Stick to rules for Kakaako revamp

The May 2 Hawaii Community Development Authority vote, 10-1, in favor of granting the Symphony Tower developer a variance to the mauka-makai rule was a sham.

Current rules and policies, which are full of wisdom for the majority of the public, appear to have been swiped away in one fell swoop by a paltry 10 people. The developer emphasized "green" reasons for the variance; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize its focus is on much more profit if the building faces onto Kapiolani.

Indeed, I had the distinct impression these 10 voting people had their minds made up prior to the meeting. Certainly this precedent would open the door to future exemptions resulting in Honolulu resembling Hong Kong. The corner of Ward and Kapiolani is prime real estate; should this plan fall through because the developer declines building within our very wise rules and regulations, another builder will take up the mantle. We need to get it right when it’s built. This is way too important to mess up.

Janet Dagan
Punchbowl

U.S. Jones Act limits isles’ future

There are some Hawaii laws that have become archaic and no longer serve their original purpose.

World War II is over, and we won the war. There is no Axis Powers to worry about. There is even one Germany. Russia is no longer the huge Soviet Union. China is a new emerging global military power.

Ship building has been limited, as a result of no large-scale world war, global economic disasters and Congress cutting back on naval spending. A large number of civilian ships are no longer necessary. The current passenger and cargo ships are being supersized.

We have to strongly consider anything that will lower prices in Hawaii, over business as usual. The Jones Act is business as usual, and I can’t keep up with inflation anymore. I am retired.

The children of Hawaii need a chance to financially survive in Hawaii. One day, they will want the American dream, and they will not be able to afford it.

Keoni Ronald May
McCully-Moiliili

Do more to stop freeway speeders

When we drive the speed limit on Oahu freeways and some highways on the Leeward Coast, we are in danger of being harmed or even killed. Unfortunately, others do not seem to think the word "limit" means anything as they race by doing 75-80 mphor higher, and barely swerve around us, nearly causing a rear-end collision.

Instead of the Honolulu Police Department doing speed traps toward the end of each month, I’d like to see them on the freeways and highways every day.

Why not take the narcotics cops and cross-train them in the traffic division?Heck, we’ve pretty much lost the "war on drugs" anyway.

When they pull over the speeders, they might just kill two birds with one stone. Catch some speeders, and maybe catch those on speed. If we don’t aggressively do something soon, more innocent, law-abidinglives will surely be lost.

Margaret Peary
Mililani Mauka

Hit-run drivers growing menace

It is time for our lawmakers to take the gloves off for hit-and-run drivers. It seems to be common now that drivers in accidents flee the scene. Besides the obvious possibility of rendering immediate first-aid to the injured and saving someone’s life, it is the moral obligation to take responsibility for their actions.

Immediate and permanent loss of license should be instituted — and for loss of life, a lengthy, if not life sentence, should be imposed.

Cowards who hit and run are a growing menace. Lawmakers need to do something.

Geoff Davis
Kakaako

THE CAYETANO-INOUYE DUST-UP

Is political don seizing process?

For nearly 60 years, U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye has served our nation with tremendous skill, political acumen and dignity. We’d be hard-pressed to name a longer-standing, more results-producing leader.

I have become increasingly concerned, however, that he is showing too little respect for our core election processes. Rather than allowing candidates and voters to dialogue throughout the election season, the senator has injected himself at the outset into elections — informing us in less than subtle ways which candidate we are expected to elect. I certainly saw this as chairperson for former Congressman Ed Case’s 2010 campaign for the U.S. House.

Now, former Gov. Ben Cayetano has opined that the senator operates at the 30,000-feet level dealing with national and international affairs and is thus “out of touch” with Honolulu citizens on rail. Inouye fired back that he was “deeply offended” by the “personal attack.” Within hours, a group launched a website, “BeNiceBen.com.” It is taking names.

Cayetano’s comment hardly constitutes a “personal attack.” Inouye has pounced too early on this one, and has injected himself and issued his stern dictates once too often. Courageous people need to reject this heavy-handedness and urge a return to well-established election principles.

Jackie Kido
Ala Moana

Inouye deserves respect, not hits

For anyone to say that a man like Sen. Daniel Inouye is out of touch only proves that it is he or she who is completely out of touch with reality.

In Maui County, Sen. Inouye has supported the high-tech industry by funding the Maui High Performance Computing Center, expanded educational efforts at the University of Hawaii-Maui, helped push for a $300 million advanced technology solar telescope on Haleakala, protected our natural resources at the Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge and pushed for clean energy through federal grants.

He is a man to be respected and honored, and does not deserve being the brunt of political posturing just so someone can make a point during a televised debate.
 To do so belittles not just Sen. Inouye but everyone this man has ever helped. I would have hoped that our elected officials and former elected officials knew better.

Alan M. Arakawa
Mayor of Maui

It’s a shameful distraction for all

I am surprised and disappointed in Sen. Daniel Inouye’s response to Ben Cayetano’s statement that he is “out of touch.” The senator has been in politics long enough to realize that it is only an opinion, and while he may agree with it or not, Ben Cayetano is entitled to express it.

Inouye has already publicly stated that he cannot support Cayetano because of Cayetano’s stand against rail. Powerful pro-rail forces are making this “affront” a reason not to support Ben Cayetano. This is a shameful, intentional distraction.

I have always voted for Inouye because he has contributed beyond measure to our island state. I will continue to do that. I will also vote for Ben Cayetano, because I believe he is our best choice for mayor.

Amy Farias
Honolulu