Delta pilot Capt. Tim Canoll said that Hawaiian Airlines passengers “are right to feel uncertain” about travel plans in the near future (“Hawaiian Opens in a new tab Air needs to share record profits with its Opens in a new tabpilots Opens in a new tab,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 22).
How disappointing. As president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), the union currently negotiating on behalf of Hawaiian’s 600 pilots, Canoll knows better than anyone that we remain in the process of supervised mediation and until we are released from that process by the National Mediation Board, there is no imminent threat of a strike.
Our company and ALPA have been meeting regularly since March 2015. As a member of the bargaining committee, I can attest to our commitment to reach a market contract for Hawaiian Airlines’ pilot workforce that is in line with all of our competitor airlines, not only the two mentioned by Canoll.
We are proud of our company’s success and very aware of how much our pilots have contributed to it. To suggest otherwise is simply untrue.
Capt. Ken Rewick
Vice president, flight operations
Hawaiian Airlines
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Thomas Square not about making money
We all expect that the protection of the parks and other public spaces is a fundamental obligation of elected officials. In the case of Thomas Square, that doesn’t seem to be the case, for it is being violated from within.
Under the guise of upgrading the maintenance of this generally passive park, the city has now entered into contracts to “improve” this historical site — all to the tune of more than $2 million in design and construction. This will change it from an aesthetically pleasing, admired public park to one that will become a theoretical money maker.
The occasionally used place for arts and crafts fairs, plant fairs, dog meets and music festivals will never bring in the anticipated money. We should never consider Thomas Square as a money maker.
A permanent food concession will compete with the occasional food vendors who operate only during permitted fairs and other events. This will eat up more park space with a building and its necessary off-street parking.
Ted Green
Kaaawa
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More laws won’t protect pedestrians
I respectfully disagree with a letter in response to the recent pedestrian/vehicle incident in Waimanalo, calling for more laws governing cars and crosswalks (“Do Opens in a new tab something to stop crosswalk Opens in a new tabfatalities Opens in a new tab,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 16).
First, in that particular incident, the driver was accused of driving drunk. These types of incidents almost always involve a driver who already is violating some existing law or is distracted. There are few incidents in which drivers deliberately ran down pedestrians. New laws, therefore, likely will have little or no impact.
Second, I am concerned with the number of pedestrians who seem to act as if they are invulnerable once they enter a crosswalk. So many seem to pay no attention to what is going on around them.
The real answer is for pedestrians to pay attention to their surroundings.
Andrew Rothstein
Downtown Honolulu
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Generosity provided needed kindness
On Dec. 8, I was in Wahiawa for a dental appointment. Before heading back to Honolulu, I drove to the Jack In The Box. When I reached the payment window, the young ladies told me that my order was paid. I was so stunned that they had to explain twice — laughing and enjoying being messengers of good will. My benefactor couldn’t have seen my tears while we were in line, but I had a sudden, overwhelming moment of grief, remembering shared Wahiawa memories with my recently deceased husband. That person did something spontaneous for me precisely when I needed a heavy dose of kindness.
Please know that I “paid it forward,” covering the cost for the folks behind me.
I hope drivers followed suit all day and at other unexpected places. Although that day was bittersweet for me, the act of generosity warmed my heart. Whoever you are, you started a chain reaction — a net of aloha hopefully cast far and wide.
Merrie Carol Grain-Norris
Lower Manoa
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‘Iolani Classic shows basketball’s best
The ‘Iolani Classic brings high-caliber boys and girls basketball teams here every year in December (“Findlay Opens in a new tab wins ‘Iolani Opens in a new tabClassic Opens in a new tab,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 22). As a big fan, I think local high school basketball has benefited greatly from seeing and playing against these top mainland schools.
The field this year was one of the most talented ever. Imagine seeing two of the top five, nationally ranked powers playing for the championship and many players that will be moving on to Division I schools and even to the NBA.
Imagine also Kahuku High School finishing third in this very talented field. Kudos to ‘Iolani School and Kahuku.
John Corbin
Kaneohe
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Hopelessness drove election results
Oprah interviewed first lady Michelle Obama, who said, “We are feeling what not having hope feels like.”
Donald Trump won because half the country felt that Washington was “hopeless” in making things better because of the constant partisan bickering. It’s annoying that politicians get well paid for poor job performances.
I know Trump has talked a big game, but America gives people a shot. We elected Barack Obama, who had a resume so thin you could see through it, as one commentator described. Now we have a billionaire businessman, but, as Chris Matthews said, “There must be some talent here.”
My hope is Trump can deliver.
John Berry
Makiki
