Mopeds somehow evading noise rules

Our local streets have become noisy and smelly thoroughfares for screaming banshees: mopeds.

Many moped riders ignore the 25-mph speed limit and rev their engines in an ungodly fashion. It does not seem to make any difference if it is light or dark, the noise continues. We now have to keep the windows closed permanently due to the noise.

These chainsaws with two wheels need to have their noise levels and pollution emissions tested during an annual registration. And riders should be aggressively fined when they break the speeding limit; it is for everyone’s safety. The motorcycles with no mufflers have been bad enough.

When is someone going to do something about this?

David Vornholt
Kapahulu

Isle motorists earn poor reputation

I lived in Hawaii for 32 years before moving to the mainland for 12 years. I have been back for three years. I drove in many states and I just want to reassure you we have earned the reputation of having poor drivers.

If you are in a hurry, never get in the fast lane or drive behind a Toyota driver. If a driver signals he is turning left, there is a 50-50 chance he will turn left. This is the only state where drivers who have the right-of-way stop for people who have a stop sign.

Part of the reason for traffic jams is that drivers leave 20 car lengths between them and the car in front of them when traffic is moving at 25 miles per hour.

Carl Bergantz
Kaneohe

Consult librarians on Obama library

Am I the only Hawaii resident growing weary of the feud between Chicago and Hawaii over who gets President Barack Obama’s library?

Obama was born and raised in Hawaii. His political career began in Chicago. Both have contributed to the man he is.

No published articles have mentioned any consultation with professional librarians on this issue. Weare born collaborators, and would suggest that both sides share resources and talent and create a sophisticated online archive of Obama’s papers, effects, videos and more. Physical library buildings are important, but the point here is making this resource available to anyone in the world. What about equal access?

The proposed Obama library in Honolulu would be built in a tsunami-inundation zone in Kakaako. That does not make sense. Universal access via the Web does.

Kevin Roddy
St. Louis Heights

Gay marriage might cut AIDS epidemic

Billy Graham’s son Franklin, who has often lambasted the LGBT "agenda," has applauded Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adamantly anti-gay policies.

What LGBT opponents have overlooked, however, is that the surge in gay marriages in this country might have a silver lining for them.

According to homophobic propagandists, gays have always been a menace because, being sexually promiscuous, they have caused and continue to prolifically contribute to the AIDS epidemic.

But now that they can marry in some states, the incidence of AIDS should decrease to some extent.

Married couples normally are not as sexually profligate as singles. So, at least secretly, ultra-religious conservatives like Franklin Graham should cheer the encroachments of gay marriage.

Stan Satz
Waikiki

Go! was predatory and deserved to fail

Chris Pappaioanou, president of go! Airlines, said Aloha Airlines was doomed to failure due to the high cost of jet fuel and an aging fleet ("Mesa Air fails to become big player in the islands," Star-Advertiser, March 18).

He also said other airlines continued to operate and suggested that Aloha had other problems besides go!

I don’t think so. When an airline enters a market and sells flights for $19, and sometimes as low as$1, there is only one objective — destroy the competition. The people of Hawaii saw this and supported Hawaiian Airlines.

I will never forget when the final Aloha flight pulled into Honolulu Airport. Hundreds of employees greeted that flight, many with tears in their eyes. My heart achedfor the devoted employees who lost their jobs. I remembered the many flights I flew.Hawaii lost a great company. It was sad.

I vowed never to fly go! That parasitic company is leaving. Good riddance.

Whatit did was not pono.

Robert K. Soberano
Moiliili

It’s more costly to not build prison

This is in response to Ernest Suemoto’s recent letter regarding the problem with locking up repeat offenders charged with burglary ("Jailing thieves requires prisons," Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 21).

Suemoto points out the high cost of building another prison, but failed to mention the millions of dollars in value of the stolen property (more than $18 million last year).

There is also the cost of the associated property damage and countless hours of manpower involved in re-arresting and prosecuting the same criminals over and over, only to have them back on the street the next day.

In my district alone, we are talking about nearly 150 break-ins a month. According to the police, most were by known repeat offenders. By saying that we shouldn’t incarcerate these repeaters just because we don’t want to pay for another prison absolutely sends the wrong message — not only to the offenders, but to our citizenry, our justice system and to our police department as well.

Bill Muench
Kailua