Times are hard, but be thankful anyway

A lot of people nowadays think times are hard.

I was born in the Appalachian Mountains during the Great Depression. I lived in a small coal-mining town — one horse, one school, one church, one post office. We had little money and grew our own food — potatoes, tomatoes and corn. We had no TV, no cellphones, no video games. We had to improvise. We took sticks, stones, string (for kites), paper cups (for telephones) to make our own games.

But you know what? I wouldn’t trade those days for love or money. I know what hard times are. I survived, and so will we all. Learn to do more with less, and be thankful we live in Hawaii.

Merry Christmas!

Mike Pcola
Waipahu

Tell your keiki how much you love them

We lost our son in July to a motorcycle accident in California.

We still deeply grieve our loss, especially with the holidays upon us.

Despite that, we are thankful to have had him born to us and for the great memories he gave us. We are thankful that our son died doing what he loved, that no one else was hurt, and that no one was at fault.

We are among the unfortunate who truly know how Joyce Cassen Levey feels and we have bonded in person with her, sharing the losses of our sons ("Enjoy loved ones every day you can," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 25). From her we know this sorrow we share is life-long.

After our children leave the nest, they grow into their own. We can’t protect them, and it becomes a parent’s burden to be hopeful, to worry and pray.

Parents can protect themselves this holiday season by letting their children know how deeply important they are to them.

Cliff and Linda Araki
Hawaii Kai

Taiwan and China benefit each other

In response to William Pesek, I present a different perspective ("Taiwan president should stop cozying up to China," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 7).

Nineteen out of 23 of China’s neighboring countries now rank China as their leading trade partner. The fact that China is Taiwan’s largest trade partner should be no more surprising than the fact that the U.S. is the largest trade partner of Canada and Mexico.

During President Ma’s term, Taiwan has accumulated over $434.2 billion in trade surplus from China and Hong Kong. The approximately 3 million Chinese tourists last year have also greatly contributed to Taiwan’s economic development. Taiwan continues to strengthen its defense capabilities and is one of the largest buyers of U.S.-manufactured defense articles.

While China remains the greatest potential security threat to Taiwan, it is also Taiwan’s greatest source of opportunity.

Ma’s policy seeks to simultaneously minimize the former and maximize the latter.

Vei Cheng "V.C." Chu
Director general, Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Honolulu

‘Wall’ management is model for ‘Stairs’

The management of the Mokuleia Wall by the Hawaii Climbing Coalition ("Long-closed Mokuleia rock-climbing site to reopen," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 16) could be a model for the Stairway to Heaven, aka Haiku Stairs.

It is long since overdue that the stairs, refurbished with public money and on public land, were made available to visitors and locals.A nonprofit could administer moderate fees for administration, insurance, waivers, reservations, bicycle parking and even a shuttle bus.

I’d like to climb the stairs before age takes its toll.

Daniel C. Smith
Palolo Valley

Rail will encourage West Oahu growth

Indications are that good things will happen in 2015.

2014 ended with the lowest unemployment rate (4 percent) in ages. More people employed means more spending, which means increased profits for business and increased revenues for state and local government.More growth means more people will be hired. The projected economic cycle suggests a brighter time for the people of Oahu.

In the 1800s, the United States experienced unprecedented growth with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. In anticipation to similar growth, new housing and malls are breaking ground in West Oahu.

As rail progresses eastward, new business will begin sprouting up, anticipating the needs of residents who opt for rail as their mode of transportation.

Roy S. Tanouye
Waipahu

When mayor says ‘stone,’ he means us

It’s a stunning admission from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation that it will blow through $1 billion in contingency funding with 40 percent of rail still to be contracted out ("Price tag soaring,"Star-Advertiser, Dec. 19) and an additional $550 to $700 million in costs.

More disturbing is Mayor Kirk Caldwell, who ran on a pro-rail agenda, saying, "We’re going to leave no stone unturned."

If that is true, he should be saying he would look for savings by bringing the heavy rail to ground level such as the MAX in Portland, Ore., or by changing the rail to a toll roadway that not only pays for itself but relieves traffic.

Instead, the mayor and City Council will look to Oahu residents to dig deeper into their pockets to pay higher property taxes and/or extending the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge.We are the stones.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach