ALOHA SPIRIT

FRIENDLY DRIVING PAYS OFF ON THE MAINLAND

It has been two years since moving away from my Hawai'i home. Not much has changed except for one thing I have noticed by spreading the aloha spirit: If you "pay it forward" by being kind to drivers, you might be lucky enough to have a positive response.

I've allowed many drivers here in California to pass in front of me, without any thank-you wave. But lately, it's caught on. The more I tried to display courtesy on the streets, the more people got it.

It felt awesome to be acknowledged with a head nod, or that raised hand of appreciation over the steering wheel, right after you wave them to go in front of you.

It may be odd to some that I feel this way, but when it comes down to how we should treat each other, even in the smallest instances, life on the Mainland can be pleasant.

I continue to have my hits and misses, but to share the road with kindness is one of the many things I am proud to say that I brought from the Aloha State.

CHRISTMAS

NOTHING BEATS PERFECT, FARM-GROWN TREES

In response to the letter by Jason Ventura, Waimea (Dec. 27):

I realize that it seems wasteful to many to cut down a million Christmas trees that last just a few weeks over the Christmas season.

I have lived in the Pacific Northwest where a great many of those trees were raised for cutting. The Christmas trees you see for sale in lots would never have been planted in the first place except that they are raised as a crop.

Christmas trees are raised by farmers, just like corn or pumpkins, except that instead of needing only one year to raise the crop, the tree farmers need five or six years. They shear the trees yearly so you can have beautiful full trees for Christmas.

As soon as trees are cut, new ones are planted so that in five to 10 years you will have another special Christmas tree.

Because we all want perfect Christmas trees with no flat sides, very few trees are grown per acre as compared to other crops. So next year when you buy your Christmas tree, remember a tree farmer raised your tree.

Is there any smell that reminds you of Christmas like the smell of your Christmas tree?

GERALD FORD

LET'S PUT THE FACTS OF THE PAST BEFORE PRAISE

I am taken aback by the local and national effusion of praise for the late never-elected Republican President Gerald Ford. Some of it distorts or ignores history.

Do the names Kissinger, Rumsfeld and Cheney mean anything to those who are now praising Ford?

They all served at Ford's approval and pleasure. And what of Vietnam? Ford was vice president and then president during a good part of that horrible mistake — never calling it what it was.

His pardon of Nixon split the nation. I realize that Republicans are in some positions of power in the state — for the time being — but does that mean we must ignore the facts?

Nixon and his associates — some of whom were continued by Ford — disgraced their office, abused power and damaged the nation and many of its citizens. And Ford pardoned Nixon to keep the Republican Party viable.

Is this the lesson we want to teach our keikis and the world, that some crimes are forgivable if the perpetrators are powerful, and doing so may keep the "right" party in power?

AIRFARE WARS

DON'T MISTAKE BUSINESS MOVES FOR ALTRUISM

It is imperative that readers understand the economics of business before making poor choices that impact the future of our island economy and livelihood. Specifically, I am referring to the letter by Matt Hee of Kaka'ako (Dec. 27).

The first lesson here: Yes, go! is pricing below its own costs; by most accounts, this is to gain market share and force out one of the established interisland carriers.

The second lesson is to understand that go! is not a Hawai'i-based company, thus its operating costs are substantially lower than those of Hawaiian or Aloha. It pays less in rent, labor, utilities, taxes and a host of other expenses than its Hawai'i-based counterparts.

The third lesson is to know that go! is a company made up of relatively young and recently-hired employees. Its wage structure is such that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to maintain a household in Hawai'i on the income provided. This is true of its pilots, as well.

Go! has no intention of falling victim to its own pricing structure. The management of that company has a long-term plan that does not include the best interests of the people of the state of Hawai'i.

However, if individuals would rather ride on regional (i.e., small) jets run by a Mainland company with a comparatively inexperienced employee group, that is a freedom that you are lucky to have. However, this should not be confused with that company being altruistic, or doing something positive for the people of Hawai'i.

MILITARY

DOCUMENTARY SHEDS LIGHT ON TRUE SACRIFICES

On Wednesday evening, our family spent the evening watching "When Parents are Deployed."

The 30-minute PBS tear-jerker focused on how parents, caregivers and children are being affected by military deployments.

I can only imagine how difficult it would be if my wife had to raise our two children without their daddy for more than one year.

However, this situation is real for many families. Many military families miss holidays, birthdays and even births.

Kudos to Gary Knell and the Sesame Workshop creating this special and for showing the very human side of how families are coping with these extended separations.

Special mahalo to all those military families who sacrifice so much for all of us. God bless each and every one of you.

TRAFFIC

MOVE SERVICES, UH TO HELP EASE TRAFFIC WOES

Instead of ruining the landscape and incurring tremendous debt/cost with an elevated transit system, why can't we simply move all downtown government services and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa to the Kapolei area?

This would force traffic more equitably in both directions within the existing freeway systems. And as more people eventually move leeward to be closer to their jobs and find jobs closer to home, there would be less traffic on the leeward to-and-from-downtown route.

To accomplish this with minimal cost, development rights to the vacated properties could be sold commercially with rents/-leases providing continuing income to fund the building of new facilities and infrastructure in the Kapolei area.

One impediment said to exist is that government employees must approve such a move. Since there is no such condition for regular commercial enterprises, there should not be one for government employees.

LUNALILO ROAD

REMOVING CENTER STRIP WOULD BE TOO COSTLY

I am dismayed to hear that the mayor plans to remove the center strip on Lunalilo Home Road, between Anapalau and Kaumakani streets. This will cost the taxpayers over $92,000, according to the article in the Dec 28 Advertiser. I drive by this area daily and enjoy the greenery, as well as the safety aspect of separating the opposing directions of traffic.

I encourage readers to call in to protest. Our tax dollars have done well to improve the roadway. Please, Mr. Mayor, do not remove the center strip on Lunalilo Home Road, for the sake of your constituents.