Company should honor height limit

The consultant for SamKoo Development Co. wants to create "a landmark building for this landmark location — something that signifies that this is someplace special" ("More towers on the rise," Star-Advertiser, May 29).

The existing height limit for 1391 Kapiolani Boulevard is 250 feet, but consultant Lowell Chun says that the plan is for a 420-foot tower.

If SamKoo Development decides to honor the existing height limit, then it would be a landmark company because it doesn’t see itself as so special as to be above the rules.

Laura M. Fink
Makiki

Waikiki is drowning in high-rise buildings

It saddens me to see that the Hilton Hawaiian Village has decided to add another new high-rise vacation rental ("Hilton Hawaiian Village to add tower," Star-Advertiser, June 3).

Along with other Waikiki Hotels, the Kakaako building projects and — let’s not forget — the rail, we are forgetting about the naturalbeauty of the islands that attracted visitors in the first place.

In some areas of Waikiki, one might wonder, "Where is the ocean?" As the Joni Mitchell lyrics say, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot."

Anne P. Rauh
Waialae-Kahala

Gun violence seems to be unstoppable

Gun violence is proceeding at a level that seems like a disease fast becoming an epidemic.

Almost daily there are reports of attacks and fatalities at all sorts of venues, especially schools. The latest attack was at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Wash.

Initially the public is appalled by this slaughter, but then it eventually becomes just another incident.

There is no end to these trage-dies. Congress is more interested in retaining power by catering to powerful and influential lobbies. The Obama administration is lost in the wilderness. The president reacts with more speeches but is unable to change public opinion and gain support for responsiblelegislation such as background checks.

At this rate, the U. S. looks like a modern version of the "Wild, Wild, West." Marshall Matt Dillon, where are you?

Tony Locascio
Waikiki

Second Amendment meant for individuals

Joe Nocera praises "The Second Amendment: A Biography" by Michael Waldman ("Ignoring the word ‘militia’ in the Second Amendment," Star-Advertiser, May 28).

He says "… of all the amendments that comprise the Bill of Rights, the Second was probably the least debated."

After the Constitution was adopted, anti-Federalists objected, saying it failed to address individual rights. States that proposed a bill of rights that included the individual’s right to keep arms were Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire.

The Second Amendment when adopted in 1791 needed little debate. It was a settled matter.

Waldman strays from established scholarship. Even sympathetic scholars now accept that the original intent of Congress was to ensure the individual’s right to keep and bear arms.

A more honest route is to amend the Constitution rather than twist its meaning.

Why would anyone want to give up a right that distinguishes a subject from a citizen, a right many in the world wished they had?

Clark "Skip" Morgan
Kailua

Homelessness caused by outsourcing of jobs

Recently aletter to the editor called for the governor and mayor to study the homeless situation.

There’s no need to study. The cause of homelessness isthe result of exporting jobs out of the country, leaving many unemployed.

Those who see company profits as more important than a strong, vibrant workforce have been plying conservative members of Congress with cashto support legislation that promotes job outsourcing.They fail to notice that while this helps some U.S. businesses, it hurts the companies that formerworkers used to patronize, like Sears, Macy’s, JC Penney and Zales, whichare shutting down stores due to lack of customers.

Legislation has been proposed to give credits for creating jobs on American soil, but conservative congressmen killed it and the chance to put many back to work and reduce homelessness.

Stephen Burns
Mililani

FROM THE FORUM

"Selling free tickets ‘a mistake,’ park official concedes," Star-Advertiser, June 2:

>> It seems like USS Arizona Memorial Superintendent Paul DePrey didn’t know the policies and procedures and took it upon himself to sell "free" tickets and inconvenience walk-in tourists. It’s not fair to the general public to wait eight hours when they show up early in the morning and find there are no more tickets. He should be suspended for his actions or be replaced.

>> It’s the government; no one is ever accountable.

——

"Bill on biodegradable bags hits snag over definitions," Star-Advertiser, June 2:

>> If other counties have done it already, why not follow their lead instead of reinventing the wheel?

>> Bag bans are an incursion on freedom. If you don’t want to use plastic bags, that’s your business. Stay out of mine. Plastic bags are recycled into energy on Oahu.

>> Anything is biodegradable after 20 million years.

——

"Hilton Hawaiian village to add tower," Star-Advertiser, June 3:

>>  The Hilton Hawaiian Village is just a mass of buildings and under constant construction. I certainly wouldn’t want to stay in that urban jungle.

>> I’m surprised by this after reading the comments of the other major hotel chain who recently said it would not be putting any more money into Waikiki until the homeless issues are dealt with.

>> Union leader Eric Gill continues to mislead the public when he talks about jobs. He is only talking about hotel maintenance jobs. He is not paid to speak about retail jobs, restaurant jobs and tours and attraction jobs, which will all increase with new inventory — hotel, condo, timeshare.

——

"Lassner retains the reins at UH," Star-Advertiser, June 3:

>> Congratulations to him! Let’s hope he lives up to our expectations.

>> The process appears to have been a sham. They hired the guy they wanted from the start.

>> This is disappointing in that I was hoping David Lassner would be named commander of the Army of the Pacific. It would be good to get an outsider into Frank Wiercinski’s old job, someone who could set things straight and clean up the mess. It would be precisely his lack of experience in the military that would bring a fresh perspective to the job.

>> They were afraid of the general and what he might do.

>> The choice has been made. Let’s support the University of Hawaii and move forward.

——

"Halawa implements no-contact visits," Star-Advertiser, June 4:

>> Instead of addressing the issue of excessive sick leave by prison staff, the prison chooses to reduce contact between prisoners and their children and other family members. Shame.

>> This should have been done long ago. It is about time to prevent physical contact of visitors with prisoners. Most things gets smuggled into prison this way. Guards should be searched randomly and also screened psychologically and the penalty for smuggling into prison should be increased.

——

"Bulky-item plan would experiment with pickup fee," Star-Advertiser, June 4:

>> I think Ann Kobayashi is a good City Council member. Unfortunately, she has made a mistake thinking people will voluntarily pay for the pickup. The writers here are all correct in the feeling that many will just dump the items on the sidewalk in the night and walk away.

>> If the city is so desperate for more money to spend, no need experiment; just legalize a lottery. End these nickle-and-dime charges we are all sick of.

>> Pickup services have never been free as they told us.

>> Most cities in the mainland don’t have bulky-item pick up. Homeowners must take bulky trash to the dump themselves.

——

"Campaign urges greater awareness of need to protect endangered duck," Star-Advertiser, June 5:

>> Let us shoot the mallards. People at Kaneohe Bay are feeding them, and when one shoots one with an air rifle, they call police.

>> I’m one of the people that will call the police.

>> The agenda is to sequester or destroy the "invasive species" mallard in order to "save" the koloa. This is the same sort of nonsense going on with other species. Mild-mannered, nice-sounding ideas at the beginning gradually steer you to commit to imprisoning or destroying the mallards to protect the koloas.

>> This is Hawaii. Live with the mixed breeds.

SUBMIT A LETTER FOR HART’S TIME CAPSULE

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation intends to seal a time capsule that it will open in 25 years, and you are invited to be a part of it.

In a 150-word letter, give the people of tomorrow a glimpse into your transportation situation today. You could talk about your life dealing with traffic; how you get around, or what gadgets, favorite music or notable vistas are part of your commute.

Send your letter to letters@staradvertiser.com or to 500 Ala Moana., #7-210, Honolulu, 96813. The deadline is  June 18. We’ll select the best letters to run on June 22 — and that edition will likely be placed in the time capsule.