Copper thieves hurt more than party

The Christmas party at Makiki Park is not the only casualty of the copper wire thefts ("Copper theft cancels holiday fest in Makiki," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 1). The four tennis courts and the basketball courts are heavily used every night. There is a group of senior tennis players who use the courts three nights a week (I’m one of them) and the remainder of our league matches for the season are now canceled.

The local boys play basketball and bicycle polo. Now, because of one or more criminals, we are all inconvenienced and our enjoyment of the park has been curtailed.

These copper criminals have to be stopped at their income source — the scrap metal merchants, who must surely be suspicious of some of the sellers of wire who come to their premises. I hope the police closely monitor them after a theft occurrence.

Lynette Stobie
Honolulu

Military issues larger than environmental

An entire phalanx of military personnel confronted the handful of peaceniks and environmentalists who bothered to attend the Dec. 1 session in Hilo on the environmental impact statement for the planned basing of about 50 aircraft for training of the elements of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force in Pohakaloa, on the Big Island, starting next year. We all know that expansion is absolutely inevitable. How could it be otherwise, given the overwhelming might of our military enterprise?

Naturally, questions could be directed only at the EIS. The more profound issues related to whether this entire project adds to U.S. security or not were obviously not considered. The military has been the very essence of U.S. foreign policy. Perhaps our young people, the Occupy Wall Street crowd, will focus on the bigger questions and link them into a critique of our entire military-industrial complex, where new light may be shed.

Robert Sumner-Mack
Hilo

Rail director should come from Hawaii

While I commend the article written by Kevin Dayton ("Rail board to review Ansaldo’s financial stability," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 18) for its nonbiased reporting on the circumstances of the company chosen to build and run the rail, I feel that you buried the lead. The end of the article mentioned that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board is going to pay up to $152,000 to the firm Krauthamer & Associates to search both nationally and internationally for a new executive director at a budgeted salary ofbetween $250,000 and $350,000.

Why is the pay so high, and why are we looking for people outside of the islands? The person heading this project should be personally and not financially invested in its outcome. It makes sense that ideas from a local mindset would be best suited for one of the largest projects to affect the state. If the salary is the enticement, then perhaps the moral compass of the individual isn’t in alignment with the morals and ideals of the islands.

Maggie Kwong
Kaimuki

Columnist lacks aloha for UH football

As a staunch backer of the University of Hawaii football program for more than 50 years, I am appalled by columnist Dave Reardon using the media to take personal revenge on Greg McMackin and in turn, the entire football program ("What we have here is a failure to communicate," Star-Advertiser, Further Review, Nov. 18).

Reardon denounced the coach for chastising him during a meeting with other reporters and criticized McMackin for improperly using "limited coach-player interaction time." His column was replete with sarcasm, and filled with issues unrelated to the problems confronting the team — contract talks, knowledge of Hawaii, etc.

If Reardon sincerely wishes to turn around the fortunes of the program, he should be more positive. He could start with addressing the problem of our "fair-weather fans."

Our players have displayed courage and dedication, playing hurt, and have shown improvement despite the adversities they have been confronted with. We often forget that they also have classes to attend, personal matters to handle while sacrificing much in order to represent our university and state. They need all the encouragement we can give. They deserve better support from our fans.

Walter Soga
Kaimuki

Teenager’s tweets show lack of respect

Overwhelming criticism of Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback’s response to comments made by a teenager reveals what many of us already know — "freedom and tolerance" have replaced decency and respect in today’s culture ("Kansas governor apologizes to student for overreaction to criticism on Twitter," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 29).

I find it a sad yet accurate commentary that almost half a page in the newspaper describing this event is in support of the teen’s freedom of expression. What has happened to respect for elders and those in authority? The youth’s defense, "I was just joking," reflects the casual, bold disrespect evident in today’s culture. How about imposing some logical consequences or loss of privileges (such as the confiscating the device used to tweet)? The advent of social networking and other technological advances has promoted a boldness to say and show things that would not be said in face-to-face conversation.

Pattie Ceci
Hawaii Kai

Don’t wait for rail, make TheBus free

Every time the price of gas goes up, the bus system sees a jump in bus ridership. This shows that money is a driving factor in even the simplest things, like whether or not to drive to work and school.

A free bus system will motivate folks to leave their cars at home. This will increase bus ridership, which in turn would justify increasing the number of buses and bus routes.

More buses would lead to more bus availability and more timely bus schedules, which would help change our growing "drive-my-own-car" thinking to a "take-advantage-of-this-free-bus-system" thinking.

This solution would serve the entire island, not just a narrow 20-mile corridor.

We wouldn’t have to wait 10 years for a practical, working rail system. A free bus system could be made available today and cost just a fraction of the $5.3 billion rail tab.

A free bus system would be a welcome blessing for our tourist industry. Getting thousands of motorists to use the bus system would lead to immediate traffic relief.

What’s the harm in trying it?

Ted Kanemori
Kaneohe