Albizia trees might be useful

Regarding any plans to eradicate those "worthless" albizia trees that caused so much damage in Puna by Tropical Storm Iselle: There are brilliant tropical agriculture scientists at the University of Hawaii-Manoa and UH-Hilo.

And among us are entrepreneurs who see and seize upon situations like this as opportunities.

Someone, somewhere, here or on the mainland, should be able to find a practical use for these profusely growing trees that will allow them to be harvested for economic benefit rather than just eradi- cated at enormous expense.

The Legislature should provide the seed money for just such an all-out effort to this end before these trees cause any more damage.

Hawaii once had forests of sandalwood trees until someone found an economic use for them. Now they are gone. This situation may not be exactly the same, but it’s food for thought.

Bernard LaPorte
Waialae Iki

Put more toilets at rail stations

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s original design plansprovided for only one restroom at each of the 21 rail stations.

Also,the restrooms would be secured and passenger access would becontrolled by the rail station attendant.

The original design plans are being revised to change the size of the rail stations.

The revised design plans should also provide for an adequate number of readily accessible restrooms for men, women and disabled persons.

Robert Thomas
Manoa

Abercrombie fans are fading

Some viable ideas are going around about the reasons for the startling outcome of the gubernatorial primary election, but I’m not convinced.

I suspect history will determine that the more important reasons are that Gov. Neil Abercrombie is nearly 80 years old and that his heretofore liberal wing of the Democratic party is beginning to show it has had its run in local politics.

The average age of voters in this state must be at or close to 40. The bulk of the energy behind Abercrombie’s liberal wing is, I’m guessing, likely between 70 and 80 years of age, and its leaders are diminishing in numbers.

The baton passes, as it should in a healthy democracy.

James E. Fleming
Lower Manoa

It’s government that’s greedy

David Moskowitz is right but for the wrong reasons ("Wage floor hasn’t caused collapse," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 26).

He says, "The real problem today is greed, not increased minimum wages."

But the greed is not with businesses, it’s with state and county governments’ continual need to increase taxes and fees to pay for new programs. To name just a few increases:

» Water bills by more than 100 percent;

» Sewer fees more than 150 percent;

» Vehicle registration fees 300 percent over five years;

» Property taxes more than 10 percent just this year due to increased valuations;

» The general excise tax by 5 percentage points for rail;

»The tax on oil up from 5 cents to $1 per barrel;

» Property taxes doubled on non-owner-occupied homes valued at more than $1 million.

The most egregious tax is the GET, which covers every transaction made, including groceries, dental and medical.

You can raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour, but until you stop the real reasons for the high cost of living, you are just feeding the government bears.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Rail isn’t about reducing traffic

I agree 100 percent with David Shapiro on the profligate waste of money for the phony railroad ("Rush by city, not lawsuits, to blame for rail’s expense," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Aug. 24).

The proposed railroad was never intended to relieve trafficcongestion. Its purpose was to create a cash cow to rewardpolitical hacks. One need look no further than the Hono-lulu Authority for Rapid Transportation to see this infull bloom.

A prime example of this waste is the proposed rail station at theairport.

Once tourists who travel thousands of miles to get herediscover they cannot get to Waikiki on the Toonerville Trolley, they’ll resort to taxis and shuttle buses as always.

Then wewill have a rust bucket sitting at the airport which will have to bemaintained — more money, more contracts, more taxes.

Charles Ferrell
Downtown Honolulu