BRT will be slow and clog streets

We should choose a leader to guide Honolulu’s grade-separated rail project, which will not affect highways/street traffic below and will work effectively with the existing bus system.

At many of the transit stations, you will see additional construction jobs for new low-medium density residences and condominiums, new retail stores, new industrial uses, new public facilities with land-use and zoning changes. We should not let someone take away all these monies and guidance for a much slower bus rapid transit (BRT) plan.

Compare just three to four minutes waiting for rail with waiting 10 to 15 minutes and longer for a bus, which is subject to traffic lights, pedestrians, emergency vehicles and slow speeds.

There is no transferring $1.55 billion to BRT, which means there may be no assurance of federal funding, along with many more years of planning.

Wendell Lum
Kaneohe

City seems deaf about TheBus

In regard to your front-page article, "Mayoral election slows Feds on funding" (Star-Advertiser, Sept. 21), the longer the city Department of Transportation Services sacrifices the municipal bus service on the altar of the proposed rail system, the more people will doubt and question the feasibility of a rail system that will serve only one section of Oahu.

The city’s proponents of rail bolster the position of their opponents by ignoring complaints, pleas and petitions of those who want a return to the old bus routes and schedules.

That the rail proponents have not learned anything from Mayor Peter Carlisle’s loss at the primary election is unbelievable.

Rt. Rev. Wayne W. Gau
President, St. Louis Heights Community Association

Our iwi won’t impede future

My family and I and many of our friends are Native Hawaiians.

If in the future our iwi (bones) are discovered in areas that are needed to make Hawaii a more enjoyable place to live, like the rail will do, the appropriate agencies have our permission to relocate our iwi using care and dignity.

We will not impede any improvements to make life better for our children and the future generations of Hawaii.

The joy of helping others even after we have passed is the true Hawaiian and American spirit of giving.

Nick Blevens
Kaimuki

Don’t complain about air show

I am appalled and disgusted at the letters and "Off The News" commentary on Oct. 2 regarding complaints about the Kaneohe Bay Airshow.

We are not living in peaceful times; does everyone forget that? Those are the sounds of freedom.

When those planes fly, I feel proud to be an American. We live in the best country in the world because of those brave men and women who protect it and our freedoms.

What is disrespectful is people who think that freedom is free. Freedom is not free. It is paid for with the blood and sacrifice ofour brave service members.

People who moved to Kailua and Kaneohe knew they were moving in next to an airbase. If they don’t like it, they should move somewhere else.

Sarah Look
Kailua

Hire locally for top posts

I don’t understand why Hawaii always seems to have a chip on its shoulder when it comes to being compared with the mainland. For some reason, we feel inferior and, to compensate, we try to show that we are equal by spending unnecessarily immense sums of money to bring mainland people here for key positions. Many times these people have been (and continue to be) duds.

Why do we hire so many of them? There are many qualified local people here who could do a better job for a more reasonable price.

Robert Rau
Kaimuki

Signs ruining natural beauty

For some reason, I see lots of trucks and vans covered with advertising.

Many vehicles now cover the sides and back with phone numbers. Our tour buses have landmarks painted all over them.

We now have yard signs that we hope will disappear on Nov. 7. Do we need them? What is the point when one yard has signs for two candidates competing against each other?

We have so much natural beauty here. Can we protect it by keeping billboards, even moving ones, out of our vision and off our roads?

Let’s go back to the billboard ban that The Outdoor Circle fought for.

Nancy Van Allen
Kahala