MILILANI WOES

NO WAY TO GET TO NEIGHBORHOOD MEETS

When I asked O'ahu Transit (formerly TheBus) why they hated Mililani they said to attend the neighborhood board meetings and ask them.

Both boards (25 and 35) meet at public places where there is no public transportation. No bus, no bus stops, no trolley, no taxi-cabs. You will have a hike-and-a-half, and at night that's just scary.

'SOPRANOS'

SCREEN'S GOING DARK ON AMERICA'S SOUL, TOO

With the final episode of "The Sopranos," the 100 percent dumbing-down of America has finally arrived.

The media frenzy of adulation, from the liberal press (The New York Times, The New Yorker) to the conservative press (The National Review, Fox News) — and seemingly everyone in between — is mind-boggling.

Phrases such as "The moral conflict between Tony and his conscience," "The deeper meaning of the apparent banality," and "A brilliant depiction of America in the new millennium" reverberate 24/7 through the depleted ozone of intellect and critical thinking that has become, sadly, the very air we breathe.

The fact that this series' swarm of bozos and clowns (psychiatrists included) is nothing more than a disorganized mob of stupid criminals, criminal wannabes or enablers — in the end too lazy or lame to even defend themselves — seems as lost in the corners of our understimulated minds as our own moral compass.

The screen goes dark, the critics rave, the Internet hums ... America, can we please re-examine our sensibilities before the screen goes dark on our soul?

AIRLINES

'LOCAL' AIRLINES CHARGED HIGH PRICES FOR YEARS

Jim Loomis and Jim Linkner's letters to the editor on June 14 show their support for Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines, respectively. What they fail to mention, along with the "positive" statements, is that both Hawaiian and Aloha gouged customers for many years.

As a young man (and I'm only 24 now) I remember being able to fly interisland, roundtrip, for less than $60.

Prior to the arrival of go!, Hawaiian and Aloha's prices were often more than $200 roundtrip, and sales on interisland airfares were nonexistent.

Doesn't it bother anyone else that for all these years our "local" airlines have been ripping us off? Bravo to go! for giving local people affordable airfares.

AIONA

LT. GOV. HAS HIS OWN FREE-SPEECH RIGHTS

Eduardo Hernandez makes allegations concerning the lieutenant governor, but fails to back them up.

First, what facts has James "Duke" Aiona distorted? Secondly, just because the lieutenant governor exercises his right to free speech that is guaranteed him by the very Constitution that provides the same right to you does not mean he is imposing his will upon the state.

Thirdly, the religious zealotry you say Aiona displayed by testifying in opposition to same-sex rights is shared by 68 percent of the Hawai'i electorate. Therefore, he was testifying on behalf of the majority of Hawai'i. Mr. Hernandez says we must respect private beliefs. He should heed his own advice by respecting Mr. Aiona's right to voice his "personal" religious beliefs. Hawai'i will be a much better place with Governor Aiona in office.

INOFFENSIVE

KAISER SENIORS ONLY MAINTAINING TRADITION

Kudos to the class of 2007 of Kaiser High School for re-establishing the tradition (of painting a class marker on Koko Head) that started in 1974.

As majestic as Koko Head may be, it is only recognized by the high school that is at its foothills.

It was a shame that someone did not realize the importance that this means to the youth and now middle-aged residents who were born and raised in the East end of Honolulu. To be offended by this tradition, one must have not grown up here.

I would like to end this with a call to all Kaiser High School alumni, to continue this tradition by supporting the future senior classes with the opportunity to place their graduation year upon the "majestic" Koko Head.

RACING

O'AHU SHOULD DEVELOP A PERMANENT TRACK

You ran an article Monday asking if O'ahu's racers are back on track in Kalaeloa. The racers and car enthusiasts on O'ahu want a permanent solution. I would say O'ahu's racers aren't quite back on track yet. The temporary Kalaeloa plan (Parcel 24) sounds like a Band-Aid solution, albeit a welcome one.

Hopefully, something will happen soon that will allow a permanent race track for O'ahu's racers. Some of the comments to this story on your Web site do need to be looked at further.

Is there a possible revenue-generating asset in a motorsport facility? I'm not a financial expert, but I wouldn't mind having the state look into this idea. Neither, it seems, would residents who are not involved in racing.

TRAFFIC

FIXED GUIDEWAY COULD CURE OUR HIGHWAY ILLS

We have been experiencing an increase in pedestrian and traffic-related fatalities and injuries recently on our highways and side streets. I believe that the length of time spent in traffic by our drivers and inattentiveness of pedestrians have been contributing factors to this increase.

Protracted time in traffic has led to frustration, which in turn induces carelessness and impaired judgement. This degenerating problem because of an increase in automobiles and a highway system that is over capacity.

We need a fixed-guideway system that would offer our residents a viable transportation option. This type of system is reliably predictable and one does not have to factor in an additional half hour to insure that he arrives at a given destination on time.

I am hopeful and elated that this fixed guideway system will finally materialize after previous political failures.

This system will offer our residents a better option than sitting for hours in traffic, and when it is successfully integrated with TheBus and the impending ferry system, we can be proud of our city being a world-class destination.