Park neighbors getting free ride
The city recently passed an ordinance banning free, long-term storage of personal property on city streets and public rights of way.
What about cars? Doesn’t the use of free overnight and long-term parking on city streets around Kapiolani Park fall under this statute? The public parking around Kapiolani Park is designed for day use by park and beach patrons. If Gold Coast condominium owners wish to use the public Kapiolani Park area as their personal parking lot for overnight or long-term parking, then they should pay for it.
The city can implement a residential sticker system and charge residents an annual fair-market fee to use these prime beachfront parking stalls for overnight use. The idea that one’s car is entitled to free and convenient parking anywhere, all the time on public property, is wrong. It is time for drivers to pay the true cost of their parking.
Jeff Merz
Waikiki
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Early testing for cancer still best
I commend the physicians’ informative article, but the controversy over prostate-specific antigen continues ("Necessity of screening for prostate cancer varies," Star-Advertiser, Health Scene, Jan. 31).
Unfortunately, they describe not testing until age 50 for normal males. This start-up age differs from that of the American Urological Association, a medical organization, and other groups who advocate beginning testing 10 years earlier, at age 40.
The medical community must push for early detection, not later, when some aggressive forms of prostate cancer may become uncontrolled. A large majority of prostate cancer may be benign, but we should not be gambling the lives of all men. Rather, we should advocate early testing at age 40 for normal men.
The prostate cancer death rate has gone down, partially as a result of early PSA testing. We must promote this trend to prevent needless deaths.
Paul Mizue
Aiea
‘Descendants’ honors Hawaii
This is a rebuttal to Michael Haas’ mean-spirited letter ("‘Descendants’ insults Hawaii," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 1)
"The Descendants" has won honors worldwide and been nominated for Academy Awards. Alexander Payne and all who worked on "The Descendants" are at the zenith of America’s great art form, the cinema. The movie is an asset to Hawaii and has contributed significantly to the economy.
I am proud of my daughter Kaui. Her book has received very positive reviews internationally. "The Descendants" deals with an integral segment of Hawaii’s history and society. It sees into the soul of humanity and delves into the essence of who we are and our most basic emotions: love, family and death. Kaui’s grasp of words is laudable, her sense of humanity is profound. She has brought Hawaii much honor. She is "a native Hawaiian" that Hawaii can be proud of.
Haas’ vitriol says more about himself than "The Descendants." His letter was pilau.
Fred Hemmings
Kaneohe
Critic missed point of movie
I would like to address Michael Haas’ unfair, inaccurate and unsolicited review of Alexander Payne’s film, "The Descendants."
I was the production secretary on that film; you’ll find my name about halfway through the credits.
It’s difficult to believe Haas watched the same movie I worked on. Far from being a "dangerous misportrayal" of Hawaii, "The Descendants" is the only movie in decades to portray real, modern Hawaii issues: land management, economic disparity and the aftermath of colonialism. Far from "trivializing" these issues, Payne addresses them as fully as possible within the context of a fictional film.
The accusation that "only haoles enjoy importance" in this film is absurd. Haas misses the entire point of the film. Matt King, the protagonist, is a man descended from Hawaiian alii and American missionaries. When his entire family wants to sell their huge missionary land trust, he reminds them that "we have Hawaiian blood," and thus, a sacred duty to the land. I can’t think of a more Hawaiian sentiment.
Joseph Kaleo’onalani Aikala
Aiea