It’s city’s rail plan that doesn’t cut it

As a 35-year resident of Ewa Beach, I think former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s bus rapid transit (BRT) plan will more likely reduce traffic than the rail plan.

The Star-Advertiser’s opposition to his plan ("Cayetano’s rail alternative doesn’t cut it," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Sept. 30), doesn’t seem to be based on current events.

Rail won’t be built. The Hawaii Supreme Court’s ruling requires all surveys for iwi be completed before starting. Kawaiahao Church is still finding iwi after more than two years of construction.

Leeward commuters want real traffic reduction now. BRT will do that, with pickups locally rather than five- to 15-mile commutes to a rail station.

Honolulu has spent more than $500 million on rail, most of it sent out of state or given to non-local bidders. What do we have to show for that?

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Cayetano plan bad for the environment

So former Gov. Ben Cayetano finally favors us with a last-minute, bogus, back-of-the-envelope "plan" for transit, lacking in detail, low-balled cost estimates in the extreme, and perfect fodder for the unwary.

He brings in the famous Nimitz flyover to accommodate more cars and disregards the disgraceful global-warming impact of this sort of solution.

The last time we had an acceptable rail package, from Pearl City to Ala Moana, it was killed by a last-minute vote change at the City Council. We deserve better.

Lon Polk
Makiki

‘Hawaii Five-0′ needs a revamp

Wayne Harada writes that "(Hawaii) Five-0 needs some change if its ratings are to rebound" (Star-Advertiser, Show Biz, Sept. 30).

First, I agree that the show doesn’t need more romance. But it also doesn’t need so many chase and gun-action scenes, or all that grumbling between Danno and McGarrett.

What it does need is clever plots with unexpected twists that make the viewer want to watch for clues. This is a detective series. The original Five-0 pushed the envelope with new technologies, international events and, especially, crimes unique to the islands.

The wide camera angles, quick edits and colors of the scenery are spectacular. Why not use that same creativity for close-up shots of unusual island sites that contribute to solving the mystery?

Finally, how about showcasing the many sub-cultures in Hawaii? Intelligent writing could rescue this show and turn it into a new "Law & Order, Hawaii Style."

Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu

Kim on right track to query UH execs

As a University of Hawaii alumnus, it made me puke to see the UH Board of Regents give President M.R.C. Greenwood an "exceptional" review. Maybe the alumni, students and faculty should evaluate the regents. The good-old-boy, rubber-stamp regents should all resign en masse.

I disagree with state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim on many things, but she has every right to question the debacle of Wondergate. Greenwood and the regents didn’t and wouldn’t have answered the questions they did without the legislative inquiry.

It’s a big deal to be appointed as a UH regent. Those on the board should take the job seriously. They have a fiduciary duty to represent UH, not the president.

R. Erik Soderholm
Nuuanu

Greenwood grilling hurts UH reputation

State Sen. Donna Mercado Kim and her Senate committee inquisition of UH PresidentM.R.C. Greenwood, et al., has created an embarrassment for the university,especially in view of the fact that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges recently praised Greenwood highly for her "focus on key priorities and abilityto keep in mind the long view rather than short-term matters," improving financial planning and making "outstanding" progress in securing federal grants.

Since the public has no say on the issues, theinquisition should have been held behind closed doors. Now everyoneperceives UH and its administration as completely dysfunctional.

Anyoneconsidering donating to the school, or any business or governmentconsidering a grant, or any professor considering relocating to UH, will think to themselves, "I’ll consider another institution."

Garrett F. Saikley
Hawaii Kai

UH teams need naming consistency

I understand Jim Donovan’s primary task is to work on a "brand" for UH.

Before he does, we need to clarify one thing: Are we the Bows, the Rainbows, the Wahine, the Rainbow Wahine, the Warriors or the Rainbow Warriors?

We need to make up our minds, for the sake of our media and marketing friends — and the students.

Claire Woods
Kailua

Living a good life irrelevant to laws

The Star-Advertiser devoted much of the front page and one-half of another pagetelling the sad story of an illegal alien and his problems ("A lack of U.S. citizenship thwarts American dream," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1).

The author describes him as being here "without permission" and as "not being a citizen." The prevalent term is "undocumented."

These people are breaking the law. In America, you cannot choose which laws to obey.You cannot say that you should not be prosecuted because you otherwise live a good life.Where does that argument end? If people don’t like the current law (I don’t), then try to get it changed.

America cannot afford an open-door policy. We do not have enough jobs for our legal residents. President Barack Obama’s current proposal is recognized by many as a foot in the door to achieving the goal of amnesty for all the 14 million illegal aliens currently in America.

Richard Saas
Kahala