MORE COSTLY

FUEL EFFICIENCY WILL BE HURT BY ETHANOL

Ethanol is not everything it's promised to be.

I am a recent transplant to Hawai'i and was very concerned to learn about the mandatory 10 percent ethanol in gasoline law going into effect April 2.

I spent almost three years in Nebraska where they have had ethanol in gasoline for quite some time, except in Nebraska there was a choice. There, gasoline containing ethanol is around 10 cents cheaper than regular unleaded, and even with the price break, it still was not worth it to me to put the ethanol fuel into my car because I lost an average of 15 to 20 percent fuel economy on my 2002 minivan and 10 to 15 percent on my 1996 VW, with both losing 3 to 4 mpg economy.

The only vehicles I knew of that were not severely affected by the ethanol seemed to be those older than the early 1990s, with few exceptions.

In addition to the lost fuel economy, I have no doubt that the gas stations will use this as an excuse to increase the cost to the consumer and we will end up paying on both ends of the deal: in lower fuel economy and higher prices.

This is going to wind up as another "gas cap" where it only adds to the profits of the gasoline stations, and consumers will continue to be taken for a ride.

DRUG USE

HIV STATUS CHECKS ARE NEEDED STATEWIDE

The current meth epidemic has the potential of infecting thousands of people here. The victims of meth or other drug addiction across Hawai'i, unaware of their HIV status, could be infecting many others, as multiple sexual partners are common while high on drugs or alcohol.

We are not testing our rural population with the 20-minute HIV test because of an administrative rule that needs changing. Forty-seven other states currently use this 20-minute HIV test. Are we prepared for thousands of new HIV cases to be diagnosed and treated? Do we continue our present course to ignore the epidemic here?

Could the Lingle administration help facilitate more HIV testing in this state? We need the state's help in resolving this current crisis, which has been very slow in responding.

Seven million visitors come to these Islands each year. Yet we probably have thousands of Island residents who are unaware of their HIV status and they could be needlessly spreading this sexually transmitted disease worldwide.

H-1 WEEDS, TRASH

COMPLAINTS TO STATE ARE GOING UNANSWERED

I agree with a recent letter to the editor expressing disgust with the H-1 East's medial strips. Unfortunately, telephone calls to the state's automated maintenance/complaints telephone number at the Department of Transportation go unanswered.

The center medial area where H-1 East descends to Kalaniana'ole Highway is an eyesore filled with trash, debris and weeds. The makai side of that same area where the Kahala up-ramp joins Kalaniana'ole is equally disgusting with trash, weeds and tall sugar cane plants taking root.

What does this lack of maintenance of state highways say to tourists who must pass this area on their way to Hanauma Bay and other tourist sites? How about using a very small portion of the state's tax surplus to remedy this problem?

HANDLERS

MICHELLE WIE SHOULD FOCUS ON WINNING

In acknowledging Michelle Wie's great comeback at Ko Olina, Ferd Lewis takes a potshot at those who point to her empty trophy shelf and her seven-figure bank account.

It's fair enough to pull for the "home team" — we all do it. However, the shelf is indeed empty. It would be far better for Ferd to look at Michelle's "management team" and contrast their approach to her career with that which made Tiger Woods the incredible athlete he is today. Tiger was taught to win — repeatedly — as a youngster, and that became the foundation for a golfing legend we all admire and dare not take a potshot at.

Michelle's handlers have put her through a circus through the men's tour, and that yielded the seven-figure bank account. But she now has to still demonstrate that she can win against women.

We will join Ferd in celebrating that day when it comes, but it's terribly unfortunate for someone with the incredible talent of Michelle that she has to tolerate the cynicism that her handlers have brought down on her at such a young age.

LANDFILLS

COMMUNITY BENEFIT PACKAGE ISN'T ENOUGH

According to Jo Jordan, quoted in the Feb. 25 story "Mayor pushes core services," it cost $800,000 to build a toilet in a beach park. If my math is correct, the $2 million community benefit package for the Leeward Coast community as proposed by the mayor would equal 2.5 toilets. Mayor Hannemann, we, the residents of 96792, do not need more toilets; we need you and all our elected officials to close private and public landfills in our community and designate another community. Period!

The story also says that "the city is committed to improving the Wai'anae police station and completing the Wai'anae emergency access road." What? A new police station for five police officers? At the neighborhood board meetings, the community is often told that we are only allowed five police officers.

Mr. Mayor, we have an emergency access road that cost the taxpayers $2 million to "nowhere," according to Councilman Todd Apo. "Nowhere" is right; it is only accessible on foot because of the concrete barrier that blocks the eastbound entrance.

DEALERS

LIFT 'PROHIBITION' ON RECREATIONAL DRUGS

I really enjoyed the editorial cartoon that had an old woman trying to get cheap heart medication from a drug dealer. The caption read "Look, I've got crack, smack, PCP, meth, cocaine, ludes, hash or Acapulco Red, but no way are the Feds going to let me get your heart medication from Canada."

The reason, of course, is that prescription drugs are controlled substances. Illegal drugs are only called "controlled substances."

Not until legislators learn about the law of supply and demand will we put the drug dealers out of business. When they lift "Prohibition," we can regulate, legalize, tax and distribute safe, recreational drugs (like alcohol) and keep them out of the hands of school kids. (Note: I did not list tobacco as a safe drug as it directly kills over 180,000 people per year. That's more than all illegal drugs and alcohol-related traffic deaths combined.)

CANS, BOTTLES

MAYOR, READ OUR LIPS ON CURBSIDE RECYCLING

Mayor Hannemann says he hasn't heard the people's opinion about curbside recycling. Mayor, read our lips, then:

We don't need green pickup in blue bins. We like the green pickup we have now. It's efficient and it's hard-working people doing a good job. Like the old days when you wanted to leave them a six-pack at Christmas.

What we do need are our cans and bottles and newspapers picked up at the curb, in those blue bins. We need it and so does the 'aina. We don't care how much it costs, since you're raising taxes anyway; we might as well get something actually useful for our money.

What is it about this that you can't hear?

SHARKS

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: NEVER DIVE ALONE

During the 1950s and 1960s, I was a skindiving and scuba-diving addict, often diving to depths of 200 feet and more in South Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Frequently I saw sharks in the water, but they never bothered me.

In those days we followed an inflexible rule: Never dive alone. Following that rule has saved many lives, I believe, including my own. Even more important, perhaps, than the danger from sharks is the danger from shallow-water blackout (caused by holding one's breath for extended periods).

I cannot emphasize too strongly the importance of never diving alone. Some of my own diving adventures are described in my books, "Science Beneath the Sea" (G. P. Putnam) and "Our World Underwater" (Lantern Press).