Get tough on illegal vacation rentals

Please, please, please! Can someone get it right this time (“City considering changes to better enforce illegal Oahu vacation rentals,” Star-Advertiser, July 29)?

The city Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) again is working to crack down on illegal short-term rentals that have completely changed the the fabric of our neighborhoods, and not for the better. More noise, more traffic, more trash and less parking all contribute to the degradation of our communities islandwide.

Hasn’t this already been addressed? Didn’t the DPP hire more people expressly for this purpose? What have been the results? I remember seeing how few illegal rentals were cited afterward and thinking I could do that in one day. Find the illegal rental — they advertise themselves — book it for less than 30 days and fine them. Heavily! How is this complicated?

Please write laws with teeth and massive financial consequences. Take away the incentive to break municipal ordinances with exponential fines for repeat offenders. Ditto for monster homes. Remove the financial incentives and these problems fix themselves.

Pat Kelly

Kaimuki

Include in count those who had COVID

I’m pro-vaccination, pro-restricting access and encourage the whole community to do what it can to bring us to a number that allows the safe lifting of COVID-19 rules.

On that note, aren’t we closer to herd immunity than just those who have been vaccinated? Shouldn’t the number of people already tested positive, those with natural antibodies, be included in the totals of those unlikely to get severely ill or to spread COVID-19? I suspect we are close to or over 70% if you include the naturally immunized.

Report the number of new cases among those who were previously sick with COVID-19. I’d bet it’s similarly low as the vaccinated who are getting sick.

Matt Noponen

Waialua

Simone Biles an Olympic champ

I was disappointed to see Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympics competition (“Olympic champ Simone Biles withdraws from all-around competition,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, July 27).

But I’m so proud of this young woman for making this decision. She had the courage to be honest with herself and she knew her limitations. I cannot begin to imagine the pressure she was under from others and herself to win big time.

What a wonderful role model and mentor for the other female athletes who may be in similar situations. In my book, Simone’s a gold medalist!

Linda Iverson

Moiliili

Remarkable feat for new yokozuna

The Japan Sumo Association recently promoted Terunofuji Haruo to the highest rank of yokozuna, the sport’s 73rd.

In his career he had quickly advanced to sumo’s second-highest rank of ozeki, but then because of health issues had fallen to the second-lowest division of jonidan in March 2019. His remarkable comeback, rare in sports and unique in sumo, should serve as an inspiration to all.

James Metz

Makiki

Kudos to DOT for H-1 paving work

It is not often the state Highways Department receives praise, but it should be recognized for a good job on the couple of miles of H-1 freeway through Kaimuki.

The pavement is smooth and quiet and the roadside hazards have been eliminated, just like a first-class freeway.

The Department of Transportation is to be commended, and may it produce many more miles of similar highway.

Lloyd Jones

Kahala

City Council should save Haiku Stairs

City Council leadership is needed on Haiku Stairs.

The Council’s choice is to provide managed access — something the city neglected for 17 years and finally pursued for the last six months of 2020 — or tear them down.

Serious injuries and deaths will occur on the hazardous Moanalua Valley Trail if the remarkably safe stairs are torn down instead of providing managed access.

The city spent $1 million to refurbish Haiku Stairs and can either receive revenue from them or spend $1 million to tear them down.

The intolerable abuse in the neighborhood was directly caused by the collective failure of government to provide managed access. Either choice solves this.

Managed access also preserves the stairs’ recreational, historical, educational and cultural potential.

Tearing the stairs down would destroy this unique treasure. Please show leadership!

Bill Hicks

Kailua

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