ACCIDENTS

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE NO HELP

A recent letter perpetuated the pervasive urban myth that daytime running lights (DRLs) reduce motor vehicle accidents.

It all started with a Greyhound Bus Co. public relations gimmick to promote its "safety image." There was an apparent reduction in bus accidents, and the conclusion was made that daytime headlight use must be the reason. There was a burst of publicity, and daytime headlight use was christened as a great highway safety strategy. A subsequent study, slightly more thorough, determined that daytime headlight use on buses had no effect on accident frequency. That study never got much attention.

Think about this: If you can't see a bus during the daytime, because it doesn't have its headlights on, there is a greater problem at play here than visibility.

The first, last and only large-scale U.S. study that has been completed and published on the effects of DRLs as safety devices was conducted by the insurance industry-supported Highway Loss Data Institute. The study showed that vehicles equipped with DRLs were involved in more accidents than similar vehicles without DRLs.

The difference was minimal, but the message was clear: DRLs' net effect on accident reduction is zero or worse.

RECYCLING

GREEN-WASTE PROGRAM MAKES THINGS EASIER

As Mr. Abraham Aiona's March 22 letter illustrates, greencycling, the city's new curbside green-waste program using the blue bins, has prompted questions on how to handle excess green waste. The new system should make it easier for households to separate and recycle green waste.

Using a cart means no more bundling or bagging, and the cart can be wheeled around your property as you do your yard work.

Many households are finding that one cart for green waste, even the smaller blue cart, is sufficient. When they have larger volumes of green waste, using their gray refuse cart as a second green-waste cart is working fine.

Households with more green waste may take advantage of other options. For those who prefer a larger green cart to the blue one, we plan to swap green for blue carts over time, upon request.

Right now, we are focusing on neighborhoods that generate large amounts of green waste, particularly in Windward O'ahu.

Excess green waste, beyond what fits into the blue and gray carts, can be left in bags alongside the carts. Our collection operators make note as they service the homes, and a special truck comes by to pick up the bags within a week. Additional green carts will be available for purchase shortly.

The response to the greencycling program, which we launched three weeks ago, thus far has been heartening.

I understand that those accustomed to the old system of bagging green waste may face some challenges in adjusting to the new method of collection, but the overall benefits could be significant for our island.

Our recycling specialists are available to assist with any problems or questions. Feel free to call or e-mail us if you have any questions: 692-5410 or www. opala.org.

KIDNAPPING

COCK CROWS NO MORE WITHIN THE STERILE CITY

A rooster once graced Makiki.

Makiki is a sterile city of cement high-rises. I live in one. You never hear a dog bark, ever. You rarely hear the laugh of children. We tighten our night windows against the blare of car alarms and the crash of domestic violence. The ubiquitous 3 a.m. motorcycles roar up the street.

Two months ago, a rooster and his hen adopted the area between Liholiho and Pi'ikoi. His morning voice was clear, confident. It was his neighborhood now, too.

Every morning, my family would smile when our breakfast was serenaded. We got to feel "countrified," a little more connected to nature. Even on rough days, I thought if these little guys could scratch out a daily existence, I can, too.

In the movie, Black Orpheus convinced his community the sun would not rise unless he played the guitar. And I suspect our little black and white rooster had something to do with his daily sunrise.

A rooster once graced Makiki.

Not all welcomed him. How dare he crow in the cement city? Although he was the first in 25 years, our lawn is not his. Can you imagine his terror when two men literally snatched him from his sweet grass and threw him in a steel cage? Can you imagine the panic of his hen as she was instantly separated from her daily companion, her evening comfort?

For one week now, there is a moment each morning when my ear strains to hear that beautiful song, and my heart sinks. I retighten my night window against car alarms and the motorcycles.

A rooster once graced Makiki.

LEGISLATURE

STICK TO THE PRIORITIES

This is ridiculous! Our legislators shouldn't be spending their limited time during the session to approve and to establish a team to reduce the time required by the Honolulu police to close down a highway to investigate a traffic accident.

MILITARY

PEACENIK'S COMMENTS WEREN'T APPRECIATED

Don Lichty took an inappropriate swipe at people in the military with his comment about a " ... few drunk, military-appearing young men, who were professionally restrained by police." He wasn't even sure they were military people, but that doesn't matter to the peace lovers like Don.

He also went on to complain that while deployments and reunions garner coverage (as well they should), his little rally was on the second part of the main page. I guess what Don doesn't think about, though, are the many columns (we had multiple stories on Cindy Sheehan, who was brought in like a thief in the night/can't advertise/never know what those warmongers in the military will do), editorials and letters to the editor putting down the need for a military and making other such negative statements about the commander in chief.

