wish to express our common gratitude to you, the City Council of Honolulu, for taking a courageous stand on Dec. 7, 2005, to protect Waimea Valley, indivisible and in perpetuity. We are grateful that you listened to us; that you questioned and prodded us; that you asked us to stand up and be counted. We did stand up, we were counted.

"We are thankful that you decided to give democracy a chance, that you support an open and fair court hearing, that you decided to trust the institutions of our American form of government. You voted for transparency and trust in the people.

"Your historic vote on Dec. 7 was stirring; it was moving for those of us who were there that day to witness the tide turn. On Dec. 7, 2005, which is known as a date of infamy and tragedy for Hawai'i 64 years ago, you added a new image: a date of courage, of truth, of mana'o.

"Those who have no voices — the spirits of Waimea, the ancestors, the native birds, animals and plants, the rocks, streams, mountains and sacred places of Waimea — they also thank you, through our voice. We invite you to come to Waimea Valley, come and celebrate with us its peace and power.

"We will never forget. We hope you are further inspired to continue on this path of openness, of careful and critical listening, of fairness and trust in our democratic institutions, in all your work and service to the community."

To The Advertiser, to our passionate citizens and volunteers, to the council, to the leaders of the National Audubon Society, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the president of the Senate, and to state representatives — mahalo from the Valley.