Kailua park needs repairs

I am in seventh grade, homeschooled and a resident of Kailua.

One of my favorite things to do is go to the Kailua District Park. I go to the play structure with my friends, or sometimes I go with my little sister.

I like the park, except the play structure has two serious flaws. There is a lot of graphic wording on it that children shouldn’t be reading. My sister is starting to read, and I don’t want one of her first words she learns to be f***.

The physical condition also poses danger to children. Part of the structure is boarded up due to rotting of the walkway. Even though the park has boarded up the bridge, that is not stopping kids or teens from climbing on it. One of these times it is going to break, and someone is going to get seriously hurt.

If the park is going to have a play structure, it needs to take care of it and fix it. I don’t want kids reading or learning curse words, especially at a young age.

I also don’t want to see anyone going to the hospital because safety has not been made a priority.

Take the play structure down or fix it and clean it up, please.

Anna Klennert
Kailua

Stigma burdens many homeless

Many of us service providers do offer meals, substance abuse counseling, housing assistance and referrals to vocational counseling.

Many persons living in the parks, woods, etc., have a criminal record or bad/no credit, which, with today’s background checks, disqualifies many of them from rental or employment opportunities. These persons need employers and landlords willing to see them as human beings — instead of simply "the homeless" with all the stigma attached — and hire and house them.

This is not a difficult concept, is it?

Leah Koonce
Haleiwa

New device can save pedestrians

In regard to the latest horrific and seemingly endless pedestrian fatalities, perhaps we can save lives by simply adapting a proven signaling device that is now being used by all branches of the U.S. military, i.e., the "Rescue-Streamer," which saves lives by providing a visual target for persons lost at sea or on land (with no batteries, chemicals or electronics).

Smaller versions of these bright orange plastic streamers with support struts (and night-time light reflectors) can be attached to wooden sticks and placed on both sides of (high-risk) crosswalks. Pedestrians can simply hold the streamer "flag" as they cross the street and deposit the unit back in the holder on the other side of the street. This simple device could prevent oncoming traffic from mowing down our elderly citizens.

You have to be seen to be safe.

Robert Yonover
Honolulu

Mackey Feary deserves kudos

As I write this letter, I know Mackey Feary is smiling and looking down from heaven, for he has touched many lives and continues to do it in a positive manner.

I also have to give a warm congratulation to Kalapana, the group Mackey was in, for winning the 2011 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award. I am also writing because Mackey was a nice and caring individual, and not as portrayed in his last days.

Mackey had the most romantic voice that ever graced planet Earth, because he really sang from the heart.

I strongly feel he should be nominated for the 2012 Na Hoku Hanohano Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dean Nagasako
Pahala