Letters to the Editor

APEC security ridiculous overkill

Let me start out by saying that my livelihood is dependent upon tourism. What is happening, especially in Waikiki as it relates to all the road closures for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, is absolutely ridiculous and, most of all, overkill.

To close off Kalakaua Avenue at its choke point as it comes directly into Waikiki is … well, you can fill in the blank. We are all now stuck on Ala Moana as it winds into Waikiki. What a traffic mess that will also turn out to be.

To disrupt the daily habits for days of thousands upon thousands of residents and the normal daily count of 25,000-plus tourists from all over the world for the benefit of a few just does not make sense.

Let’s hope APEC never visits our shores again.

Michael A. Eberle
Honolulu

Pass tougher laws against recidivists

Nothing new here: A 77-year-old lady walking down the street at noon, a guy approached her from behind to grab her purse, she gets injured, he runs and is arrested again ("77-year-old woman thwarts would-be robber," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15). So what? It was just No. 30 for this felon who had 29 prior convictions since 1985. One could say it was her fault, as she should have given up her purse rather than resist.

I don’t think so. Do we all have to give up our purses, privacy and freedom to safely walk down the street to thugs who freely flow in and out of our judicial system filled with excuses for such criminal behavior? Unless our elected officials tighten the laws, this all-too-common, long-rap-sheet guy will continue to run freely, the police will remain frustrated and the rest of us will have to be on guard and remain victims.

Diane D. Ackerson
East Honolulu

Evolution is a fact, plain as penicillin

In his letter proclaiming that evolution is theory, not fact, R. Heath Todd asserts a definition of scientific method that could come from a junior high school science class ("Evolution is theory, not scientific fact," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 20).

The methods that scientists use to explain nature are far broader and more varied than experiments in a laboratory. Scientists interpret evidence, and the evidence for evolution is incontrovertible. When penicillin first came into widespread use in the late 1940s, it was almost uniformly effective in treating infections of staphylococcus aureus. Now it is virtually useless against staph; the staph bacillus has evolved immunity to the bacteriocidal action of penicillin.

That evolution is a fact of which every physician is aware. It has occurred with just about every organism targeted by man-made antibiotics. What is routinely contested in science is the theory of evolution, which is the explanation of how evolution occurs, not the factual evidence that it has occurred.

Thomas Graham Gans
Honolulu

Legalize gambling on Lanai only

The governor and the Legislature are grappling with the never-ending problem of balancing our budget. It is clear that cutting spending is either insufficient or politically undoable. The governor has even opened the possibility of taxing retirement income.

The alternative is to find ways of increasing revenue. I propose that we legalize casino gambling on Lanai only. Limiting gambling to Lanai requires those who want to gamble to travel there and minimizes exposure to the larger population.

The rise of new hotels on Lanai would be a boon to the construction industry. The new hotels will need employees. Employees will need housing, schools, medical facilities, transportation, shopping centers, etc. Airlines would obviously benefit and potentially the increased traffic from the major islands could provide a "hot" route for a ferry.

This idea will take the cooperation and agreement by the landowner. But it is worth pursuing because of the potential of increasing revenues and benefit to the entire state.

Dennis Enomoto
Mililani

Motorcycles not the only unsafe things

Your motorcycle helmet editorial was good ("Require bikers to wear helmets," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 10). However, I think it does not go far enough.

While there were 12 deaths of unhelmeted riders last year, there are about 100 to 150 Hawaii automobile deaths every year. None of those drivers or passengers was wearing a helmet.

We don’t know how many deaths could have been prevented had these people been wearing a helmets. But how much is even one life worth?

Since upper spine and neck injuries are very common in auto accidents, I would also suggest requiring neck braces for all drivers and passengers.

Another area begging for safety regulation is water sports — there are 60-80 drownings in Hawaii every year, and nearly every one of them could have been prevented, if we required all swimmers, surfers and opihi pickers to wear a life vest. That’s 700 people saved, in the past decade alone, if only we had sensible safety legislation.

Joel Aycock
Keaau

To be humane, don’t eat pigs at all

It’s encouraging that so many people want pigs and other farmed animals be treated less cruelly ("Slaughterhouse reels as grocers reject pork shipped live to isles," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22). Once people understand that these animals have interests and feelings that must be protected, they are one step closer to realizing that there’s no good reason to eat them at all.

Pigs suffer when they are live exported to Hawaii in crowded, disease-ridden conditions. In slaughterhouses, these smart, friendly animals are typically hung upside-down, scalded, and bled to death, often while they’re still conscious. PETA supports any action that will help reduce animal suffering, but the only truly humane option is for people to choose tasty vegan foods instead of meat, eggs and dairy products.

Heather Moore
Research specialist, PETA Foundation