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Cellphone law at fault, not HPD
The Honolulu Police Department should not have to apologize for enforcing the cellphone driving ban during Tuesday’s ZipMobile traffic jam.
The law is very clear: If you operate a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, you have violated the law and are subject to either a $200 or $300 fine, depending on whether the use took place in a school zone.
The law does not (and should not) provide the police with the discretionary authority to decide whether to enforce it.If that were the case, the police would be all-powerful and laws would be meaningless.
The problem is with the law and not with the police.
If people feel that the law shouldn’t apply when there is a traffic jam, then they should ask themselves whether this law is truly needed.
And if not, they should ask their lawmakers to repeal it.
Erik Kazuyuki Abe
Downtown Honolulu
Bicycle track helped cut traffic
With the ZipMobile down, I decided to bike from my home near Diamond Head to my office on Bishop Street, figuring it couldn’t hurt to get one more car off the roads.
I rode along the King Street cycle track and was safely protected from cars.
There was nothing but aloha from drivers, police officers and other bike riders that I met along the way.
Mahalo to Mayor Kirk Caldwell for his leadership, and to the city and all the groups that collaborated to get this done.
I very much appreciated it during my delightful, safe morning ride.
Dawn Lippert
Diamond Head
Let thirst guide water-drinking
Dr. Ira Zunin cites "chronic dehydration" and the symptoms of fatigue, headaches, fatigue, confusion, lightheadedness and weakness caused by this problem ("Amid the hustle and bustle, keeping it simple is crucial," Star-Advertiser, Wealth of Health, March 26).
In fact, there is no scientific evidence in any respected medical journal that this condition even exists in the general population.
He also cites the daily requirement for water and recommends sipping water during the day.
The Institute of Medicine actually says that "the vast majority of healthy people adequately meet their daily hydration needs by letting their thirst be their guide" and does not recommend this practice.
This reminds me of the old adage that everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day. This may seem beneficial and is even commonly accepted. Unfortunately, it has no basis in fact.
Dr. Gary R. Johnson
Assistant clinical professor, John A. Burns School of Medicine
U.S. conquered Hawaii illegally
The United States dedicated the Honouliuli Internment Camp as a monument for shameful, sorrowful and regretful behavior ("Monument’s dedication hopes to remove stigma of shame," Star-Advertiser, April 1).
U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said, "It is time for the shame to be gone. It’s time for the blessings to be felt — and that’s what this is all about."
The beautiful, welcoming Hawaiian people have also suffered by shameful, sorrowful, regretful, undemocratic, illegal and cruel conquest by the United States of America.
Queen Liliuokalani first resisted threats of armed annexation led by American Sanford B. Dole in 1891. In 1893, U.S. Minister John L. Stevens ordered an armed U.S. Marine takeover, and said, "The Hawaiian pear is now fully ripe and this is the golden hour for the United States to pluck it."
The United States of America must make this right; this is what it is all about. Start by educating our children. Return stolen lands.
Steve Kaleipahula Holck
Kailua
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