Battle obesity with nutrition education

As a health professional, I truly care about the health of Hawaiians; however, a soda tax is not the answer to the state’s obesity problem ("Effort to tax sugary drinks fails but intention is good," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Feb. 17).

Obesity is complex and spans far beyond what we eat and drink. As a registered dietitian, I see patients who don’t exercise, lack nutrition education and consume gigantic portion sizes. Quite frankly, a tax won’t change their behavior or help them lose weight.

In fact, a recent Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School study found that even a 40 percent tax on soda would reduce average weight by only 1.3 pounds a year.

Let’s focus on actions that will work, such as increasing affordable nutrition education and counseling. Only two Hawaii-based health insurance companies include nutrition counseling for obesity in their coverage.

We should teach people the importance of portion control and moderation and create programs that encourage walking, biking and other physical activity.

Danielle McCauley
Kailua

Rail will resolve Oahu mobility issue

The Honolulu rail transit system is an important project that resolves critical mobility issues.

It is an alternative to the car and bus system. The final environmental impact statement states "… an alternative method of travel is needed within the study corridor independent of current and projected highway congestion."

It improves corridor travel reliability. The FEIS states "… lack of predictability is inefficient and results in lost productivity or free time. A need exists to provide more reliable transit services."

With 21 stations along the route and easy access by foot, bus or car, rail will deliver on these particular goals.

I have experienced many urban rail systems around the world. I have found them to be immensely popular with the general public and vital to each city’s economic infrastructure.

The rail system is critical to the future needs of Oahu. It will change things for the better in a very profound manner.

Edward Smith
Kaimuki

Rail drawing didn’t tell the whole story

The drawing of the rail guideway in the Star-Advertiser may look attractive until you notice the disclaimer, "Not to scale" ("Rail’s road," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 19).

Actually, the columns could be two to four times higher than the picture implies. Added on top is the massive 30-foot-wide guideway beam. This will be wider than two freeway lanes without any opening for people below to see the sky.

Forty years ago, Parsons-Brinkerhoff, predecessor firm of the city’s present design consultant, designed San Francisco’s BART with a less obtrusive structure — two smaller sections supporting divided tracks with open space between to lighten up the areas underneath. Our guideway structure will be as tall as a three- to six-story building.

William Kibby
Makiki

Inouye should stay out of primary fight

I was dismayed, and then angered, when I read that U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye not only expressed his preference for a candidate in the primary election for U.S. senator but convinced the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee to give money to U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono for use during the primary.

As a citizen, he has the right to voice his preference but he should not be able to manipulate his party’s primary process like that. Hawaii is not a feudal estate with Inouye as the lord of the manor, picking all of our leaders. The people retain that right.

That extra money during the primary may be enough to assure Hirono’s nomination.

There should be some way to prevent Hirono from using that money during the primary election, but I doubt there is.

Howard Wiener
Waikiki

Query candidates before you vote

U.S. House Speaker John Boehner called President Barack Obama’s decision to embrace Super PACs a broken promise. But are the Republicans not doing the same thing, while saying they want to change Washington politics so that taxpayers will get a fair shake?

Check all candidates, ask questions and listen to promises. If a person has a track record, ask yourself if he or she will follow through, and check where their money come from.

Now that we will host for the first time a GOP presidential caucus, we need to ask ourselves these questions of both parties. Some of the candidates will never get their message out because they will not have the money to compete with the chosen few, whomever those chosen few are.

Whitney T. Anderson
Waimanalo

Disability permits can be policed

This is in reference to the two letters that were written in response to Phillip Ho’s letter ("Disability permits being abused," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 20).

I believe it is mostly the people who transport the handicapped person who are abusing the use of the handicap parking permit. They usually are relatives, young and old, and they leave the placard hanging on the mirror even when the person who was issued the placard is not an occupant of the vehicle.

Maybe police officers should pull them over and give them a warning, much like they do for a broken taillight. If a photo of the person was attached to the placard, then maybe security officers can issue citations to violators.

Dennis Morioka
Kalihi