Rural Oahu can use bicycle lanes, too
While debating bike lanes in town, let’s look at rural areas as well. A bike and recreational path connecting our functionally related communities of Hauula, Laie and Kahuku is needed.
Potential traffic problems with the expansion of BYU Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the new Marriott Hotel can be ameliorated. Many local residents will gladly bike to work and elsewhere within these communities.
While the recently completed Malaekahana bike path provides recreational benefits, it should be extended throughout Kahuku and into Hauula in the other direction so that we don’t have to drive to Kahuku in order to walk or run on the path.
A longer path will allow tourists more options for enjoying our area’s scenery and beaches and may help create bike rental and other businesses here. Without bike paths, accidents are just waiting to happen along a busy Kamehameha Highway.
Let’s start the conversation and action now.
Chiung Hwang Chen
Hauula
Handi-Van service needs to be fixed
Thank you for bringing to light the failures of Handi-Van ("Riders driven to frustration," Star-Advertiser, May 20).
I am the daughter of Susan Oya, who last week was late to my dad’s funeral because of the Handi-Van’s negligence. Despite us checking in daily in the days leading up to the service and receiving assurances, my mom’s van did not arrive as promised, adding insult to a most painful time.
Handi-Van is my mom’s primary mode of transport as she cannot walk unassisted. The day of the services I called to inquire about the van. I was placed on hold for 20 minutes. When I got through to an operator, I was crying, and the operator, without saying anything, forwarded me to voicemail. I was shocked and later learned this is the regular protocol.
We must give voice to the people with disabilities who beg to be heard. We must stand for them, for people like my mom who cannot stand on their own.
Leslie Tagorda
San Francisco
Take care of people before the mountain
Being born and raised in Hawaii, the aina provides for me comfort, peace and healing. Although I am not of Hawaiian ancestry, this environment makes us all special, and that is the spiritual nature of the islands. However, spirituality comes from the interaction of people with the aina and passing this on to others by supporting them.
How many protesters will push for more homestead lands now? How many University of Hawaii students who marched will take Hawaiian keiki and tutor them, helping them through education and knowledge? How many protesters wil feed the Hawaiian homeless on the Leeward Coast every day, and help them overcome their heartbreaking situation? How many?
That will ring truer than protesting for the spirituality of Mauna Kea, because if no one exists on these islands, where would spirituality come from?
James Fukumoto
Aiea
Compare types of nonprofit utilities
Regarding Arthur Warren’s fear that "publicly owned" Hawaiian Electric utilities would be a disaster, I understand his concern but think he is under-informed ("Publicly owned HEI would be a disaster," Star-Advertiser, May 18).
Public nonprofit ownership can take two forms: government ownership (usually municipal) on behalf of taxpayers, or direct cooperative ownership by electricity customers (similar to Kauai). There are also hundreds of examples of each on the mainland.
The Maui mayor, the Honolulu City Council chairman, state Rep. Chris Lee, a group called the Hawaii Island Energy Cooperative, Life of the Land, and a hui of groups called KULOLO (Keep our Utilities Locally Owned and Locally Operated) have all now expressed interest in considering non-profit ownership compared to continuation of for-profit monopoly ownership by Hawaiian EIectric Industries or NextEra.
As a result, I think an objective and thorough comparison of the pros and cons of these alternatives is needed.
Tom Brandt
Downtown Honolulu
Seniors suffer from shortage of housing
After all my years of helping others as a state social worker, it is disheartening to not have available senior housing. I had to temporarily move to the mainland after retirement because I could no longer afford my rent on my state pension.
Wait lists are three to five years long, as luxury condo and apartment buildings continue to be built for those who can afford them. It is shameful the state isn’t able to better plan for the increasing tide of seniors and retirees at affordable prices.
No wonder there are so many homeless on the streets.
Katherine O’Connor
Kapahulu
FROM THE FORUM
Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.
“Common ground for the peak,” Star-Advertiser, May 17:
>> (Mauna Kea) has become a primary location for the advancement of knowledge of our universe. The proposed addition will increase our pursuit of that goal.
>> There are so many things that money could be better spent on. How about exploring our own oceans?
>> Hawaii has a unique vantage point on this planet. Perhaps this is what the gods intended.
———
“Red carpet rolls out at Pier 2,” Star-Advertiser, May 17:
>> It appears that the Chinese are doing well financially these days. At least some of them.
>> Why does Hawaii have to be wall-to-wall in cash registers? Are we that hard up for money?
———
“Coal gets helping hand,” Star-Advertiser, May 18:
>> Coal is a pollutant, just look at pictures of China. Give (coal) a tax break? When do the taxpayers get a break?
>> Energy costs in Hawaii are the highest in the country by a big margin. Why make it higher with the tax?
>> Because the future of the world depends upon it. If temperatures continues to rise, well, life may just become impossible.
———
“Blaisdell is a war shrine, advocate reminds city,” Star-Advertiser, May 18:
>> I had no clue it was a war memorial. That’s kinda bad for us and our public servants to forget.
>> Amazing, it took a lady from Oregon,Tanya Harrison, to discover this truth. Thank you, Tanya!
>> Blaisdell Center is one of the few remaining public venues in Honolulu. The property should not be used for private purposes. It should be maintained as the people’s place.
———
“Caldwell OKs tax to help preserve Waikiki,” Star-Advertiser, May 19:
>> This is absolutely futile and the sand is disappearing because of continued overdevelopment and use along the beach. Climate change will take out most of the hotels within 25 years and nothing can be done about it.
>> I think you might be just a tad pessimistic about nothing can be done about it. If the world abandons its addiction to oil, hope may still exist.
———
“Mayor to OK Ho‘opili rezoning bill,” Star-Advertiser, May 20:
>> Our politicians are helplessly surrendered to the population explosion — which is the only reason for concreting over the island.
>> What I want to know is why these developers aren’t being required to build homeless/very-low-income housing as part of their projects?
———
“Riders driven to frustration,” Star-Advertiser, May 20:
>> Get the people and the system that run the Super Shuttle limo service in the major metro areas to run the Handi-Van. They have the system down pat.
>> Don’t complain that a heavily subsidized public transportation service is not as efficient or fast as a private-sector alternative. You’re getting a great deal.
>> It does take some time to make a phone reservation. But I’ve waited longer on the phone to talk to the IRS and Social Security.
———
“Hilo Hattie’s Nimitz Highway site could house hundreds, says councilman,” Star-Advertiser, May 21:
>> What is this administration’s problem? People keep offering legitimate possible solutions that merit serious and detailed consideration and they keep slow-rolling them or coming up with reasons “why not” as their first reaction.
>> Not sure placing a homeless shelter on the main road to and from Waikiki is very brilliant. But a quality large homeless shelter near town would be nice.
>> Let’s do both: Sand Island AND Hilo Hattie’s.
———
“Waimanalo Bay beach is best according to annual top 10 list,” Star-Advertiser, May 22:
>> Finally! My favorite beach gets some recognition! It’s a great beach with fantastic views.
>> It’s a great beach. I just hope busloads of tourists will not be dropped off there.
———
“UH offers smaller tuition increase,” Star-Advertiser, May 22:
>> Budget cuts from the state Legislature and now budget cuts by the Board of Regents is a recipe for disaster, especially with their budget cut to the bone already.
