NOISE

LETTER STEREOTYPED MOPED OWNERS

This is in response to the letter from Honglong Li (July 11) regarding loud mopeds. The writer has stereotyped mopeds (and their owners). I have a moped and — guess what? — I read the newspaper and I even subscribe to the daily paper.

My decision to purchase a moped was simple: I live one mile from where I work, I would have to arrive at work by 6:30 a.m. (I start at 8 a.m.) to get a parking space, and the driving was city driving. The lures of using less gas, getting an extra hour's sleep and having dedicated bike parking were major factors in my decision.

I did a lot of research and visited many moped shops before purchasing my quiet little moped. I'm not concerned with how fast it goes or "modding it out" to get more speed (thus creating more noise). My objective is to get from point A to point B safely and with a minimum of noise. My neighbors have commented on how quiet it is and several of my co-workers will be buying the same model so they won't have to sleep in their cars for an hour in the parking lot.

PRIMARY ELECTION

MEANINGFUL DEBATES A CRITICAL COMPONENT

I disagree with news media cartoons and groups like the League of Women Voters. Voters who withhold their votes do not give Hawai'i disappointing government. These broad-based centers of influence do that when they criticize voters instead of fostering more interesting candidates by creating earlier and more meaningful public debate.

By sitting on the sidelines in primaries, these centers of influence let the primaries become blood-sport competition. Entering after the primaries is too late. By then, the survivors have been professionally spun into generic political careerists. New ideas and new insights from people who matured in careers other than politics before running are lost.

Forget the symptom, low voter turnout. Focus on the problem, which is that few people you would most trust in public office are willing to serve.

Ask the broad-based centers of influence to create more and earlier primary public debate. We may have to kiss more frogs, but we would get better government.

RAPID TRANSIT

THEBUS REDEFINES 15-MINUTE WAITS

After waiting 52 minutes for a B "Express" bus scheduled to operate every 15 minutes and another 43 minutes for an A "Express" bus scheduled to operate every 15 minutes, I realized that it really doesn't matter what rapid transit plan is established, because it will still be planned, operated, and maintained by the same idiots.

The best we can hope for is that The Honolulu Advertiser will mark its 150th anniversary by nominating TheBus for inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest 15 minutes in the world!

JONES ACT

U.S. SHIPPING VITAL TO NATIONAL DEFENSE

Before World War II, two Hawaiian companies were in the shipping business, Matson and Interisland Steam Navigation Co. The flagships of Matson were the passenger liners Lurline and Matsonia. Interisland had the Humuula and the Wai'ale'ale.

When I came to Hawai'i in March 1942 to work at Pearl Harbor, it was aboard the Lurline, which had been taken over by the U.S. government. We civilians had cabins. The troops on that voyage were bunked in the hold.

The federal government had also taken over the Interisland ships. I know that Sens. Inouye and Akaka are aware of this bit of our maritime history. I seriously doubt whether Ed Case knows about this when he advocates repeal of the Jones Act. The importance of the American merchant marine to our national defense and security cannot be measured in the dollars and cents saved by using foreign bottoms and foreign crews.

EDUCATION

STUDENTS MUST KNOW WHY THEY ARE LEARNING

The new 2006-2007 school year will be very challenging for public school students because they need to be able to work toward meeting the Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards III.

After reviewing the Language Arts Content Standards for reading, writing and oral communication, one idea stuck out. It was a pleasant surprise. Perhaps it's a reminder to understand what students really need to understand: The main idea of getting an education.

Kids in both public and private schools want to understand why they are learning what they are learning. In other words, what's the meaning behind their education? What's the main idea?

What goes on in the classroom definitely affects our students' development and understanding of their educational experiences.

The commitment of educators to work toward helping students understand what's the main idea of getting an education is very significant because it affects all of us.

SURFING ICON

FAMILY IS MOST PROUD OF FRED HEMMINGS

I was born in 1923 and really enjoyed reading your 150th anniversary edition. Your stories and old photos brought back great memories.

I am writing to bring something to your attention regarding the sports and cultural icons you featured. I hope in future editions you give consideration to my nephew, Fred Hemmings. Freddie is a local boy who became Hawai'i's first world champion surfer. When he retired he set out to develop professional surfing.

His record in competitions speaks for itself. Our family is most proud of his cultural contributions to the image of surfing.

KAILUA PARADE

POLITICS SHOULD BE PART OF JULY 4 CELEBRATION

I respectfully disagree with Mark Delay's letter (July 8) lamenting the participation of politicians in the July 4 parade.

Democracy isn't a spectator sport. I cannot think of a more appropriate or American way for folks to celebrate Independence Day than to personally meet elected officials as they march down the road. Our system of government is what makes our country great.

Politics is as much a part of the Fourth of July as watermelon, beer and barbeques.

VACCINES

ANY LEVEL OF MERCURY IN THE BODY IS BAD

Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed the bill banning mercury in children's vaccines. Where has this lady been? Does she not know that any level of mercury in the body is bad? Let alone in children. She is not a scientist and does not know if it would or would not harm anyone. Why take a chance?

Who put her in charge of taking life-or-death chances with our children? This is the person we put in charge of our state? I think it is about time we got help!

HOMELESS

GOVERNMENT ENABLES 'SQUATTERS' ON BEACHES

In view of the fact that the counties and the state will do nothing to remove the "squatters" from the beaches of Hawai'i, I have decided that perhaps I should sell my home. Then I will be homeless. I have an equity in it of about a half-million dollars. I will then buy one of those really neat tents with a portable propane stove and a portable potty and a solar water heater. Then I can set myself up on the beaches of Hawai'i without a building permit and enjoy beach-front living that I otherwise cannot afford.

This will be wonderful. I have always wanted to live where I could just walk out into the ocean.

I'm so glad that the counties and the state are so considerate of those of us who are homeless. Especially those of us who just don't want to follow rules and regulations. Mahalo nui loa to these wonderful officials. I can hardly wait for my house to sell.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

WESTERNERS IMPORTED DISCRIMINATION HERE

In the commentary on July 11, David Rosen referred to the situation at the Kamehameha Schools as discriminatory. It is very interesting that he and those who consider the school discriminatory miss the underlying fact that discrimination and segregation is a Western, haole idea brought to Hawai'i by them. They forget that it was the haole who discriminated against the Hawaiian.

History even shows that it was the haole who showed the Hawaiian how to discriminate because of religion. Example — the Protestant missionary leaders sanctioning the Roman Catholic missionaries. The Hawaiians had no say about the immigrants and others coming to the islands.

It was the westerners who made the Hawaiians feel illiterate and wouldn't hire them. It is the rich, predominately haole communities that are gated from the locals on Maui.

What have the Hawaiians done to any other culture? They have suffered greatly and this was seen by a caring ali'i who bequeathed her trust for the purpose of helping her people. The wait list for getting into the schools is long. What makes anyone think that they can file a lawsuit to get instant access?

Mr. Rosen and all you others need to know respect. The Hawaiians knew and practiced this from ancient times. Don't put your Western ideologies to a culture which is rich in many ethnicities, living together and being able to even tease each other with aloha. Enjoy Hawai'i as it is; if not, go someplace else. May the words of the Kamehameha Schools' alma mater ring out to stand for all Hawaiian advancement. "Be strong o sons of Hawai'i" E ola mau ka palapala o Pauahi! E Ku Kanaka!