I applaud our homegrown superstar Bruno Mars for stepping out and giving his time and talent for the worthy cause of the Waikiki Natatorium restoration (“Help the Natatorium, see Bruno Mars live,” Star-Advertiser, July 10).
However, the idea of restoring an Olympic-size salt-water pool will result in another money pit, and we already have the rail to fill that slot.
Repair and replace the damaged sea wall, replace the stagnant water with white sand, install a great L.E.D. lighting system and you’ll have a wonderful multipurpose facility for sand beach volleyball (it can be the University of Hawaii’s home court), movies and hula competitions. So many activities could be held there.
Top it off with the awesome backdrop of our south shore, and you’ve got a real winner that would serve the people for a long time and give our World War I Memorial Natatorium a whole new life.
As a salt-water pool, I give it 10 years and we’re back to Square One.
Chris Brown Sr.
Kahaluu
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John McCain shows toughness, character
I don’t consider myself a supporter of U.S. Sen. John McCain, but no matter what comes of his congressional career and unexpected cancer diagnosis, the senator is a true American hero.
He survived being shot down from high altitude, dragged and beaten from an impossible crash into the middle of a North Vietnam water fixture, and then endured five-and-a-half years of torture at the hands of his captors.
And on top of this, he refused early release from the prison.
It should be noted that McCain graduated near the bottom of his class at Annapolis, but that didn’t stop him from success. I know his will won’t stop him in what is now another incredible challenge.
Chip Davey
Downtown Honolulu
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Subsidize sprinklers to help homeowners
It’s scary, to say the least, with fire, smoke and water damage, whether yours or another unit.
However, if legislators mandate retrofitting sprinklers in older condo towers, then they should figure out how to help associations and homeowners.
Tax incentives will not help with installation; low-cost financing is not the answer. Condos would bear the cost and have to pass that on to homeowners one way or another in an assessment of some nature.
The design of many condo towers will require these pipes to be exposed.
Subsidizing installation upfront has to be the answer — help pay for it first. Figure that out first before pursuing any legislation that will cost citizens thousands of dollars that many of them cannot afford.
Clifton T. Johnson
Waikiki
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Insurance companies drive up health costs
If you want affordable health care, you need to eliminate the middle man in the equation. That’s the insurance company.
The longer insurance companies don’t pay, the longer the money is invested and the more it makes for them — not for the patient or the doctor who provided the care.
Get rid of the middle man. Simple.
Whiting Hyland
Kailua
