‘Five-0’ stars not buckled up

I think I speak for many of our local and kamaaina residents alike in saying that the new "Hawaii Five-0" series is not only presenting compelling and exciting entertainment for those of us who live in the islands, but also an incredible source of pride in our state that will no doubt increase the number of our much-needed visitors.

I hope the main actors in the show will be around for awhile, because in every scene when they are zooming around in their beautiful car, neither one is wearing his seat belt.

Remember, boys, here in Hawaii, you no click it, you get one ticket.

Work ethic has disintegrated

It is disturbing how far we have come from the days of honest and hard work. Many of our parents and grandparents lived through a time when unemployment was so high and people wanted to work so badly that they would stand in line for hours just to fill out a job application. Now employers are unable to even get people to apply.

The clearest indication of how entitled our society has become is the fact that there is the Big Q poll question: "If you had to choose, would you take unemployment benefits or work on a farm?" Unemployment benefits are for those who cannot find a job, not for those who just don’t want to work.

Point taken on cost overruns

Monday’s editorial ("City’s $30M overrun a warning," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 27) rightly notes that the incoming city administration should be diligent in ensuring that cost overruns don’t similarly impact Honolulu’s rail project. So it’s worth noting that the Rapid Transit Division has already put in place controls to keep rail costs on track.

Potential risks and overruns are best avoided or reduced through effective planning and proper attention to detail in the engineering and design process. This is reflected in the city’s Project Management Plan, which provides overall guidance to cost control. The Federal Transit Administration also has a comprehensive oversight process, and sophisticated cost-control tools help manage changes to the project’s budget.

Developing a transit authority, an initiative before voters in November, would also create greater fiscal efficiencies. A transit authority focused on delivering the transit project would provide a structure similar to other systems nationwide.

A project as important as rail deserves strong, sensible planning and diligent care in cost management — and that’s what RTD delivers.

Don’t be cruel to feral donkeys

For those aware of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ cruel and wasteful aerial hunt of cattle in Hualalai last year, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Service’s killing of thousands of animals in Hawaii each year, it’s encouraging to see community members, veterinarians and the Humane Society working together to pursue humane and effective options to control the feral donkey population ("Donkey problems increasing," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 12).

Cruel, inefficient and archaic methods of control have no place in a compassionate society, especially when progressive, non-lethal means are available.

The Waikoloa donkeys were introduced by humans to serve humans — we therefore have a responsibility to humanely manage their populations.

4-day workweek a flawed idea

Auwe. Gubernatorial candidate James "Duke" Aiona and the Star-Advertiser have both endorsed this harebrained idea of a 40-hour workweek ("Altered schedule worth exploring," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 28). Consider:

» Any peak-hour traffic mitigation attributable from extended hours can be accomplished through better use of flex time five days a week. That would allow services five days a week.

» 40 hours over four days versus 40 hours over five days? Offices will be open with lights, air conditioning, etc. fired up for 40 hours either way. How does that save money?

» What about car pools? Unless the entire car pool (including both spouses, if they drive to work together) is on a four-day workweek, the car may be used five days a week anyway.

» Employees can’t be expected to be as efficient and productive during the ninth and 10th hours of a day as they are during the first eight hours. If overtime is required, employees will not be productive over the 11th or 12th hours of a long, long workday.