Beach good at Natatorium site

Huge congratulations to the mayor and governor for their thoughtful proposal and efforts to renovate the dilapidated, old Waikiki War Memorial Natatorium ("State, city want to raze Natatorium," Star-Advertiser, May 1). What an eyesore it has been these past 50 years.

Preserving and renovating the Arch of Triumph-like presentation is an outstanding way to continue to honor those islanders who served in World War I and their families.

It’s a great American, forward-leaning project to restore the beach in that area for all the public. Please waste no time getting on with it. And thank you!

James E. Fleming
Makiki

Work to restore Natatorium gem

Please reconsider the destruction of our national landmark and historical Natatorium.

Like Jackie Onassis did with the preservation of New York’s Grand Central Terminal via fundraising, let’s try that route first before all-out destruction.

Also, let’s consider selling bonds. That’s how the Natatorium was originally built. The people can be personally invested in the Natatorium’s future once again.

Also, contact wealthy Hawaii landowners like Larry Ellison and Kamehameha Schools for private contributions. With a public-private partnership, the Natatorium can be restored for all future generations as a living memorial and tribute to the veterans of World War I. Duke Kahanamoku also honored the memorial by taking the first swim at the Natatorium’s grand opening.

Hawaii has a jewel here. I don’t know of any other salt-water natatorium pools in the world located in a tourist destination like Waikiki.

Please reconsider.

Peggy McArdle
Kailua-Kona

Big Isle project full of insight

Wow! Congratulations to Mary Vorsino and Jamm Aquino for the excellent project bringing Hawaii island to us ("Growing pains," Star-Advertiser, April 28).

The fact that they emphasized the regular folks rather than the high end that is Kona, makes it all the more interesting. I learned so much about the Big Island that I never understood even after 40 years on Oahu.

Mahalo nui loa. I will look forward to such coverage of the other islands.

Betty "B.J." Dyhr
Waikiki

Fund priorities, not preschool

How can Gov. Neil Abercrombie be pushing early education at taxpayers’ expense?

We can barely keep up with maintaining our public school buildings, immigrant students’ education, student supplies and other costs.

Let’s focus on what problems we have now with extra income from the surge in taxes and not acquire any new problems before taking care of the present ones.

Roy M. Chee
Moanalua Gardens

Missed votes raise suspicion

Is something amiss In our state Senate ("Senator misses vote, dooming election bill," Star-Advertiser, April 30)? It is one thing to vote without a quorum once, but twice in one legislative session?

Looks like someone or more than someone didn’t want these two bills to pass, but didn’t want to be credited with a "no" vote.

Lani Johnson
Salt Lake

Pedestrians, share the roads

I’ve lived and worked Downtown for more than four decades. Every weekday, I see pedestrians bopping along to the tunes with their ear buds, texting or chatting on their cell phones, or talking with others in their group, and paying little or no attention to anything else.

But what angers most drivers is the inconsiderate pedestrian running into a crosswalk (with the display time descending and drivers waiting for the crosswalk to clear so they can legally make a turn) — turning right off Merchant onto Bishop, left off Bishop onto Queen, or the real bummer, right off Alakea onto King.

As someone who wore a Honolulu Police Department uniform for many years, I can tell you that the chances of getting caught (and tagged) are practically nil unless we’ve just graduated a class and the fourth watch is out on the streets for training.

Come on, folks, sharing is caring. Be aware that others have the right to use an intersection, too.

Kedric Dean
Downtown Honolulu