While he believes a "tipping point" has been reached, I beg to differ. Throughout the country, the "rallies" were poorly attended. I can only speak for myself, but this military wife (no press attended when my husband deployed earlier this year, Don) is sick and tired of the holier-than-thou attitude by those who think the U.S. is a terrible place and we do nothing but provoke unjustified wars.

How long, Don, before you and your merry band of peaceniks start spitting on the troops again? Not long, I'm sure, but you probably would say you support them. Baloney!

As is usual, though, the esteemed editorial board at this paper will see its way fit not to publish this. It only likes to hear from people who agree with it.

FATAL ACCIDENT

HAWAI'I AIR AMBULANCE MET STRINGENT STANDARDS

It is unfortunate that so soon after the tragic crash of a Hawai'i Air Ambulance plane on March 8 — a crash in which the company lost three members of its family — certain individuals have jumped on the opportunity to criticize and attack the company's operations without bothering to check their facts.

Hawai'i Air Ambulance has always been there for the people of Hawai'i, helping to transport those in need of critical medical attention, no matter the hour.

While these individuals avoid directly tying their criticisms to the cause of the crash, they are participating in little more than extensions of speculation. The question of what caused the crash will be answered by the National Transportation Safety Board and its ongoing investigation. Until that investigation is complete, it is irresponsible to speculate. Period.

Over the 15 years that I worked for Hawai'i Air Ambulance, both as a pilot and a member of its medical staff, I have always experienced impeccable safety practices in the air and on the ground.

The company's CEO, Andy Kluger, in particular has always gone above and beyond to set the highest standards. He has no tolerance for sub-par performances and demands 110 percent from his crews. For this reason, he may not be the most popular among those who are unwilling to meet these standards, but those high standards are exactly what is required to run an aeromedical operation.

To assure the public of the soundness of its aircraft, Hawai'i Air Ambulance is conducting comprehensive voluntary inspections on its remaining four aircraft. These are in addition to the company's regular FAA-mandated inspections and are absolutely necessary for certification by the very stringent Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

Only about 60 of 400 aeromedical companies are CAMTS-certified. Hawai'i Air Ambulance is one of them.

Let's allow the investigators, the ones with all the facts, to do their job.

SHARE THE WEALTH

EMBRACE VACATION RENTAL INDUSTRY

When I left Mokule'ia as a kid, it really was the country. There weren't tourists walking the beach at Crozier. When I left Kailua for university, it really was the suburbs. There weren't tourists walking from the bus stop to Lanikai Beach, and you only found kama'aina in Kalapawai Market because Elsie wasn't serving lattes back then.

Throughout my life, I have stayed in everything from an over-the-carport bed and breakfast to a private home, high-rise apartment and an exquisite villa overlooking a lake. I've always been impressed with the variety of accommodations you can find throughout the world, and often thought that our level of tolerance for one another must be improved because of tourism. It gives us an opportunity to really get to know each other, accept one another's ways and culture.

Now that I'm home, I see that O'ahu has a major hub where we "welcome" our tourists, and that's Waikiki. There are a couple of other outlying areas where we will "let" them go as well, Kahala, Kahuku (not even sure about that anymore), La'ie, but for the most part, the message appears to be, "please stick to Waikiki; we have you all set up there with lu'aus, surf lessons and other Hawaiian experiences." I actually hear comments in my neighborhood like, why are the tourists in my store, why do they want to stay in my neighborhood, what do they want on my beach?

Which stops me in my tracks and makes me wonder: While I was traveling about, did those locals look at me with distaste and think, what's that tourist doing out of her place? Doesn't she know that this is our place?

Our attitude of sharing our island home with others contrasts with our attitude about travel for ourselves. From our island, we take getaways to far-flung places from which we return and rave about, thus creating a buzz.

The fact is, travel brings the world together. Accepting the culture and ways of others gives us compassion and understanding. Being accepted into a culture promotes peace and hope. It's an honor to visit other cultures and understand how their world functions; it breeds gratitude for all that we have.

We have a unique opportunity to offer more to the world by embracing the vacation rental industry. Clearly we don't want another Waikiki — the opposition to five new hotels on the North Shore resonates that fact. So what are our options? Hawai'i is a beautiful place, and visitors want to come and spend time here. They want to learn about our home, how our culture works, how our world functions; they want to get to know us, and "live" our lifestyle, if even for just 10 nights.

I don't want to stop traveling, I don't want to stop learning about other people, and I don't want to see Hawai'i shutting its doors to people who want to share the beauty of our Islands. Weren't we taught that anything worth having is worth sharing?

Let's embrace the vacation rental industry, create a license, format thoughtful regulations, schedule site inspections, develop and execute penalties for those who violate the regulations and develop a vacation rental industry tax to pay for it.

Neighbors can continue to turn in neighbors; homeowners can either meet the new regulatory standards or be out of business, and guests can enjoy "living" in Hawai'i. It's a win-win-win!