Bus ads would ruin Hawaii’s uniqueness

I was shocked when Mayor Kirk Caldwell proposed allowing advertising on the sides of TheBus.

I believe he would be throwing away one of the things that makes Hawaii special.

When I first moved here 20 years ago I was struck with the beauty — and the absence — of any outdoor billboards. Everything looked peaceful and relaxing.

Remember, people come to our islands because they are different. Opening the door to outdoor advertising will make Waikiki look like Times Square.

If TheBus becomes a rolling billboard, there will be court cases in no time to allow stupendous displays in our most important visitor areas, let alone elsewhere. Advertisers will have no option but to compete in the most garish way.

This is a well-intentioned but bad idea. There are other options to raise revenue that will not destroy what makes Honolulu special.

Robert J. Conlan
Wahiawa

Bus ads would trigger all sorts of trouble

You used the term "slippery slope" in allowing ads on buses in Wednesday’s news article, and I assure you this did in fact happen in my city of Vancouver, B.C. ("Exterior ads could earn $8M," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4).

The city bus authority (called Translink) recently careened down just such a slippery slope by allowing a politically biased ad on the sides of buses, seen by some as being anti-Semitic, and thus managed to offend many thousands.

In spite of a major protest from outraged citizens, including letters from lawyers of respected Jewish organizations, Translink claimed its hands were "tied by the law," and so proceeded with the ad regardless. Yet, interestingly, other North American bus companies have had no hesitation in turning down the same ad.

Ads don’t belong on the outside of buses, no matter the content, and I would not spoil the friendly and warm ambience of this beautiful city by going down this slippery slope.

Sharon Isaacson
Vancouver, B.C.

Ads on city buses could be very useful

The plan to allow advertising on the sides of city buses is in fact a brilliant idea.

I do love the fact that billboard advertising is not allowed in Hawaii.I tend to point this out to friends who are visiting the island, and many don’t even realize there really are no billboards.

However, this does reduce the abilities of businesses and nonprofits, as well as government branches, to advertise.

The Maui Divers Jewelry company has been advertising its products on its transport buses for years.

The city could advertise traffic announcements for certain areas.

The sides of buses could also be used to distribute public service announcements. It could be anything from flu vaccinations to driving tips.

It would also be a boost for local businesses trying to spread their message.

I think this is a move in the right direction.

Brian McCloskey
McCully

‘Quantitive easing’ helps mainly the rich

If income disparity is the problem that our president believes it is, perhaps some perspective as to its possible root cause is called for.

The policy of "quantitative easing" as a stimulant to the sluggish economy has been a lamentable failure.After years of this wasteful and pointless exercise, we are still faced with near-record unemployment, economic growth anemic at best, and more in poverty than before its implementation.

This should have been predictable, since pumping $80 billion a month into Wall Street doesn’t benefit the average citizen one bit — yet provides the rich with the means to reap the benefits of an artificially supported market.

Ergo, the rich get richer while the poor sink even deeper into poverty at the hands of an unaffected overall economy.

Just as with everything else it touches, big government has stepped in to make matters worse.

Progressivism does not work.

Steve Hinton
Haleiwa

We need agriculture, not more strip malls

Mayor Kirk Caldwell should avoid using simplistic Economics 101 supply-and-demand theory to rationalize the bill that removes 578 acres of farmland in Koa Ridge.

Recent statements that an increased supply of new homes will bring down prices to an affordable level is difficult to read.

What’s the number to realize that goal — 3,500, 50,000, 100,000 homes?

Will there ever be enough construction to satisfy the true demand?

Increase housing density within existing residential zoning areas rather than convert valuable agricultural lands into asphalt cul-de-sacs. We need Oahu to be a self-sustainable community (especially in times of disaster), not an island of more gated communities and strip malls.

Think not of how the city budget can be enhanced with new property tax revenue, or how to keep developers and trade unions satisfied, but rather how to care for the lands of this island and the prosperity of its people.

Tim Apicella
Hawaii Kai

Missionaries’ critics fail to give specifics

Could the author of "Missionaries Stole Hawaiian Lands" cite a few examples of actual missionaries who stole land (Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 2)?

The frequent unsubstantiated claim that the "missionaries stole the land" does a disservice to all who live in the islands.

Is the author referring to missionaries Amos and Juliette Cooke who taught Christian stewardship, to Princess Pauahi, Queen Emma and other alii who, in turn, donated their estates for the benefit of all?

Is the author confused with whalers and merchants who arrived 40 years before the missionaries, followed by other merchants in the 19th century who took over vast tracts of land, often marrying alii to gain possession of the land?

