Ala Moana Beach needs good sand

Regarding Ala Moana Beach, I suggest breaking up the dangerous rock rubbleat the water’s edge and replacing it with sand.

There are only a few places along the lengthy beach where surfers and swimmers can enter or exit the water safely. All it would take is to run a bulldozer along the water’s edge at a minus tide, followed by a front-end loader to scoop up the broken rock, and a dump truck to collect the debris. All followed by sand replacement.

Voila.A better beach at Ala Moana for residents.

William J. King
McCully

Israel need not fear nuclear Iran

The irresponsibility of some members of Congress — think House Speaker John Boehner — is mind-boggling.

Just as the U.S. and five other key nations are trying to work a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear program, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes to the United States to try to draw us into his war on Iran.

Eventually Iran will have a nuclear program, and even if it were to have a bomb, it would mean its total destruction were it to use it.

Make no mistake, a highly nuclear-armed Israel makes it the Goliath of the Middle East. For Netanyahu to come to the U.S. and "warn" us about Iran makes no sense. What is the end game? Are we now to go to war with Iran?

In Ukraine, we are pushing toward a reverse Cuban missile crisis. We need to work toward peace, not war.

Jim Quimby
Kamehameha Heights

Almost getting hit is life-changer

Almost getting hit by a vehicle is no fun. You’ll remember for the rest of your life that you almost died. When you’re that close to death, it’s very frightening.

Cars are slowing down, then speeding up. People become apprehensive. Not paying attention is no excuse and danger is to yourself and the folks crossing the streets with you. Taking away a license is no compensation for deaths.

Don’t try to cross busy, one-way streets on a sports event day in mid-day Honolulu. Everyone is hurrying.

Crossing the streets in crosswalks is no guarantee you’re safe. Remember, pedestrians have the right of way. Driver awareness of power and responsibility are imperative. They should think of pedestrians that they become when it’s their turn to cross the streets in busy Honolulu.

Gabrielle L. Makuakane
McCully

Everyone needs to pay attention

While I am, of course, saddened every time I hear of a vehicular accident involving a pedestrian, I am also left wondering why one of the biggest lessons we learned in grade school has, seemingly, been forgotten.

Remember the song we all sang, "Stop, look, listen, before you cross the street"?

With our ever-increasing population and near-capacity road and sidewalk use, the message contained in this ubiquitous childhood ditty pertains more today than ever before.

The onus is on everyone — not just drivers — to be aware of their surroundings, if we are to prevent more tragedies.

Blair Thorndike
Kaimuki

Please do audit of rail project

What is it going to take to wake up the Legislature and the City Council to the fact that this rail project will bankrupt this state?

It is inevitable, and then what? Do we not have other, more pressing and urgent needs on this island?

Let’s have an audit of where all this money that has been spent thus far went — to whom and for what so the public can see the truth about this spending black hole called the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

Lila Gardner
Makiki