Waikiki is crowded with automobiles, taxis, trolleys, city buses and tour buses. Each is important to the economy of Waikiki by bringing tourists in and out.
Added to the mix of vehicles are motorbikes, motorcycles, Segways, skate- boards and bicycles. The city should be reducing, not adding, to the numbers of vehicles transiting the streets and sidewalks of Waikiki. The bicycle lanes we have are used infrequently. Along the Ala Wai, bicyclists use the sidewalk paralleling the bicycle lane.
The recent addition of bikeshare stations will cause traffic delays, loss of parking and potential accidents when novice bicyclists enter the mix of Waikiki traffic.
Most metropolitan areas with dense populations like Honolulu, and specifically Waikiki, have moved away from mixing bicycles and motorized vehicles in congested areas. This may have been a good idea in 1999, but it is no longer valid in 2017.
It may work in less congested areas, but not in Waikiki.
Nelda Peterson
Waikiki
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Bill Dana had Maui connection
The article on comedian Bill Dana’s passing didn’t mention that he lived in Hana for some years in the early 1970s (“Comedian’s character elicited laughter, protests,” Star-Advertiser, June Opens in a new tab20) Opens in a new tab.
While on Maui, he wrote a song with lyrics that only a comedic mind like his could think up:
“I’m going to Maui tomorrow, to marry Tamara Malone / Nothing could be finah (finer) / than to be in Lahaina / to make Tamara my own
I’ll smile on the Isle of the Valley / and live a life of delight / I’m going to Maui / to marry Tamara tomorrow / Unless I get lucky tonight.
Rest in peace, Bill Dana.
Moses Akana
Aiea
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Agency ignores risks of DU dust
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on June 13 denied Hawaii island residents, including myself, a hearing about the dangers of inhaling depleted uranium (DU) oxide dust particles from military radiation at the 133,000-acre Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA).
These particles can be dispersed and carried long distances from PTA by the wind, military high explosives and other activity at PTA that creates dust. Neither the military, nor the NRC, want to deal with this main hazard of inhalation of DU oxide dust particles. They only talk about there being no external radiation hazard, which is not really an issue with DU.
The NRC and military actions fail to protect the health and safety of troops, residents and visitors. In short, the NRC has issued the military a license to poison us. The military “mission” and efforts to avoid liability trumps all. Whatever happened to informed consent?
View the short video by Hawaii doctor Lorrin Pang explaining the health dangers of inhaling DU oxide dust particles and judge for yourself if there are health dangers.
Jim Albertini
President, Malu ‘Aina Center for Non-violent Education & Action
Kurtistown, Hawaii island
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Curb emissions to save planet
With deadly heat waves hitting the tropics and taking precious lives, it is definitely time for human beings to stop carbon emissions.
One-third of the people on Earth already face the deadly heat wave phenomenon, and things look rather gloomy if emissions continue to increase. Heat stroke and heat exhaustion are two grave results of these deadly heat waves.
Earth Day should be every day. We’ve got only one planet to live on. We can’t keep on wrecking and damaging Mother Earth, because the consequences are really detrimental to human life.
Dean Nagasako
Honokaa, Hawaii island
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GOP responsible for stonewalling
Your editorial on viciousness in the public debate loses its way with the canard that venom has “driven both sides to their respective corners” (“Viciousness infects the public debate,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, June Opens in a new tab18) Opens in a new tab.
There is no comparison. Politics is the art of compromise. Democrats are ready to meet halfway. The other side is stuck in its corner and won’t budge, even if it hurts the country.
That’s the problem. Moderate Republicans need to stiff-arm the radicals in their party and form a coalition of reason with Democrats. Then government would work again.
Jay Henderson
Ala Moana
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Most media treat Trump negatively
Recently actor Mark Ruffalo said he wants NBC and MSNBC to stop hiring “conservative” talent.
Whoopi Goldberg said she thinks that “98 percent” of the media coverage of Donald Trump during the campaign was positive. If you have ever watched MSNBC, it is hard to find any conservative viewpoint, and I don’t see much positive coverage of Trump except from some shows on Fox. Talk about living in a bubble.
John Berry
Makiki
