Rev. Akaka was ahead of his time

With the visit of the Dalai Lama to Hawaii to learn of our unique culture and to create a society where peace is built on a foundation of aloha, I am reminded of the late Rev. Abraham Akaka, who was way ahead of his time. The Rev. Akaka constantly preached, "Aloha Ke Akua," God is Love.

He truly believed that "Aloha Ke Akua" was the foundation for world peace. In his sermon the day after statehood, in which he referred to Hawaii as the "Aloha State," the Rev. Akaka said:

"We do not understand the meaning of aloha until we realize its foundation in the power of God at work in the world. …

"Aloha consists of this new attitude of heart, above negativism, above legalism. It is the unconditional desire to promote the true good of other people in a friendly spirit, out of a sense of kinship. Aloha seeks to do good, with no conditions attached."

We all need to be reminded sometimes of Kahu Akaka’s words.

Danny Kaleikini
Honolulu

Vog reports should be regular feature

Your newspaper has a very attractive weather page with lots of color and graphics, but the readers get little to no reporting on vog when it moves into Oahu.

I am a senior who wants to know how to plan my outside dailyactivities. I look in the paper to see if vog is moving in or moving out of the island. I’m sure the visitors do the same in wanting to know everything about the weather as they plan their individual outdoor travels.

This information is critical for individuals like me, who have severemedicalreactions to vog. Please consider elaborating on vog news, whether it’s over the island or about to comeor go away. This type of daily weather reporting,I’m sure, will be greatly appreciated by residents, visitors and medical practitioners.

Michael Randall
Hawaii Kai

Most folks would wash reusable bags

The argument that reusable bags might have bacteria is a red herring — with no additional disrespect intended to the herring. Fish are, after all, among the unfortunate victims of growing marine pollution.

We use a multitude of things — from clothes, to cars, utensils and suitcases, computers and counter tops and more — that routinely accumulate bacteria from regular use. We don’t throw them out. We clean them and reuse them. Why would we not do the same with our shopping bags?

The bag fee bill is an Earth-friendly, business-friendly, consumer-friendly, smart law on which the voices of voters have been very, very clear. This is a bill that will yield revenues for the protection of our watershed and create jobs.

C’mon lawmakers. No burning buildings here. Just a straightforward do-good, feel-good bag fee bill.

Dawn Morais Webster
Honolulu

Road blockages make case for rail

I agree with Daniel Grabauskas’ assessment of our transportation issues ("Daniel Grabauskas," Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, April 13).

Not only do I remember that tractor-trailer flipping over on the H-1 the week he arrived, but I also remember when the pedestrian bridge came crashing down. Traffic was horrendous in both events and I just don’t want to think of another incident like those but know that it is inevitable.

When I talk to people who are on the fence about the rail, I always bring up the pedestrian bridge incident; now I have another instance to share. All I can think about are the keiki who are waiting for their parents to come home from work. Or the parents who are waiting for their keiki to come home who are stuck in the traffic. We must go forward with the rail project. It’s the best and only option that we have.

Georgette Stevens
Kapolei

Embargo of Cuba is worst U.S. policy

Isn’t it wonderful that Ozzie Guillen was forced to apologize and was suspended from his managerial position with the Florida Marlins for expressing his appreciation of Cuba’s Fidel Castro?

This whole story makes me sick. It reminds all of us about the insane policy of the U.S. in continuing sanctions and boycotts of Cuba while maintaining "normal" relations with just about every dictatorship in the world.

The desire to win the votes of Cuban emigres and their families in Florida, who wish only the worst for their former country, motivates literally the worst foreign policy decision the U.S. ever has made.

Well, I admire Fidel Castro as the man who led the revolution to overthrow one of the worst dictatorships in all of Latin America. Bravo Fidel, my hero, and long life.

So what now? Is the state of Hawaii going to dock my pension for harboring such disturbing beliefs?

Joel Fischer
Waialae

Shapiro’s point was mischaracterized

Terrance Ware mischaracterized David Shapiro’s column ("Rail development proposal fails to give public a voice," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, April 11).

Shapiro didn’t mean the public was kept out of transit-oriented development planning workshops. He was discussing Senate Bill 2927, which seeks to expedite construction around transit stations by exempting developers from zoning and other requirements.

As Shapiro aptly observed: It’s not about traffic congestion; it’s about "unions, contractors, developers, landowners and banks that will profit," not just from building the rail line, but from the construction boom around transit stations.

Wynnie Hee
Mililani