Do more to mitigate North Shore traffic

Expanding on Andrea Davis’ letter (“Officials ignore Laniakea traffic,” Star-Advertiser, July 17), this North Shore traffic backup is probably the most extreme traffic problem anywhere in the state.

Some suggested short-term solutions:

>> Allow commercial vehicles to pull over only on the makai side of Kamehameha Highway, thereby reducing the masses wandering across the highway.

>> Provide a police officer from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily to direct traffic and pedestrians, or hire an off-duty police officer to direct pedestrians.

>> Provide some kind of order, such as diagonal parking for the cars.

>> Create a temporary, paved, small, mauka-side bypass lane.

Suggested long-term solutions:

>> Widen the highway to include orderly parking and bypass lanes.

>> Provide a marked pedestrian crosswalk, or even better, a pedestrian overpass.

>> Eliminate the turtles. (Just kidding.)

Mike Farrell
Haleiwa

We all can help revive Chinatown

We need to take ownership of our Chinatown to simultaneously build a positive image as the police weed out the negative elements.

In the last three months, nonprofits, residents, merchants and volunteers have organized the Chinatown Scrub Down and the Beautification of Kekaulike Mall,  picked up rubbish, painted murals, scraped and painted over graffiti.

Now we are cleaning the sidewalks in front of the storefronts and painting over the graffiti on buildings.

Weed and Seed and District 1 Community Police collaborated with us on an anti-graffiti and anti-litter campaign to build community pride.

We have the power to develop our neighborhood’s character by doing small things that in totality have positive impacts.

We all have a responsibility and need to do our part to attain a healthy, attractive and vibrant Chinatown.

Sandra Pohl
Nuuanu

Haseko’s position is understandable

I noticed with interest an article concerning a class-action lawsuit by eight homeowners in Ocean Pointe and the Hoakalei Resort project against the developer, Haseko, claiming the developer misled home purchasers regarding the resort marina (“Ewa Beach homeowners sue over scrapped marina,” Star-Advertiser, July 18).

The article claimed these eight homeowners involved with this lawsuit are representing us other homeowners in Ocean Pointe or Hoakalei, but as a homeowner in Hoakalei I wish to firmly state they do not represent my position or interests, and I know they do not represent those of many of my neighbors. 

After attending several meetings and town halls where this topic was discussed, including listening to a very reasoned argument by Haseko, I understand Haseko’s position, and firmly believe this lawsuit is being driven by the grandstanding personal interests of a few homeowners, as well as those few who own boats.

Mark Gilmore
Ewa Beach

Free game tickets income to recipients

I applaud University of Hawaii Athletic Director Ben Jay’s decision to crack down on UH’s practice of giving away free game tickets while the Board of Regents forgives the athletic department’s debt.

However, one point has been missed in all this discussion — whether recipients of these freebies are reporting the value as “income” in their tax returns.

Walter Jinbo
Wahiawa

Let’s have a heart for the homeless

The city and the general public don’t appear to have much heart when it comes to solving the homeless problem.

That the homeless people are riff-raff and need to be moved along to someplace else would seem to be the prevailing answer to homelessness.

Move along now, or we shall be forced to take your possessions. That’s not a solution.

Michael LaGassey
Kakaako

Some on wait list rejected early offers

In regards to the Hawaiian homestead issue and Kalima v. State: As with everything, there’s another side (“Kalima v. State: Left with nothing,” Star-Advertiser, July 14).

 My late husband submitted his name to be put on the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands list in the early 1970s. In the succeeding decades, he was notified three times of lease opportunities, two of which he deferred before accepting one in 2002.

The bottom line: He had several opportunities but chose to extend his wait.

 Further, I noticed that many of the case complainants currently reside on Windward Oahu. If my husband had chosen to stand fast in his wait for a Windward Oahu DHHL lease, he would have never received one; a simple case of supply and demand with respect to available land.  

Traci Kane
Henderson, Nev.

Police salaries now more competitive

The recent arbitrated pay raises for police officers may seem high. However, for retention purposes, they are competitive with jurisdictions on the mainland.

Several years ago we were losing many of our seasoned officers to police departments in the Pacific Northwest area, who openly came in and recruited them, offering much higher pay and other incentives. The present contract, if ratified by the rank and file, will maintain that competitiveness with these mainland police departments.

Mind you, we are still not at parity with these mainland departments, but close enough to keep them at bay.

Steven Burke
Aiea