Letters: There was time to fix high-rise fire hazards; Find compromise for Pali Lanes bowlers; Too many people ruined Hanauma Bay

Those pursuing tax credits to offset the cost of installing fire safety protection included some proponents who participated in the 2005 Residential Fire Safety Advisory Committee, established by City Council Resolution 04-334.

They and the owners of the then-identified multi-unit residential properties with no sprinklers had these last 16 years to build their reserves toward fixing this “life/safety” issue. If they deferred corrections while awaiting government financial assistance, one wonders what they could have independently achieved over those 16 years.

The collapse of the Florida condo building has heightened awareness that spalling and other deferred-maintenance problems also may be potentially hazardous to building health and the lives of residents — issues requiring prevention and/or repair.

Should owners of buildings with such deficiencies also request financial relief in the form of tax credits? What about a house owner who needs a new roof or wants fire sprinklers?

Lila Mower

Kakaako

Find compromise for Pali Lanes bowlers

Just a thought on Pali Lanes and Alexander & Baldwin (A&B) (“Kailua landmark Pali Lanes closes after 60 years in business,” Star-Advertiser, June 30).

Maybe A&B will consider reducing the number of lanes and use the rest of the space for dining and retail. This would enhance the bowling experience and provide the community with recreation, even if it is at a limited scale.

This would be a compromise with the segment of the community that could use the lanes as a social venue while offering A&B the opportunity to use part of the space for its own endeavors.

Since the Pali Lanes building has been declared a historic place, it should remain. Why not create a winning partnership?

Ken Takeya

Kailua

Be aware of dangers of sex trafficking

As a woman not quite an adult, knowing that sex trafficking actually happens in my area scares me. It also makes me worry for my friends.

Most of us don’t live in the prettiest part of the community and have to bus or walk if we want to get somewhere. I’ve talked to my friends about how this isn’t a problem to take lightly and I simply get dismissed.

Surprisingly, many people have a mindset that this would never happen to them. This is why I want to get the state involved. I would like to spread awareness to the community on how they can protect themselves and what to look for. Let’s take care of each other as a community and spread awareness.

Selene Seften

Waikiki

Legislature has failed on tourism management

The Legislature has had more than two years to build a sustainable tourist management plan, and just like building a more sustainable statewide economy, it’s a nonexistent nonstarter.

More placating of those who inquire with smoke and mirrors; bills gutted and replaced; money sucked back under state control. Lots of talk but no constructive outreach, nothing scheduled, no concrete planning. Just more committees, discussions, commission and consultants. It sounds a lot like job security.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority under John De Fries, with a well-thought-out Four Pillars plan, is best equipped to both handle and mitigate the ongoing surge in tourism. HTA can provide education and mediation for the existing and growing antipathy toward tourists and visitors in general.

Andrea Bell

Kailua

Too many people ruined Hanauma Bay

Ron Sanderson claimed he had been going to Hanauma Bay regularly for more than 40 years, but due to limited capacity, he can’t go anymore (“Open up Hanauma Bay for everyone to enjoy,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 1).

Well, if he remembers, the bay was being ruined by too many people in the water. The once-clear blue water was cloudy from people bringing frozen peas, carrots and all sorts of food to feed the fish. And all the sunscreen also contributed to the filthy water.

People left all those empty vegetable bags in overflowing rubbish cans. Cars were backed up all the way down to the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center.

So can you imagine, now that people’s attitudes are even worse than they were years ago, what the area would look like?

How do I remember all this? Well, I had been going to Hanauma Bay since 1964, so I think I have him beat.

Kip Anderson

Salt Lake

Road maintenance cost people time and money

Were you one of 13,000 to 18,000 Hawaii Kai travelers delayed by the six hours of maintenance work on Kalanianaole Highway July 7? If everyone lost the 40 minutes we did, that fiasco resulted in delays of 9,500 to 11,600 hours, with a value of between $132,000 to $175,000 of lost opportunity cost.

There was no contraflow lane, and no police officers directed traffic through the intersection at Ainakoa Avenue.

If these steps had been taken, it could have reduced our delay to something reasonable — or, at least, we would have seen that an effort had been made to minimize our delay.

Everyone understands repair work must be done, but it is most disappointing the responsible authorities still haven’t or don’t want to bother to figure out how to manage traffic for routine maintenance, to avoid causing major traffic delays and the resulting lost opportunity costs.

Sam Gillie

Hawaii Kai

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