Bottle, can deposits no longer needed

The recycling deposit added to the cost of beverages was a good idea at the time of inception in January 2005, since we did not have curbside recycling. The curbside recycling pilot program was started toward the end of 2007 and soon was implemented in the rest of Oahu.

We now have two recycling programs for the same recyclable items. I think that the deposits on cans and bottles should be eliminated and the bottles and cans should be put in the blue containers.

The deposit program is redundant and a hassle for consumers and for Hawaii. The blue curbside container is big enough to handle all recyclables, and if there is a need for another container, it could be provided.

Put the workers now reimbursing consumers to work in the curbside recycling program and then Oahu would have an excellent recycling program.

John Matejko
Pearl City

Kaimuki should have a bike lane

Kudos to the Star-Advertiser for its editorial endorsing the addition of a bike lane or lanes on Waialae Avenue in Kaimuki ("Bikes, pedestrians deserve full access to Kaimuki streets," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Sept. 28).

As the editorial pointed out, it makes sense because it would connect existing bikeways in East Oahu and Manoa. It’s also the law, with bikeways enshrined in the Honolulu City Charter.

Auwe to Takako Goya of Palolo, who asserted that the bicycle lanes will be bad for business and that "bikers are not going to work in the morning, but probably training for the next race" ("Kaimuki bike lane will hurt businesses," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 29).

I ride my bike to and from work, shopping, etc. each and every day, and patronize businesses up and down Waialae Avenue. Not all bicyclists are struggling students and artists; bicycle touring by affluent residents and visitors alike could make a significant contribution to our economy, if we had a more complete network of bikeways.

Ted Baker
Manoa

Sen. Ryan does Kailua a disservice

I appreciate that state Sen. Pohai Ryan has made it clear where she stands on the issue of protecting and preserving the aina and community of Kailua ("Not all Kailuans want to keep out tourists," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Sept. 29).

She shows support for a small majority of illegal B&B owners and a few other inconsiderate businesses in Kailua, even though they are destroying the social fabric of our community.

She is OK with the fact that local residents are being displaced from the community as more and more Kailua neighborhoods are converted into resort areas for vacation homes. Thank you for letting us know who you are and who you support, Sen. Ryan.

Kathleen Thomas
Lanikai

Meat doesn’t just magically appear

I just wanted to commend you for running the article about Foodland and Times supermarkets discontinuing pork sales from pork that has been shipped live from the mainland.

I don’t think that many of us stop and think about how our meat gets into those shiny, pink packages in our grocery aisles, but when we learn the truth about the process, one cannot help but stop and ask themselves, "Do I really want to support this industry?"

One of those processes is transportation. Living for five to six days in a crowded, hot cargo container, stepping in each other’s feces and urine, terrified to be out of their usual surroundings … only to be slaughtered at the other end, is not only completely unnecessary but also unbelievably cruel.

People who still choose to eat pork can buy it pre-slaughtered from the mainland, and they will never know the difference. However, I hope this topic will get people wondering about the other processes besides transportation that animals have to go through to become meat, and consider reducing or eliminating their intake of such products.

Sarah Taylor
Haiku

Don’t fall for online dog breeder scams

I hope everyone looking for a puppy in Hawaii does not fall for online breeder scams.

In the last two months, we have had at least three cases of folks finding puppy sales online from a supposed Big Island breeder. One family even sent the "seller" $500 and was told to fill out official forms, sent photos of the puppy, and dealt with a private shipping company.

We are warning all of our Boxer club members, but think others might want to know, too. This is why we need licensing of all breeders who advertise, not just large-scale "puppy mills."

I don’t want this to keep happening to our ohana. It is such a shame that people scam each other this way, and we need tougher laws to curb this crime.

Theresa Donnelly
Secretary, Boxer Club of Hawaii

Help the homeless while they’re down

The Honolulu City Council should immediately kill the bill to confiscate the personal property of our homeless neighbors ("Council might ban personal property on city sidewalks," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 29).

It is shameful to contemplate kicking these people while they are down. Let’s be good neighbors and help them up.

Thomas Dye
Honolulu