The ability of the Bishop Museum to survive and even thrive must not rely upon its becoming a better tourist attraction (“Bishop’s next move,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 9).
The museum is a foundational resource for the study and interpretation of Hawaiian culture and of Hawaiian and Pacific biodiversity.
Navigators, artists, writers, educators and students work with and draw their inspiration from the museum’s planetarium, its collections of cultural artifacts and natural history specimens, its musical recordings, its publications (including “‘Olelo No‘eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings”).
It deserves generous and steady funding. Exactly what keeps Kamehameha Schools — the most natural potential major funder — from stepping up is unclear. Charles Reed and Bernice Pauahi Bishop would be heartbroken, I’m sure.
Elisa Johnston
Makiki
Why is box car track in Kunia still closed?
Why is the box car track in Kunia still closed?
On Feb. 28, 2015, the city forced us (American Box Car Racing International) to close the track.
City officials said they would be issuing a new request for proposals soon so the track could reopen. But they have not.
Our organization is now financially unable to step back into managing the facility. We left our equipment in place so the facility would be a turnkey operation for a new operator. We built and managed this million-dollar facility on city property for 11 years at no cost to the city to benefit the youth and families on Oahu.
Since the city forced the track to close, the taxpayers have been paying for maintenance work that we did for free — and kids have one less place to go.
More than 200,000 people came to our Kunia facility. We get calls nearly every day asking when it will reopen. We think it is time city officials put the needs of our community ahead of their undisclosed agendas.
Steven Onoue
Rey Ito
Robert “BC” Cowling
Ken Duit
American Box Car Racing International
Waianae residents want boat harbor back
These individuals who think that the homeless should continue to live next to the Waianae Boat Harbor should come to Waianae and see this area with their own eyes.
It is a complete abomination. The rubbish piles up, and where do they use the bathroom after the harbor closes at 3 p.m.? (Take a guess.) Since when can individuals just plop themselves down on prime property and think this is acceptable?
Just because a self-appointed, so-called sheriff says all is under control doesn’t make it so. Come on, now! Drugs run rampant.
I’ve lived across the street from the harbor for 41 years and I am totally disgusted by what goes on at this encampment. I and hundreds of others want our harbor back. This abomination also has lowered the values of our homes. It is unfair to us homeowners.
Joanne Carvalho
Waianae
Democrats counting on ‘diversity’ strategy?
President Richard Nixon’s “Southern strategy” of the 1960s persuaded traditionally Democratic voters in the South to switch parties, leading to decades of victories for the Republican Party. Southern whites ruled.
Then things began to change. Ronald Reagan got 56 percent of the white vote in 1980 and won in a landslide, but Mitt Romney earned 59 percent of the same constituency in 2012 and yet lost, mainly because in that 32-year period, African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and other non-whites rose from 12 percent to 28 percent of the voting population and voted Democratic.
The trend toward diversity in our nation’s electorate shows no signs of slowing down. Will history assess President Barack Obama’s 2016 State of the Union as a subtle expression of a “diversity strategy,” in which an increasingly more diverse electorate votes Democratic, perhaps for generations to come?
Jay Henderson
Waikiki
Driverless cars might not be so wonderful
Terrence Sue-Ako wrote that driverless cars could make rail unnecessary (“Driverless cars almost a reality,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 13).
But driverless cars can bring their own problems. Since they are no smaller than a conventional car, they still could cause congestion during commute periods. That they can sense the main route is clogged doesn’t mean they can beat gridlock, if the alternate routes also are clogged.
If driverless cars become popular, there could be more vehicle trips than today, according to KPMG, which explored the issue in a November news release entitled, “Autonomous Vehicles & Mobility Services Could Add One Trillion More Vehicle Miles Traveled Annually By 2050: KPMG Research.”
We should consider these problems carefully before embracing driverless cars.
Dexter Wong
Kahala
FROM THE FORUM
Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.
“Pentagon decreasing the subsidy for isle rent” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 11:
>> This is good news, and hopefully it will free up some housing for some of our local residents. However, I don’t begrudge our military personnel anything that they can getfrom the government. When the chips are down, they’re the ones who have to go to war defend the rest of us.
>> Yes, a step in the right direction. Next step: House them on base.
>> As a result of this action there will be far fewer motorcycles and boats sold in Honolulu. That’s where the excess money goes. Military people sign a lease and the nextthing you know there are four times as many people living in the property and they all buy fancy cars, boats and cycles.
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“More bug experts sought for Big Island” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 11:
>> “More bug experts sought…” Really? What does it say if this state’s biggest newspaper thinks that its readers don’t know the word “entomologist”?
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“State lawmakers considering grass huts to help homeless” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 12:
>> Why not? After all, it’s Hawaii.
>> There are obvious safety issues, but I am all for using any and all forms of housing that can bring stability to the lives of the homeless. Actually, though, most Hawaiians donot want to live in such an arrangement. I am always amazed that the media believe huge numbers of Hawaiians want to return to a mythical past. Most want to move on, andare doing so.
>> Trailer parks are, and always have been, the answer.
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“Agency questioned on hiring procedures” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 12:
>> Isn’t this the Legislature’s own fault? Don’t they say the state cannot discriminate based on arrest record? That the personnel files of police officers are private? When astate is controlled by public unions, this is what you get.
>> Let me guess what job opportunity is left for him. I got it: Oahu cab driver.
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“Big Isle scopes open for tours” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13:
>> This is a great idea to educate the global community on deep space research.
>> Native Hawaiian protesters will probably block the tour buses from getting to the telescopes. Don’t want tourists desecrating sacred grounds!
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“Rolfing believes half an Ala Wai is better than none’” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13:
>> That area cannot handle residential traffic with all of those apartments and condos, much less stadium traffic.
>> Another stadium? In Waikiki? I think Mark Rolfing is out of touch with reality.
>> Ala Wai Golf Course is the busiest city course. It serves a large amount of people. Leave it alone. A stadium anywhere near that area create gridlock.
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“Staff at HYCF rack up $1M-plus in overtime” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 14:
>> The first thing I don’t understand is how on Earth the base salary is $90K! Where do they get that from? What are the special skills and education required for thosepositions?
>> Maybe it is time to privatize this and other correctional facilities. Unionized government workers are draining the pockets of the real taxpayers.
>> These people who make this money spend it on this island. It builds the economy; it gives others jobs. Taxes are paid on that income. If we cut salaries and jobs, how doesthat help the economy? As for unions, they help the employee. What is wrong with that?
>> If there are any job openings, I would like to apply.
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“First women submariners on Hawaii-based sub report for duty” Star-Advertiser, Jan 14:
>> Right on! Moving in the right direction.
>> That’s awesome. Everyone needs to be professional as we know we all can.
>> Shucks. Men can’t talk dirty anymore.
