Thank you for supporting a veto of House Bill 1850 (“Ige faced with good bills and ones that aren’t,” Our View, Star-Advertiser, May 8).
In addition to all of the other problems with this bill, it has come to light that TVUs (transient vacation rentals where the owner or operator is not present), whether legal or illegal, must be designed to accommodate persons with disabilities.
This is called Americans with Disabilities Act Title III (ADA) compliance.
How many of the TVUs advertised are compliant?
Does the state Tax Department know?
Does the state Disability and Communication Access Board know?
Do the legislators who voted for HB 1850 know?
Does Airbnb know?
At the Honolulu City & County level, does the Department of Planning and Permitting issue permits to TVUs without knowing if they are compliant with this federal law?
These are among the many questions that must be answered before we adopt a bill like HB 1850.
Chuck Prentiss
Chairman, Kailua Neighborhood Board
Approve law to let Airbnb collect taxes
I am encouraging Gov. David Ige to sign House Bill 1850.
On Oahu, the city Department of Planning and Permitting hasn’t issued a single short-term rental permit in 27 years. This is absurd simply because technology has been present for at least a decade and no updates have been made.
Technology has changed the way people travel. If the City & County of Honolulu, and the state of Hawaii don’t embrace this change, everyone loses.
This bill would support sthe state of Hawaii by allowing companies like Airbnb to collect taxes on behalf of those hosting, hence leveling the playing field and filling the cup of profit for everyone.
Plus it would renew the spirit of aloha, especially for those visiting Hawaii.
And, taxes would be collected automatically.
June Dillinger
Kapahulu
Trash along Nimitz bagged but forsaken
Apparently, the public is supposed to “malama the aina,” while government agencies don’t.
Every day, I travel Nimitz Highway into town and back home in the evening. I see mounds of trash bags piled up under the viaduct. These bags have been here for months.
There is a large pile of rotting trash bags at the entry to the paintball facility that also has been there for months.
At the small pedestrian bridge over the stream adjacent to it are yet other piles.
Someone took the time to bag it, but apparently there is no time to pick it up along this vital artery to and from the airport.
It’s the first and last thing tourists and residents alike see on this route.
It’s shameful, and all the excuses in the world do not remove the fact that someone is not doing his or her job.
Jacob Vinton
Foster Village
Park-dedication rule used poorly by city
Tom Dinell’s plea for more urban trees for Honolulu was commendable (“Honolulu will need many more trees to stay cool as world climate warms up,” Star- Advertiser, Island Voices, May 8).
The street-side areas face stiff competition for space from utilities and driveways. Even when a space to plant is found, it is usually a small foothold in a restricted area.
The city-approved trees, when adults, will never make a decent showing at Paki Avenue or Kapiolani Boulevard. This is especially true in Kakaako, where typical street trees will be out of scale to the massive buildings.
It is criminal that the city has opted to accept a fee in lieu of space (under the park-dedication ordinance). This is a real concession to the developers and a loss to all of us who love Honolulu. The ordinance says that 110 square feet shall be dedicated for every unit. Think of what that would mean for aesthetics, for shade and heat abatement, if trees were planted?
Somebody has made an unconscionable and uncorrectable error.
Ted Green
Kaaawa
Ala Moana park being improved
Ray Otaguro and other users of Ala Moana Beach Park may be happy with the improvements already made and planned (“Just keep up with park maintenance,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 5).
We fixed the irrigation system for a healthier grassy area, improved security lighting at all the comfort stations near the Diamond Head concession, improved the popular walking path around Magic Island, and renovated the busiest comfort station at the elbow of Magic Island and the beach park.
By summer, we’ll be clearing the coral rocks that hurt our feet when entering the water, installing two sand volleyball courts, and planting a row of trees along Ala Moana Boulevard for more shade.
Regarding long-range plans, many were concerned about losing parking, and we emphasize that there will be no loss of spaces. This park is beloved, but it is in need of a refresh that will benefit all the people of Oahu.
Chris Dacus
Executive assistant, Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation
Are we ready for unisex restrooms?
The genetics of gender and race are wholly science-based, whereas transgender and transrace are expressions of strong personal beliefs and desires.
Therefore, will civil rights be afforded to anyone desiring to be identified as bi-gender?
The issue is to end sexual discrimination and segregation in restrooms. So would anyone be averse to a federal mandate requiring unisex restrooms in public and in workplaces?
Peter Uyehara
Pearl City
