Politics guiding Kakaako’s future

The governor and the Hawaii Community Development Authority have no intention of providing suffi- cient affordable housing or adequate public infrastructure for the majority of the workforce in Kakaako ("Now is best time to build more affordable housing in Kakaako," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 17).

For example, "workforce housing" at 801 South Street requires a minimum yearly income of $86,000 to qualify, yet 75 percent of Hawaii households make less than $75,000 per year. The workforce-eligible buyer can flip the unit after only one year, setting up a ripe opportunity for investment buyers to escalate prices.

The politically appointed HCDA sets rules allowing developers to use variances that double Hawaii maximum density rules, provide severely inadequate recreation areas for families by including the lobby and grassy areas along the driveway and Kapiolani and South Street to be defined within recreation space, and exempting the builder from green building, parking access, building placement, parking structure and Kapiolani frontage standards.

This attitude seems to be the prevalent design philosophy for Kakaako development also.

George Outlaw
Kakaako

Park restrooms are a disgrace

Kapiolani Park is a world-renowned park in Waikiki.

There are concerts, art shows, ethnic festivals, craft fairs and other events held there almost every weekend.

But the restrooms are a disgrace — dirty and disgusting, the floors wet and littered. I turned around and walked away, and used the temporary facilities, which is not the best answer for such a lovely place as Kapiolani Park.

Also in total public view was a homeless person using the side of the restrooms as his home. He had a huge umbrella to shield himself from the sun, a sleeping area and room enough for his possessions. This is an embarrassment to Hawaii.

Lei White
Kapahulu

Avoid stores that rush Christmas

In a disgusting display of crass materialism and out-of-control greed, Walmart, Best Buy, Kmart, Toys "R" Us, Macy’s, Sears and Target have decided to steal Thanksgiving by pushing Black Friday into this peaceful holiday.

Is nothing sacred? Thanksgiving is a special day, a day of family get-together and giving thanks to God, a day of genuine relaxation. Today, more than ever, it is a necessary break from the pressures of daily life.

Opening stores for rush-and-tumble Christmas shopping is completely anti-thetical to Thanksgiving tradition. It’sa grave insult to the people of Honolulu.

Must we sacrifice all of our traditions for corporate greed?It’s time to take a stand. Write the stores and the news media.

Email friends.Boycott these big stores this Christmas season.Small local stores also offer pre-Christmas sales and would love your business — after Thanksgiving.

Kioni Dudley
Makakilo

Move homeless away from shore

While we sympathize with those who are homeless, it’s frustrating to both locals and visitors that they have taken over the parks adjacent to the South Shore.

If the homeless were given a compellingand compassionate reason to be elsewhere, it would be a win-win situation. I propose that we:

» Establish an "amnesty zone" a long walk from the beach, where they can pitch their tents and sleep legally.

» Provide very basic shelter from the rain for those without, as well as soap, food and water.

» Enforce our vagrancy laws. I’m confident that most would choose the amnesty zone instead of jail, and the reduction of "park potatoes" strewn all over the South Shore would help to restore our damaged reputation among visitors.

Steve J. Williams
Makiki

Law puts limits on majority rule

Our Founding Fathers recognized that unlimited majority rule is incompatible with liberty and justice for all. They knew that the majority can easily tyrannize the minority. Consequently, they wisely implemented limits on the power of the fallible majority.

The "court" of public opinion, where the majority dominates, is not a level playing field. It has no safeguards to minimize the risk that raw emotions, incomplete knowledge, misunderstanding of the facts, unsubstantiated personal opinions and propaganda by demagogues can drive this "court" to a grossly unjust "verdict."

Fortunately, the law provides that the civil rights of a minority may not be denied, diminished or rescinded by submitting them to a vote. As Chief Justice Earl Warren of the Supreme Court firmly stated, "A citizen’s constitutional rights can hardly be infringed simply because a majority of the people choose that it be."

Kent Hirata
Punchbowl