78
Again Kawaiahao Street has become a major bypass road with Kapiolani Boulevard shut down because of a suspicious package (“Police reopen Kapiolani Blvd. after suspicious package found,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 11). Hundreds of motorists barreled down our unmaintained street full of potholes, making our situation far worse.
What happened to the “aloha spirit” that our government officials brag about?
Why can’t our government show some appreciation for those who live and work on Kawaiahao Street and fix the potholes caused, in part, by motorists from all over the island who use Kawaiahao on a daily basis or as a traffic reliever from the chaos on Kapiolani?
I was attempting to maintain the road in front of my shop but was stopped by the traffic.
Frank Young
Hawaii Kai
Hawaii could join Mega Millions
Why does Hawaii not participate in the Powerball or Mega Millions programs? Has our Legislature looked into this recently? And if not, why not?
Wink Loo
Makiki
City must enforce vacation rental law
Lee Cataluna calls it anarchy (“Orgy of outlawed fireworks flaunts our island anarchy,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 6). Laws should be obeyed or changed. This is the foundation of our society. Our lawmakers pass laws without enforcement tools.
A perfect example is illegal vacation rentals that change the character of our neighborhoods. They add to our homeless population, increase the cost of housing and increase the taxes and the rent we pay. There is no enforcement here. Why?
The city Department of Planning and Permitting is tasked with enforcing this law. It endorsed a bill to aid in enforcement. Councilman Ikaika Anderson has held that bill in his zoning committee for more than nine months. He apparently does not want enforcement. Who is he representing?
Enforcement is complaint- driven. We all need to start complaining with letters, calls and emails. Start being heard. Be louder than the fireworks.
If there are no consequences to breaking laws, there is no law. I call it anarchy.
Vern Hinsvark
Kailua
Get serious about climate change plan
I did a double take when I read a headline from The Washington Post online: “Freak storm pushes North Pole 50 degrees above normal to melting point.”
Did that say the North Pole temperature was 50 degrees above normal? Yes, the temperature at the North Pole really did reach 32 degrees F., when it is normally -20 F. Excuse me, but isn’t this front-page news?
Why are we still debating whether climate change is real? When will we demand real, concerted action to mitigate the changes that are already occurring? We can start in Hawaii by ensuring we choose an electric utility that moves us to 100 percent renewable energy ASAP — no ifs, ands or buts.
Jan Pappas
Aiea
Kaneohe’s feral cat community growing
I was under the impression that the feral cat protection program was established to maintain and protect feral cat communities, not grow them.
Those who manage the communities come by our neighborhood daily and spread large amounts of cat food, attracting other cats in the neighborhood. The result is that the feral cat community in the area is growing, not being maintained.
It is a big problem for the elementary school in our neighborhood, as the cats live under the portable classrooms and leave feces in areas where the children play. It is a health and safety concern.
If the managers stop feeding the cats, the community will taper off through the spay/neuter and release program as originally planned.
Sandy Wong
Kaneohe
Sugar worker lived long, despite smoke
A newspaper obituary on Sunday listed a 93-year-old man who retired from the Wailuku Sugar company as an irrigation worker. His job would have been to be in the field every day.
During his workday, fields of sugar cane is harvested during the regular harvest season and he likely spent much of his natural life in the fields sucking up the smoke, living to be 93 years old.
People come here from elsewhere for a few months and complain about the hazards of smoke inhalation. Well, they don’t have to cry any more, because the plantation is closing down (“The end of sugar in Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 7). They will have to find something else to cry about.
Henry Kahula Jr.
Paia, Maui
Keeping Maui land in ag a good thing
Another Hawaiian legacy food crop is disappearing in the islands — sugar. It served its purpose for its time, but is no longer profitable.
I want to say mahalo to Alexander & Baldwin and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. for doing the right thing and not going the route of selling off the aina for development of homes or commercial property.
They have chosen to focus the redeveloped land for renewable energy and food security for a growing population in Hawaii. I respect their business model.
Chris Jansen
Mililani
Yes, and meanwhile, back on Reality Island, we are spending $10,000.00 for every woman, man, and child to build a train in the sky. Yes,
One has to spend $2 million to pay $10,000 in half percent general excise tax surcharge so very few pay that much for rail. Everyone pays fairly according to their financial ability to spend. Tourists also help subsidize rail. Rail is for our better future for our children and grandchildren and everyone pays their fair share which is barely felt by most consumers.
Up early this morning, eh, Grabby?
i repeat. The sad reality is that $10,000.00 will be spent for every man, woman, and child on this island. For a train in the sky….
It’s more like $200 every year.
Don’t forget to count the service puppies riding the rail.
Wiliki the rail shill and liar.
I bought a new car recently and the extra tax was about $150.
Everytime someone buys a soda, candy bar, plate lunch, medicine, or groceries, they are paying the GE tax. Most people and families will pay much more than $200 in a year.