Or is the author confused with the children and grandchildren of missionaries, who were not missionaries themselves?

Many of these descendants were successful businessmen in the kingdom and left large charitable foundations that still provide for Hawaii’s people today.

Jack Gillmar
Palolo

Ann Miller deserved the standing ovation

After the game, on nights the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team plays at the Stan Sheriff Center, fans either head home or head out for a late dinner or a night on the town.

For years, though, the Star-Advertiser’s Ann Miller has spent those nights interviewing coaches and players and then writing and filing her stories so that we are able to read all about the games the next morning, just hours after the games end.

Through Miller’s stories, which we have enjoyed for 30 years, we have come to know generation after generation of Wahine as players and as people.

They become "our" wahine, our ohana.

It was telling that when it was announced on Senior Night that Miller would be retiring, volleyball fans gave her a standing ovation.

Is there anywhere else in the world where the college volleyball sportswriter has meant so much to a community?

Incredible!

Thanks so much for working all those late nights — it has meant much to us. Mahalo!

Michael Richards
Kaneohe

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FROM THE FORUM @ STARADVERTISER.COM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

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"Telescope on Mauna Kea spies unusual black hole," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2:

» I first thought the article was about our state and county governments.

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"Fallen power line hurts Kailua man," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2:

» Get rid of all these old ironwood trees. They are dangerous and do not belong in Hawaii and especially in populated areas!
» Can we keep the wood wood trees?
» The "Stairway to Heaven" trail hikers should have their heads examined to take such foolish steps when warned by the weather forecaster of impending storms approaching.

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"Hurricane season pau; islands are spared pilikia," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3:

» I’m a tourist reading the morning paper with my breakfast. Mind telling me what is "pau" and "pilikia" ?
» It’s a reminder that you’re in Hawaii.
» Did this article mention "global warming" even once? I don’t think so.
» No, global warming is not mentioned this time. It is not convenient to mention it when those who believe in it are proven wrong on their predictions.
» Don’t count your chickens before they come out of the fryer. I still see a lot of hot air coming out of the state Capitol.

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"Shark Attack: Visitor is killed fishing off Maui," Star-Advertiser, Dec 3 :

» It’s amazing how many visitors and even some locals enter Hawaii’s waters with blatant disregard for the ocean’s apex predators. If the story is accurate, "dangling" your foot off the side of your kayak in big tiger shark territory is just plain stupid.
» The state must start doing something about these predators. It needs to start culling them from inland waters. Hawaiians in the olden times did kill and eat sharks in spite of what a few "kupunas" are saying.
» Many deaths could be avoided if more people were knowledgeable in basic first aid. Those that survive attacks from animals or injuries from activities do so not because of luck, but because those that came to their aid where experienced in first aid, first responder, or had medical backgrounds. Do yourself, family and friends a favor and take a course through the American Red Cross.

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"Exterior ads could earn $8M," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4:

» Advertising on TheBus is no less attractive than the buses themselves, not to mention the coming spectacle of the rail.
» How sad. One of the reasons that Honolulu is visually appealing is because The Outdoor Circle has been fighting for "clean, green and beautiful" for around 100 years. It is no accident that Honolulu does not have billboards in the air or on the ground. This proposal is a huge step in the wrong direction.

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"High court backs dismissal of native blood quantum suit," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4:

» Whatever originally intended, is there anyone who can seriously argue that the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs has not become a race-hustling shake-down machine that thrives on extorting taxpayer dollars on behalf of "victims" whose prospects grow more bleak year by year?
» This is a victory for all Hawaiians. In time, those with 50 percent blood quantum will be fewer and fewer.

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"GI drinking problems rise in isles," Star-Advertiser, Dec.5:

» Get rid of the war, get rid of the problem. It creates a culture of "nobody understands us."
» War time creates this type of situation. I was there and we all drank heavily, getting deployed five times. Some of my buddies would drink like they might not come back, before each deployment. This is normal, and military officials are not surprised like this article said. How many Vietnam vets are in Alcoholic Anonymous? War sucks.
» I’ve worked with many military personnel over the years, and, sorry to say, that a huge chunk of this particular problem stems not from "consequences of war" or "syndromes," but instead these heroes simply went from an exciting point in their lives back to boredom and feeling less important.

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"2 divers encounter bold shark off Maui," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 5:

» They were spearfishing; therefore, there was blood in the water. Of course the shark is going to be aggressive — it wants food. Perhaps there’s been an increase in shark attacks because humans are depleting the fish stocks.
» Any species that bothers us should be eliminated. Who cares about the fact that the overfishing has removed their food supply.