Sue Kawamoto over covenant violation

Something should be done about Genshiro Kawamoto ("Derelict lots spur calls for harsher penalties," Star-Advertiser, June 11), but increasing fines and relying on the city are not among them.

Fines that would impress Kawamoto would be inequitable in other cases, and the city must treat everyone equally, including those who are not billionaires.

About 3 1⁄2 years ago, I joined in a letter to Kawamoto’s neighbors proposing a lawsuit to enforce covenants that are included in the deeds to every house in Kahala.They require buildings to be maintained and grounds to be kept in a neat and attractive condition.

The proposed lawsuit was never pursued, but if it were, the remedy could include selling one of Kawamoto’s houses and using the proceeds to fix up and maintain the others.When the money runs out, sell another, then another, and another until all 22 are gone.End of problem.

John P. Dellera
Kahala

Add bus routes, don’t delete them

I used to take the E bus easily and conveniently from Waikiki to Ewa Beach and return.

Now, I need three transfers and a lot more time and recently had to purchase another fare to make the last connection. This is not a helpful nor happy situation.

Bus riders are not happy about the reduced services and schedules. Politicians apparently care less about riding the bus (obviously they drive) or the fact Honolulu has one of the best bus systems in the nation.

Support TheBus and add, not delete, routes. Take care of our local riders who work hard and need to reach their jobs in time.

Malia Elliott
Aiea

Ho‘opili will cover Oahu farm lands

I do not support the Ho‘opili development on the Ewa Plain, nor the state’s approval for this project.

Despite the arguments of the various constituencies that would support covering this land forever, there is no good reason to ruin this land for future generations who will ask, "Why did you let this happen?"

Hawaii needs to protect its prime agricultural lands from further development and support a greater degree of food security for its population, now and later.

With a little imagination and intelligent, forward thinking, we can see that there is an undeniable truth in this that must not be co-opted by special interests, greed and short-term gain.

Theresa Moorleghen
Kailua

Consider halting more cars to Oahu

It is time for state and city officials to seriously consider limiting the number of vehicles on Oahu. Current traffic gridlock is unbearable for many of their constituents.

They should pause the Koa Ridge and Ho‘opili projects, which will add to current traffic congestion.

Will they not stop the madness until every square inch of Oahu’s precious natural resources are overdeveloped and covered with homes, transit-oriented development and rail tracks? Then what?

Do we Oahuans have to go to the neighbor islands to experience what Oahu used to be like?

I call for you to cease and desist, take a few deep breaths and stop your destruction, at least until after the November elections.

Susan J. Chamberlain
Salt Lake

Hirono is ducking meaningful debates

Edwina Luke contends that U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono will be in enough debates and that she doesn’t need to see a bunch in order to make her decision for whom to vote ("Hirono will be in enough debates," Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 9).

She says family and history are important because that is what shaped the present.Who could argue with that?

But most voters are less concerned with how or why a person got to be the way she is than what the candidate, if elected, might actually do to serve the interests of her constituency.

David Shapiro wasn’t taking aim at Hirono’s attempt to limit the number of debates ("It’s time for Hirono to stop hiding behind her mother," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, May 30). It was her refusal to debate on any venue (like one of the major local television stations) in which a significant share of the voters might actually be able to see her performance and evaluate her answers.

Whether she’s hiding behind her mother, or U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye’s shield of approval, is hard to say. But she’s definitely hiding.

Jim Wolery
Kaneohe

At what point will rail be too costly?

The City Council members who passed Bill 37 for $450 million more in rail funding owe us answers to two questions:

» Given serious questions about the real total cost of rail, at what cost would you vote down rail as too expensive?

» If you won’t answer question No. 1, why won’t you?

Voters are waiting for your answers.

Paul "Doc" Berry
Kaneohe

Some areas still need white bins

The sequence of events in the city’s plan to end the white-bin recycling is backwards. It is far from being environmentally friendly. I live in Moiliili, and do not have curbside recycling, so I have to take my recyclables to a white bin at a school.

If the city closes out the white-bin program on June 30, but the areas that still do not have curbside recycling will not get it until later this year, what are we supposed to do with our recyclables after June 30?

People are just going to throw their recyclables in the rubbish, which means they’ll end up in the landfill.Why force us into this position?

First, provide curbside recycling for every district.Then we won’t need the white bins.

Eileen Cain
Moiliili