Take heart in magic of our Constitution

There was so much ado over the election results that saw Donald Trump emerge as America’s president-elect. One should never put too much faith and hope in personalities, especially in politics. Even presidents are only people and will surely disappoint us, especially when we the people have expectations of our elected representatives that no one can fulfill.

Better, I think, to put our faith and hope in our American style of democracy and government, as framed in our Constitution, a government that has proven its ability to handle Democratic excesses, Republican excesses, and will do so with even Donald Trump’s excesses.

Take heart. There is more to our Constitution than was ever dreamt of.

Hail to the chief, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

Robert Makinodan

Nuuanu

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McCully bike lane makes a lot of sense

McCully Street is an obvious mauka-makai connection for cyclists as well as vehicles (“Bike lanes don’t belong on McCully,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 9).

Removal of the substandard parking should have been done a long time ago, as the spaces are not wide enough to provide proper parking.

However, there is enough room to provide standard-width bike lanes, without impacting traffic lanes. Again, no impact on traffic lanes.

McCully Bridge already has bike lanes. Bike riders have all the same rights (and responsibilities) as car drivers. They are allowed on all roads, other than the interstate. They can also use the whole lane if it’s too narrow to share with a vehicle.

As more people choose to bike, thanks to better infrastructure, there will be fewer vehicles on the roadways. We’re all in this together. Remember to share the road with aloha.

Travis Counsell

Kailua

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Bicyclists should be paying fair share

It’s been well over a year now since the bike lane was installed on King Street and still it gets only minimal usage, especially when you consider how many cars would be using that lane if it were turned back into a lane for cars.

Now I see the city is going to add bike lanes to McCully Street. While this is good for the bikers, I wonder just how these lanes would be paid for.

The Tax Foundation has said that Hawaii drivers pay 74.4 percent of the cost of maintaining the roads through state and local fees, taxes and tolls. But how much of this is being paid by the bicycle rider?

I think it is only fair that if the bike riders want a portion of the roads, they should pay a portion of the road taxes. It seems that the bike riders want more and more of the road space, but I don’t see where they are paying any more than their bicycle license fee. Maybe it is time to place a road tax on bicycles.

Russell Gust

Waikiki

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Helpful safety tips for drivers, pedestrians

With even more road and crosswalk accidents and deaths occurring during the daytime and evenings, it might be safer for pedestrians as well as drivers to do the following:

>> Drivers should turn on vehicle headlights whenever driving on the road.

>> Pedestrians should carry and shine flashlights whenever entering a crosswalk.

This would alert and benefit all, including the driver and the pedestrian.

Katherine Doctorello

Moiliili

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Remarks ill-advised at Dec. 7 ceremony

As someone born at the end of World War II and who has great admiration for the veterans and survivors of the events of Dec. 7, 1941, I have been engrossed in the outstanding coverage devoted to this in print and broadcast media.

However, I must take issue with what I consider to be gratuitous, off-base and totally unnecessary comments made by Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. during his keynote address at the Pearl Harbor ceremony. He referred to recent protests at NFL games and else- where, where some refused to stand for the national anthem.

The heroics of Dec. 7 bear no resemblance to the protests of those exercising their right to freedom of speech. While Harris and others may not approve of these protests, they are in fact among those rights that the gallant heroes he was saluting fought to defend.

Wednesday was no time or place to insert his personal feelings into an event honoring a diminishing number of souls who fought for so much more than standing at the national anthem.

Nancy Davlantes

Kaneohe

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Kakaako developing as was long planned

Judy Gernant declared in response to a tower going up next to hers in Kakaako that “this is not the kind of community Kakaako was supposed to be” (“Panel postpones tower decision amid opposition,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 8).

Where has she been over the past 20 years of public hearings, environmental reviews and planning charrettes seeking public input at every stage? What she is seeing rising out her window is exactly what the community of Kakaako should be.

It is in compliance with well-planned transit development, walkability and mixed-use principles. This is what stakeholders and residents in the community reviewed, wanted and approved.

Jeff Merz

Waikiki