You and ukulele are liars trying minimize the damages that the extra GE surcharge is doing to local families so that a train can connect a new development in Ewa to Ala Moana. It will not relieve the traffic generated by UH Manoa and will more than likely have little to no effect on rush hour traffic.
In the meantime, rail construction is making traffic worse, hurting local businesses and sucking tax dollars that could be used for things like fixing roads, and other measures that would actually reduce traffic flow. Instead we are paying off political donors and worker unions.
Total BS. Total BS.
Out of 2 million dollars, 5% would be $100,000. Or if you went at 4.5% GE Tax, it would be $90,000.
Total BS Total BS by Ukuleleblue who only lies and posts propaganda (and wiliki who works for the mayor)
$200,000 in expenditures would generate $9,000 to $10,000 in GE tax revenues.
Don’t believe the lies told by wiliki and ukuleleblue.
But the rail surcharge is only point 5 percent, and when the state takes their cut, the rail gets point 45 percent.
Uku purposely left out the pyramiding effect of the GE tax and we do not pay only half a percent for rail and nothing else. When you add the pyramid effect, the half percent is really more like 1.2% which is a HUGE difference.
…blue. You did alright until you mentioned that rail is good for us.
Ukuleleblue was wrong when he said “”” One has to spend $2 million to pay $10,000 in half percent general excise tax surcharge so very few pay that much for rail”””
Are you using rail math or are you purposely trying to minimize the impact of the GE tax?
First of all, 4.5% of 2 million is $90,000. That’s ukuleleblue’s first mistake (or lie). It’s not $10,000 and uku claims.
Secondly, the GE tax is not a sales tax where it’s paid once and done. It is paid up and down the sale chain so in reality, 2 million in sales will generate more than $200,000 when all the middlemen pay up. Another ukuleleblue mistake (or lie)
If ukulele’s claim that 2 million in sales generates only $10,000 in GE tax, it would be far insufficient to fund the boondoggle called rail.
The questions remaining is whether ukuleleblue was mistaken or lying, and what is his connection to the rail as it’s obvious he’s paid to blog pro rail propaganda.
Only half percent goes to rail. The remaining four percent funds general government.
You’ve got me Walking Spanish down the hall.
I love those Spanish eyes.
And Spanish flies
Spanish rice.
Dear Wink: we do not have a lottery because it is evil Gambling. AND everyone knows that there is no gambling in Hawaii…no sports betting…no cock fighting…no cards…no dice… no organized crime…no one goes to Vegas each year from Hawaii. LOL
Tax on Demo-dummies!
Yes, no one in Hawaii gambles because it’s illegal. The SA only advertises the ads for sports counselors selling the winners for Monday Night Football because people betting their buddies a lunch need an edge right?
Thats right and if my team goes to the Super Bowl I’m leaving the next day to pickup my winnings and wager a little more!
Palei sheets?
There is no CASINO gambling in Hawaii. But social gambling is perfectly legal. Lotteries are classified as casino gambling because there is a house take. Having lotteries in Hawaii would make legal casinos on Hawaiian land in Waikiki. So many are hooked on gambling, they have a hard time stopping before they destroy their families.
wiliki, I will bet you every penny I have that there are illegal casino gambling places in Hawaii.
Kawaiahao street potholes are really bad and hundreds of cars use this road daily as a shortcut. the city will not fix potholes because there is a dispute about who owns the road but in the “old days when we had aloha” there was this thing called “kokua”. Like braddah you when help us out now we going help you. that was the aloha spirit.
Ever wondered why O’ahu has so many off road 4X4 trucks with so little unpaved, off roads? Potholes, that’s why.
Our wise lawmakers know what’s best for Hawaii so they legalize just about anything including discussion on legalizing pot. But not gambling because gambling is evil as we send thousands of Hawaii residents to Las Vegas each and every day of the week.
Airfare to Las Vegas is cheap. Thousands also go to So Cal and Seatle.
Not as cheap as staying here and spending their gaming dollars here.
Hawaii’s lawmakers must all have Hawaiian Airline shares?
The closing of “The Last Plantation” is a very sad one for me and many,many others who came here,to Hawaii, to make a better life for themselves.Working plantations workers like,Hawaiians,Japanese, Chinese, Fillipinos, Puerto Ricans, Portugese,Samoans etc.Everyone came here to work on those plantations. Everyone was close-knit and knew each other living in the Old Plantation Camps!_______Gone are The Days!
Gone are! The Field workers riding in pick-up trucks. Gone are! The Cane Haulers. Gone are! Watching the Cane fires at night and the Harvest the next morning….and that smell of burnt cane. unforgetable!!
I remember Waialua Sugar Mill’s last tour of the Cane Haulers ,going to thru Haleiwa and Waialua towns .What a sight! They were proud to the very last day.These memories will forever be remembered in my mind. Mahalo nui to them!
