Register, inspect mopeds yearly

Annual moped registration fees are great idea. However, an annual moped inspection should be included for the following reasons:

» To make sure the moped conforms to 50cc regulations, as many mopeds are modified to go much faster with cylinder and muffler kits available locally or online;

» To combat noise pollution, as many mopeds have modified mufflers;

» To check for polluting oil emissions;

» To check for compliance on lights, brakes, signals and horn.

The rise of the moped population has seen a major increase in the number of mopeds on the road over the last decade.

It seems like the vast number are owned by teens and young adults who make many unauthorized modifications for speed and other rider advantages. I have seen speeding on King Street along with wheelies, as well as groups passing by my residence late at night with very loud engines.

This issue must be addressed sooner, not later.

Paul "Pappy" Lowe
Moiliili

Licenses for the undocumented

The Legislature should pass Senate Bill 2935. It provides for the safety of all members of our community by allowing people who happen to be undocumented and who drive our roads to be licensed and obtain insurance.

The measure does not provide a pathway to citizenship or give undocumented individuals the right to vote. The bill is a common-sense measure that creates a win for our community.

It is far better to provide undocumented community members with these tools of safety and kokua than have them drive fearfully without them. If involved in an accident, they would be more likely to stop and be of support to the police and all involved. Pass SB 2935.

Darlene Rodrigues
Mililani

Drivers should be careful, too

Frank L. Tabrah shared observations of reckless pedestrians ("Pedestrians take crosswalk safety for granted," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Feb. 9). However, pedestrian safety is a two-way street. I have frequently observed drivers making right-hand turns without observing who might be in the crosswalk; drivers not yielding to pedestrians by creeping into the crosswalk while pedestrians are crossing; and drivers proceeding through a stoplight even where signage says, "No turn on red."

Humans have been around at least 200,000 years before the Ford Model T. To prioritize vehicular traffic over walking goes against our very nature. The result from not considering walkable communities is that Americans walk less on a regular basis than the residents of other comparable countries. This is unfortunate, since we are also one of the most unfit and overweight countries in the world.

In the interest of public health, we should support walkable communities and policies that don’t place the burden of safety on the pedestrian.

Jesse K. Souki
Nuuanu

Kenny Brown served diversity

Kenny Brown’s door was open not only to the powerful and the wealthy, but to dissenters, activists and artists ("Isle leader pursued blend of modern, traditional Hawaiian values," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 12). He once told me that all the striving of people across cultural boundaries in Hawaii led us to one destination, which was learning to be oneself.

He integrated diverse Hawaiian, Asian and Western values as if one, a fusion of aloha spirit, Buddhist compassion and public democracy. He gave unqualified friendship and nurture, never setting himself above others.

Some time ago, on parting, he struggled a bit to stand. Bemused by this, he smiled and said in a near whisper, "Keep walking."

Tom Coffman
Kaneohe

Rail should go as far as UH

It is good to hear that people are talking about the destination of our planned rail project. Somewhere along the line, it seems that the power brokers forgot the root cause of our traffic woes.

Traffic jams up when the University of Hawaii is in session. Remember the Back to School Jam? The train should go to the UH vicinity, where there are two universities and a host of private schools.

Will riders be excited over the prospect of taking a train to Ala Moana, and then transferring to a bus just to get to school? Probably not. Let’s build something that people actually want to ride.

It undoubtedly will cost more up front. However, it should save even more in the long run as we will not have to go back and fix a transit system that nobody wants to ride.

Steve Stinefelt
Mililani