Your editorial, “Give Chinatown changes a chance” (Star- Advertiser, Our View, July Opens in a new tab21) Opens in a new tab, omitted key points regarding bulbouts.
Chinatown is Hawaii’s first National Historic District. The National Park Service states: “The Chinatown Historic District is the largest area in the city that still recalls a historic sense of time and place.”
City special district design guidelines state: “The significance of Chinatown as a special district is based not so much on the historic … value of individual buildings … but the fabric of the District as represented by the … older buildings, the appearance of the streetscape, and the ethnic character of the uses and activities.”
Bulbouts are not compatible with the district’s streetscape. Commercial and emergency vehicles have difficulty negotiating small historic blocks. Bulbouts make intersections even smaller. Safety measures shouldn’t change the historic streetscape or hamper commercial and emergency vehicles.
The Chinatown National Historic District, Honolulu’s oldest, deserves more respect. The current changes are against the law.
Elizabeth M. Stack
Chinatown
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People can’t obey sprinkler mandate
For every new law enacted, it creates a new breed of criminal. And if Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s mandate to retrofit high-rise buildings with spinklers becomes law, there will certainly be some who will find it hard to comply. What’s to become of an elderly person who could not afford it?
Then there are those who plan to make money from this — the real estate industry and the insurance companies.
Should it become an official mandate, it would also be the city’s responsibility to certify those companies installing the sprinklers and regulate its pricing in order to protect the consumer.
There will probably be legal challenges to this mandate in class-action lawsuits that will take months and costs millions.
Clarence Chun
Mapunapuna
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Superferry provided valuable services
The Hawaii interisland Superferry would have been a win-win for everyone (“Don’t try again with interisland ferry,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July Opens in a new tab24) Opens in a new tab.
It was a much-needed option that provided a cheaper and faster means for outer island farmers to transport their produce. It encouraged local tourism by giving residents easier access to outer islands by allowing them to transport their personal vehicles. It provided a more comfortable travel alternative for handicapped individuals.
It was especially what we needed in times of crisis like a hurricane, allowing us to quickly transport emergency personnel and equipment.
Unfortunately, politics and special interests overrode the general needs of the population, forcing out the Superferry. It was a big loss because it would have benefited the whole state. The remaining debt cannot be blamed on those who supported the Superferry but those who stopped it.
Deborah Yamaguchi
Mililani
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Sentence too short for Peter Boy’s dad
What a farce! There’s no justice for little Peter Kema (“Peter Boy’s dad receives 20-year prison sentence,” Star-Advertiser, July Opens in a new tab25) Opens in a new tab.
Peter Kema Sr. should be serving life without parole. He’s already had 20 years of unde- served freedom. A shameful performance by social services and inept police and prosecutors allowed this to happen. A definite black eye for Hawaii justice.
Auwe!
Annette Spinaio
Kailua
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We can’t disregard our past mistakes
If I were one of the leaders of the rail transit project, I would be ashamed of the existing snafu that every taxpayer reads about in the newspaper.
I totally disagree with Ember Shinn’s attitude to disregard past mismanagement (“Rail leaders criticized for delaying audit into rising costs,” Star-Advertiser, July Opens in a new tab16) Opens in a new tab.
If one disregards or forgets past mistakes, one will invariably repeat the mistakes over and over again. This attitude appears to have become the norm with the managerial leadership today.
It’s too bad there is no mentor to look up to in this rail fiasco. I have always believed in, “Let your mentor’s hindsight become your foresight.” I relate to Miyamoto Musashi of the 15th century, who said that because sight is weak, perception must be strong.
James Kataoka
Mililani Mauka
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Let Congress have our health care plan
We send people to Congress to do the people’s business. Unfortunately, when they get there, they are more interested in working for their party and campaign donors.
We the public pay 75 percent of their so-called Cadillac health plan. So why should they worry?
To get their attention, cancel their plan and put them on the same plans as the general public. Then watch how fast both parties work together to present a plan for the president to sign.
Ken Taylor
Manoa
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Pro-life clinics can’t promote abortion
In response to Paul Reeser, I say that Christians do not “fear” telling women where to get an abortion.
We “fear” and respect God who is against murdering a preborn baby that was created in His image (“Churches shouldn’t fear information,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July Opens in a new tab18) Opens in a new tab.
If you believe in sharing the truth, then the truth is that aborting your baby is the murder of an innocent child. Everyone knows that a preborn human is — a preborn human.
The governor actually penned his signature on the new bully bill to help women kill their child (“Religious group sues over law on pregnancy information,” Star-Advertiser, July Opens in a new tab13) Opens in a new tab.
You want us to teach that?
Uh, no.
Steve Holck
Founder, Aloha Pregnancy Care
