Whoever suggested ending the elevated rail system at Middle Street is in error.

There is a bus terminal there; however, there are no parking spaces for cars. A person with a car will not take a bus just to get to the rail station. This location is inefficient.

The ideal location is Aala Park, which has space for a huge parking area.

There is an old railroad station makai of King Street. During the war years, as war workers, we would catch the train on King Street that would go directly into Pearl Harbor. A ramp could be built across King Street to provide access to the elevated rail system.

Why progress farther into the most congested parts of the city? This would only exacerbate the cost.

The sole purpose of the elevated rail system should be to minimize traffic on H-1 and H-2 freeways.

Robert Kam

Kuakini

Dolphin captivity is cruel, exploitive

Dolphin captivity directly supports the enslavement and exploitation of highly intelligent, socially complex and sentient beings.

Shame on Dolphin Quest for hiding under the false guise of scientific research and conservation while profiting from the suffering of these mammals, imprisoned for life, forced to perform silly tricks for human entertainment (“New study examines dolphins’ respiratory well-being,” Star-Advertiser, May 23).

Dolphin Quest cannot replicate natural habitat, thus diminishing natural behaviors and health as evidenced by research aimed at finding “the ones we should potentially euthanize.”

Dolphin Quest falsely suggests that dolphins live longer under professional care than in the wild, and further insults our intelligence by insinuating that the animals are voluntary parti- cipants in all activities.

Let’s survey the dolphins to see how many would choose a life of stressful confinement over oceanic freedom. There’s nothing pono about Dolphin Quest’s “touch, swim and kiss a dolphin” program, especially in Hawaii where the opportunity to respectfully view them in the wild is abundant, and where we should simply know better.

Deborah Bassett

Former director, Sea Shepherd Hawaii, Haiku, Maui

Here’s wishing Takai a speedy recovery

When I read about U.S. Rep. Mark Takai’s decision to step down rather than run again, I could not help but have tears in my eyes.

It must have been a very difficult decision for him, since he is such a responsible person.

His desire was to be like the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who served with his life for the people of Hawaii.

However, he made the right decision to make taking care of own health and his family a priority.

I only wish for his speedy recovery and that he will be able to return to the job where he wanted to accomplish much more.

Grace M. Hayashi

Wahiawa

Baggage fees had unintended effect

Angry and frustrated airline passengers complain of long lines, long waits and missing flights.

Who is to blame? Is it the Transportation Security Adminstration personnel, airline companies or the passengers themselves?

Passengers are taking more carry-on bags, one hand-carried and one backpack to avoid paying the ridiculous surcharges the airline companies are charging.

Because of the security problems, each piece of luggage has to be checked.

How much time does it take to check the luggage if each passenger carries two?

The only solution is to have the airlines reduce the charges for check-in luggage, thereby making the line move faster. But will this ever happen?

I don’t think so; it’s all a matter of making money and profit.

Philip K. Ho

Waialae-Kahala

Adjust traffic lights to favor pedestrians

The light changes to green and the car moves forward to make a right turn. At the same time, a pedestrian steps forward into the crosswalk. Will the car and pedestrian contact each other? Or another near miss?

Can the traffic signals be set so that the pedestrian gets a green light seconds before the car gets a green?

This delay would enable the pedestrian to step out first and be more visible to the driver wanting to turn his car.

Some measures must be taken to preserve life. Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way, but first, they must be seen.

Betsy Connors

Kailua

Apps causing chaos in the marketplace

Our culture and are society are evolving and technology is driving this evolution.

We are becoming a nation of apps. Apps have risen above laws as our guiding light.

Just look at the Airbnb app. Hawaii is on the brink of passing House Bill 1850, which would allow Airbnb to collect taxes.

With the Airbnb app, users can get into almost any kind of visitor-accommodation business with just a smartphone.

Soon new apps will replace existing apps, causing chaos in the marketplace. In order to restore stability in our visitor industry, we may once again look to laws, rules and ordinances to guide us. We may even return to a nation of laws and not of men, or their apps.

Bob Hampton

Hawaii Kai