Yes! Like The Super ferry…Let’s give a Big Mahalo nui to the ever growing populace of Transplants…..who made this happen! “Gone Are the Days”. IMUA
The Transplants are a minimal part of it, they got money though. The biggest part is overpopulation. When me and my girlfriend got married, we soon had 2 children. That was the limit for ZPG. It also made life a little more affordable. Now, 3 generations later, there are 12 of us. Its simple overpopulation.
At least half go away – never to return. Many military stay. Our population is constantly changing.
You are correct. We just got to take care of what is under our own personal control and hope others do also.
Puppy population is also growing in Hawaii.
I remember the older generation used to drown the unwanted pups. We don’t want to go back there!
Bdpapa. I wonder where the said, older generation is now. Heaven or heck?
Well, I think a lot of them went to Heaven but some, they probably do good in heck!
Why is City Council Member Ikaika Anderson sitting on a Bill that the Department of Planning permitting needs in order to improve enforcement actions against illegal vacation rentals? One can only surmise he does want the illegal mini hotels to be shut down… Does he not care about Oahu’s housing crisis and the growing population of homeless residents? Residential communities like Waimanalo, Kailua and the North shore need homes for residents, not hotel rooms for tourists.
Not true. Rentals in beach front areas are NOT cheap. Talk about affordable rentals on the West side of Honolulu.
You may want to take a course in economics. Any reduction in supply of housing will have some impact to the housing market. Residents who can not afford housing in highly desirable communities such as Kailua, Northshore, Manoa Hawaii Kai, must find housing elsewhere. Those with the lowest financial abilities are left with no housing. It’s called the “Domino” or “ripple” effect and it’s well documented by economist around the world. We don’t live in a vacuum. The actions of property owners operating illegal vacation rentals negatively impact all of us. Mr. Hinsvark is right.There must be consequences for breaking the law!
Wiliki is clueless about economics. That’s why he makes outrageous claims (lies) such as the rail is already paid for and that rail has a solid financial plan.
I guess if endlessly raising taxes and poorly managing the project is a solid financial plan, then wiliki might be onto something. If not, he’s just a liar who appears to be working for the mayor.
Fire Ernie. He’s delaying rail.
How is Ernie delaying rail? Grabby and Kirk said they need 6.57 billion and Ernie gave it to them.
The delay lies with grabby and kirky.
Frank. The state song for Hawaii should be, Another one bites the dust.
Man made Glo-Balony warmimng hoaxters and grifters are simply ecstatic when such credulous marks as Aiea contributor Jan Pappas appear on scene in full panic mode, having swallowed the Henny Penny bait(“the sky is falling”)hook, line and sinker.
Jan, the short answer is the sky is falling any you should be afraid, very afraid. Then educate yourself on the difference between weather and climate.
Because of people like, Ms. Jan. My coal stocks have lost some 98% of its intrinsic value.
In all due respect, Ms Jan had nothing to do with your coal stocks, your investment decisions are from the dinasour age. Get up at 4 AM and watch CNBC–and pay attention–lots of attractive stocks out there. T pays 5.7%, look at the appreciation of the sin stocks–LB and MO!!!!
Boo-Yah told me to buy coal stocks a few years ago when China was opening a power coal plant ever week. That was before the air quality was so compromised that natural gas had to be replacing the dirty coal.
Wink Loo, gambling is all about money. Only two states disallow gambling, Utah for religious purposes and Hawaii for political purposes. Hawaiians spend billions of dollars gambling in Las Vegas–whenever there is a hint of a bill to allow gambling–watch the campaign $$$$$ come in from the Vegas lobbyists for our career politicians. The citizens of Hawaii are in #2, campaign money is #1–even though it would reduce our taxes–got to get reelected!!!
Hawaii doesn’t have gambling for Hawaiian Airline purposes.
IRT Jan Pappas, the sky is not falling nor should people in Hawaii head for higher ground to avoid rising sea levels or rush blindly ahead to eliminate the use of fossil fuels. The freak storm mentioned in her letter was not the first such storm to hit the North Pole. There was one in December 1986 and another in January 1993. With regard to the most recent “freak” storm, which occurred at the North Pole on December 30, 2015, it pushed temperatures at the North Pole 50 degrees above normal to the melting point. According to the Washington Post story, temperatures at the North Pole exceeded 0% Celsius for a period of TWO hours between 12 and 2 PM, the highest temperature being 0.7%. That is not even enough to melt an ice cream cone. If any polar ice did melt, it quickly refroze when the temperatures dropped to below 0% Celsius, so everyone living on islands in the ocean can sleep easy tonight knowing that their islands will still be above water tomorrow.
The gambling question is an easy one. Obviously, someone is getting paid off by both Vegas interests and our illegal gambling interests to keep gambling here illegal. Chris McKinny explained it in a “fictional” novel he wrote. I cannot remember the title.