TVUs and B&Bs are about money

When I read Angie Larson’s statement that permitting transient vacation units and bed-and-breakfast lodging would "allow locals to stay independent and gives them the flexibility to stay close to home to take care of elders, small children, help at school, be home when children get out of school, etc." — golly, I had tears running down my cheeks ("Vacation rentals debate can be resolved amicably," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 30).

Give me a break!There is so much money to be made in this mostly illegal business that homeowners (many are investors) are willing to, and do, break the law. Are we to trust the Hawaii Vacation Rental Owners Association?

Larson cites a poll that said a majority of Oahu residents were not against permitting. She may well be correct.Those interviewed may not care about this business as long as it doesn’t affect their neighborhoods. The Kailua Neigh- borhood Board represents our community and it is spot on with its position.

The only resolution I see is to obey the law.

Jim Fernie
Kailua

Building artifacts worth salvaging

I was pleasantly surprised to learn elements of the Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant would be saved and placed in auction ("Fisherman’s Wharf faces its final days," Star-Advertiser, March 29).

Another demolition at the Miramar Hotel threatens the beautiful Kwan Yin tile mural, which is on the facade of the hotel over the front entrance. I am told it’s not salvageable due to its design. Or is it the cost?

Maybe a local "angel" could invest in its salvage and possibly donate it to a local museum.

Dave Moskowitz
Waikiki

Cobey Black was good role model

I will miss Cobey Black, whose remarkable professional and yet humble approach to an outstanding career set an inspirational example for me to follow when I arrived in Hawaii in 1969 to work in television news ("Isle celebrity columnist rubbed elbows with stars," Star-Advertiser, March 31).

A knowing wink, a casual and joyful social conversation, shared professional stories, a respectful hug … and I would walk away from valued time with Cobey knowing that we respected each other on our journey to make women in journalism relevant and accepted in Hawaii.

I am so proud of the road that she helped to pave. What a remarkable legacy.

I will miss her smiling face and updates at the yearly reunion of YWCA Leadership awardees. She was honored in 1978 for her professionalism and uncanny "aural recall."

Such a classy lady, who always had a victorious, loving grin … especially when she scooped me.

Linda Coble
Downtown Honolulu

Not all doctors accept ‘gifts’

James Robinson tries to lump all doctors into a group that takes gifts from drug companies to push certain medications ("Beware of doctors who accept ‘gifts’," Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 1).

While some may receive gifts, I know that many do not. If fact, one of the best dermatologists in town absolutely refuses.

We have excellent doctors here, just like we have excellent politicians.

Steve Holck
Kailua

Handi-Vans are public nuisance

TheHandi-Van business on Oahu provides essential transportation services for our disabled residents, but it needlessly interrupts the fragile sleep of other elderly, disabled, retirees and shift workers who aren’t Handi-Van customers.

These loud and smelly vans arrive early in the morning and throughout the day and evening. Making matters worse, they leave their engines running, further aggravating the situation with constant engine revving, reverse beeping, bad parking skills — all while spewing diesel fumes literally into our bedrooms.

Imagine the fuel saved if every Handi-Van driver turned off the engine once the van was parked. You could also dispatch a station wagon instead when transporting a single person.

Saving money and reducing noise and air pollution ought to be easy to implement.

Michael Whitston
Mililani

Artist’s conflict wasn’t disclosed

I am disappointed the Star-Advertiser allowed an apparent conflict of interest to contaminate its coverage of a lawsuit against the Hawaii Community Development Authority ("State agency wrongly approved Kakaako tower, lawsuit alleges," Star-Advertiser, March 29).

Your newspaper failed to disclose that one of your graphic artists, whose prominent graphic accompanied the article, owns a unit in the Royal Capitol Plaza and is a party to the lawsuit as a member of the Association of Apartment Owners of the Royal Capitol Plaza.

The lawsuit, which seeks to halt construction of 801 South St.—Building B, would affect more than the project. It would also hurt hundreds of middle-class families who have established their eligibility to buy a home in Honolulu’s only affordable urban condominium project.

We hope in the future the paper will refrain from assigning its staff members to stories in which they have a personal bias.

Ryan Harada
Downtown Capital LLC

Editor’s note: While the graphic was not presented in a way that could be interpreted as being biased, the graphic artist will not be involved with this project again.

Noisy mopeds a health hazard

Shame on our politicians for allowing us to be continually harmed by increasing noisy vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds.

It is not just a point of annoyance. The National Institutes of Health states that noise-induced hearing loss can occur with noise levels of 85 decibels on a continuous exposure. It lists noise from heavy traffic at 85 decibels, motorcycles at 95 decibels and sirens at 120 decibels.

Those of us who live in Waikiki, especially, are subject to noise-induced hearing loss on a daily basis. The motorcycles, cars and mopeds driven by these insecure folks who want everyone to stop and look should be held accountable. Other countries have strict laws requiring yearly checks to prevent these outrageous noises that are, in fact, damaging our health.

How about some meaningful legislation that can actually be enforced?

Jacqulyne Hedges
Waikiki

Connector cash has better uses

Why in the world would our state want to pay $15 million a year for a service that will yield $1 million a year ("Proposal sets fee to shore up health exchange," Star-Advertiser, March 27)? That money would be better spent on our schools and air conditioning for our schools.

Can we connect to the federal health care exchange even if we have to pay a premium for a few years? At least we would not continue the drain on our budget.

Dianna Moore
Kakaako