MOTOR VEHICLES

WHY HAVE REGISTRATION RATES RISEN SO MUCH?

Why have motor vehicle regisration rates increased almost 20 percent in one year?

My vehicle is six years old and my registration fee has increased from $171 to $211 per year, particularly because of a county weight increase. My vehicle's weight has not increased.

Since you have increased rates and considering the state's monetary surplus, then finance and install air conditioners in all of the classrooms in the Wai'anae Schools Complex.

In fact, include every school in Hawai'i. The focus is to make classrooms conducive to learning. Are 100 degree classrooms with 90 percent humidity conducive to learning? Are 100 degree classrooms with 90 percent humidity behaviorally, cognitively, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially healthy?

I know there are hundreds of vehicles on the road that have no registration and/or licensed drivers. Why is there a substantial increase in registration rates?

KAILUA

ANTI-B&B CAMPAIGN COULD HURT ECONOMY

Kailua has such a problem with visitors — a psychological problem. The anti-B&B group has been sending anonymous letters to homeowners in Lanikai threatening unnamed actions if the owners rent their properties as B&B or vacation rentals. They've got Web addresses, names of properties, photos of rental vehicles in driveways and complaints filed with the Department of Planning and Permitting.

Meanwhile, the Kailua B&Bs and vacation rentals are pumping about $165 million into the Kailua economy and creating 800 to 900 jobs in K-town.

Kailua is the most exciting destination on O'ahu with its bright shops, unique restaurants, visitor activities and gorgeous beach. It's just about the best example in Hawai'i of visitor industry growth with zero environmental impact.

We don't need to change the law. The law has worked well in keeping the lid on tourist development in Kailua. We need to change people's minds so they don't kill the goose.

RECYCLING

HI-5¢ INHERENTLY UNFAIR TO HAWAI'I CONSUMERS

It was not too long ago that recyclers paid people to bring in aluminum cans. The recyclers were in business and made money.

Then the politicians got into the act created the HI-5¢ program. Now, not only do the recyclers get the aluminum for free, but we have to pay them to collect that aluminum. To add insult to injury, we are required to permit them to weigh, rather than count, if there are more than 50 items. Are there any other voters out there who believe this to be blatantly unfair to the consumer?

TRUCK DISPLAY

HFD ENGINE 4 A HIT WITH KANE'OHE KIDS

The Kane'ohe Bay Shopping Center held its 2nd annual Fire Truck Display on Sunday, Oct. 22. Five preschools and seven elementary schools in the area were told Ladder 17 and Kane'ohe's finest firefighters would be featured.

Just before noon on Sunday, the Kane'ohe station was called to a house fire. Without knowing, I was waiting at the shopping center for Kane'ohe's Ladder 17 to arrive. At 12:30 p.m. Engine 4 from Kuakini stopped by. They told me of the fire and that they were the backup in case of other fires in the area. I told them of our event and that children would be coming. Without hesitating, the captain had Engine 4 move into our "event" parking lot.

We had more than 70 children and their parents, grandparents and friends. The firefighters were great with them. However, at 2 p.m., Engine 4 was called to a dumpster fire. As children and adults waved good-bye, they were hoping that Engine 4 would return. Ten minutes later, the firefighters returned to greet more children until 2:30 p.m. Engine 4 "saved the day" for the children!

RUSH HOUR

ENCOURAGE CARPOOLS, CUT TRAFFIC 50 PERCENT

Most rush-hour cars hold only the driver. So the solution is simple: Close all but one town-bound or home-bound lane to vehicles with only a driver in the car, and enforce it.

All other lanes become Aloha (carpool) lanes. The city designates regular Aloha stops for town-bound and home-bound drivers to pick up passengers mornings and evenings.

"Driver-only" cars pick up passengers before entering the freeways to become eligible for the many Aloha lanes. Traffic will be cut by 50 percent or more during rush hours.

The aloha spirit of Hawai'i will make it work.

MAKAHA

DRYING YARD SHOULD BE PUT IN REMOTE LOCATION

The Makaha Ahupua'a Community Association discussed your Sept. 23 article about the drying yard proposed for Wai'anae at our October meeting. Some feel that this is just one more type of dump in our backyard.

It would appear that it would contaminate the soil, promote vermin and insects and probably be a smelly addition to our community. This seems an entirely inappropriate use for a residential/school neighborhood, with such close proximity to the main highway through Wai'anae.

Such a drying facility should be in a remote area, with little human impact. The state owns much remote land; it needs to reconsider its course of action.