Makaha deaths could be stopped

How many more pedestrians have to be mowed down like animals before officials do something about that lethal stretch of Farrington Highway, from Makaha Valley Road toward Makaha beach?

I was nearly struck while crossing Farrington Highway at Water Street by a pickup truck attempting to illegally pass around another stopped vehicle.

An elderly gentleman with a walker was nearly struck at the same intersection by a speeding vehicle.

Another time, while waiting for the bus, I witnessed a speeding car hit a small pit bull puppy trying to cross the highway.

Cars regularly speed down this stretch of Farrington Highway in excess of 50 mph, while pedestrians are walking on the side of the highway inches from the passing cars.

Since there is more than enough room on the highway, why not place a walking path with a barrier along this stretch to protect pedestrians from speeding cars?

Anita G. Diaz
Makaha

Rail is best way to ease traffic

The article by Mayor Peter Carlisle, along with well-known business and community leaders, was spot on ("Rail is Oahu’s future," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 28).

We have to do something about our ever-increasing traffic congestion, and rail is the best plan to accomplish that.

It’s amazing that some want to stop rail again. But they’ve offered no realistic solutions to traffic congestion, or the jobs that will be created.

We’ve talked about rail for the past four decades, and have chosen to do nothing. Isn’t the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result?

It’s time to move forward and build the rail system for the future of Oahu.

Jay Miyamoto
Kapolei

Rail will conflict with water needs

Mahalo to the Star-Advertiser for publishing both the pro and the con on rail transit ("How the city misled the public," Insight, Aug. 21; "Rail is Oahu’s future," Insight, Aug. 28).

Many people seem to think that since we have a history of growth, this means we are certainly going to grow in the future.

I, however, do not think we have enough fresh water in our aquifer here on Oahu to accommodate more population growth.

On most days, the traffic is only bad during rush hour, and cheaper fixes for the traffic are available.

Phil Robertson
Kailua

Elevated rail is most practical

Elevated rail will give us the chance to get around without having to deal with traffic and parking.

Building another highway only shuffles cars around and will increase traffic at on and off ramps.

Just adding more buses won’t work because they’ll just get delayed at busy stops.

If the train is down on the ground, there will be mutual interference with all the cars, trucks, buses, bikes and pedestrians out there.

Mark Munar
Honolulu

Rail critics don’t feel traffic pain

It seems to me that the people who are against the rail are primarily people who live in Honolulu and don’t drive in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a daily basis.

Don’t tell everyone how rail is not needed until you experience the rush hour traffic situation for yourself every day.

Something has to be done to alleviate the situation. Population and traffic is only going to get worse. If nothing is done now, then when? More buses on the road stopping every block is not the answer. It causes even more slowdowns.

We had the chance to build a rail system decades ago, but waited. And now the cost has risen.

Let’s learn from that and think long-term. Or else pay even more down the line.

Darryl Fujioka
Pearl City

New tech chief cause for hope

Welcome, Sanjeev Bhagowalia, chief of the new Office of Information Management and Technology ("Sanjeev Bhagowalia," Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, Aug. 19).

I hope he receives all the support necessary to reach his goals.

I appreciate and I am encouraged by his statement, "The new world is going to go mobile in about five years, the mobile tablet or mobile smart phone is going to replace the PC. With that, it’s all apps, electronic government. We’re right in the forefront, so that’s what I think is exciting about Hawaii. We’re behind, but we can leapfrog the others."

Richard Y. Will
Waikiki

Immigration law needs reform

Regarding the excellent article, "A waste of talent" (Star-Advertiser, Insight, Aug. 24), in a state of multicultural beliefs, every person should read it and be shocked.

Because some young adult entered the U.S. as an undocumented infant and is now held in limbo by Immigration without proper papers, there is no provision for sympathy to figure out, "How can we help you?" Immigration simply follows its book on deportation.

I urge Hawaii’s congressional delegation to add a new section to the immigration law, titled "Steps To Follow For Those Un-Documented Immigrants." Give simplified steps toward gaining a green card so they can go on with their lives.

I am a Navy veteran of World War II; my two brothers also served, in the Army and Air Force. How could we have been so blind to risk our lives defending some very unfair immigration laws and officials who enforce them?

George S. Brosky
Kaneohe