SUGAR BOWL

SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY, ALOHA SPIRIT AT GAME

It's an honor when the BCS puts Georgia against Hawai'i, since in my opinion Georgia should have been ranked No. 2 and be playing for the national title.

Could Georgia beat No. 1? Sure, anything's possible. Can Hawai'i beat Georgia? Sure.

When the oddsmakers lowered the odds on Hawai'i, I felt that was respect.

We don't know what the outcome will be, but the outcome is not important. What's important? The University of Hawai'i made history! For the first time Hawai'i won the WAC conference outright, was the only unbeaten team and got picked for a BCS bowl game.

At first, I was stunned that Georgia was matched with Hawai'i. I thought, did they want to put Hawai'i in its place? But after much consideration, I believe the people of Hawai'i should thank Georgia for this opportunity and being a part of Hawai'i's history.

What better matchup than Georgia, from the land of southern hospitality, and Hawai'i, the land of aloha spirit. Win or lose, we are all winners. (As we say in Hawai'i, "There's no shame").

CITY

CAN'T TRANSIT DISCOURSE BE MORE COURTEOUS?

Have members of the Hannemann administration lost their ability to be courteous to anyone who disagrees with the rail boondoggle?

In their letter to the editor on Dec. 14, David Tanouye and Richard Torres, both deputy directors with the city, berate and personally insult Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi because she has the audacity to openly discuss an issue she and many of the rest of us have with the rail system.

Saying that "there are no plans to take any of the Nishioka property" might be accurate, but it is a fact that up to 100 private properties will have to be bought by the city through eminent domain, and those families will be forced to leave their homes.

It is inappropriate for any member of the administration to degrade the debate over rail by name-calling, particularly when they refuse to truthfully answer the question and resort to a "shoot the messenger" type of response.

CACHOLA'S VOTE SHOWS WHY PANEL IS NEEDED

How ironic that Councilmember Romy Cachola does not want an expert panel to choose our transit system. He is the poster child of why we need this panel in the first place.

His vote to sabotage the airport route for political gain in Salt Lake, singlehandedly resulted in the public's loss of confidence in the City Council's understanding, analysis and decision-making abilities as they relate to the most expensive public works project in our history.

Mr. Cachola, please don't worry about appearing, as you say, to "shirk your responsibilities" by voting for the panel. I am sure the public will forgive you for deferring to experts who base their decisions on actual educated transit analysis.

I would also wager that a positive vote for the proposed panel would go far in the arduous process of rebuilding public confidence in the council.

STREETS

POTHOLES JUST A SCHEME TO SLOW DRIVERS DOWN

I have finally figured out Mayor Mufi Hannemann's strategy to improve driving safety on our roads. It's basically to keep the potholes, because when I drive I have to really slow down in order to avoid hitting them.

If you disagree, Mayor Hannemann, please get in your car and drive in our neighborhoods and then tell me if you are winning the war on potholes.

After severely criticizing former Mayor Jeremy Harris on potholes, I don't think you are doing any better.

SUPERFERRY

SOME DANGEROUS ITEMS NOT RESTRICTED ON FERRY

While the Superferry task force worries about iwi and 'opihi, maybe they should set their sights on a more pressing concern: the fact that Superferry allows passengers to transport firearms, hazardous materials, propane and fireworks in their vehicles. Per a written response from a Superferry representative: "Hawai'i Superferry does not have a limit as to the number of guns that you may bring in your vehicle."

There is no requirement that your stockpile of weapons be locked in the trunk, stored in a locked case or disassembled. Also of interest is that flammable liquids are allowed in your car, right next to your fireworks, etc. There is no restriction on the amount of fireworks one can load in their vehicle. There is no stipulation that fireworks be packaged in their original manufacturer's package, unopened.

Compare this situation to New York Harbor, where all of the above are strictly prohibited on passenger/vehicle ferries. The same goes for ferries in Massachusetts.

Aside from the possibility of terrorism or criminal activity, what about the possibility of leaks or spillage sparking an explosion or producing toxic fumes? What type of security measures does Superferry have in place to ensure that all dangerous goods transported in vehicles are thoroughly inspected and/or properly sealed and secured?

COMMUTING

MORE WOULD TRAVEL BY BIKE IF IT WAS SAFER

The reason people in Hawai'i don't use their bikes is that it's too dangerous. I wouldn't let my kids ride their bikes, except under careful supervision.

If completely separate and safely fenced lanes for bicycles were constructed instead of lanes for more automobiles or trains, they would be used by thousands.

From 'Ewa to Waipahu to Hawai'i Kai is almost flat. These could be elevated at places to create nonstop travel.

I'd like to see a survey of how many people would prefer safe, daily bike travel to being stuck driving in traffic or on a train after driving to a parking lot.

HAWAI'I SHOULD REQUIRE RENTAL CARS BE HYBRIDS

It seems we're constantly looking for ways to wean ourselves off of foreign oil, and perhaps a painless way to evolve toward this goal would be to require all rental cars in the Islands to be hybrids by 2010.

Tourism affects the Islands dramatically, and, as we all know, cars have a huge impact on our air quality, as well as our collective gas appetite.

TOLL ROADS SENSIBLE TRANSIT ALTERNATIVE

I cannot agree with Alicia Maluafiti's opposition to toll roads (Letter, Dec. 13).

They are a sensible alternative to our congested freeways. They give us an option, not a requirement, to bypass the daily traffic mess and sail along smoothly. Of course, we'll have to pay, saving time, gasoline, wear and tear on the car and nerves. We'd sleep longer and get home earlier. Hey, I'd pay for that anytime. Even better, if that toll road gets built by a private company, it wouldn't cost us a cent.

Let's look at the alternative: Mayor Mufi Hannemman's transit system that will cost $5 billion. Can you imagine the extra taxes we'll have to pay? They'll be phenomenal, and you do not have any choice anymore. Getting to work fast or slow or not at all, you pay.

Instead of a fixed-guideway system, which will not alleviate traffic congestion anyway, we should build toll roads. We'll have a choice in how we want to get to work. Travel for free but slow. Travel fast but pay a toll. Or not travel at all and still pay Mufi taxes.

NOISE

SOUPED-UP MOPEDS ARE A DANGEROUS TREND

Something needs to be done about those annoying souped-up moped engines.

Are those things legal? I know the kids riding them aren't even close to obeying the speed limit, let alone old enough to have a driver's licenses.

I live in a quiet neighborhood, and at least 12 times a night my senses get rattled by them.

By the time I run outside to yell at them, they're already gone.

Anybody have any ideas about quelling this ridiculous, annoying and dangerous trend?

AERIALS

ILLEGAL FIREWORKS ARE PROBLEM IN WAIPAHU

Why is it that discussions about the dangers of fireworks take place only at New Year's and the Fourth of July?

For over a month now, nightly illegal fireworks — rockets and aerials — have been exploding in Waipahu neighborhoods.

Complaints have been made to the police, yet the fireworks continue. You can see them on any given night. These fireworks are illegal, disturb the peace, pollute the air and frighten our pets. There are early, illegal fireworks this year and nothing seems to be done about it.

When did the New Year's Eve celebration begin — in mid-November?

BUDGET WOES

CUT PAY OF SYMPHONY ADMINISTRATION FIRST

Has it occurred to anyone to cut the pay for the Honolulu Symphony administrators rather than that of the musicians?

ELECTRIC LINES

WAI'ANAE COAST NEEDS UNDERGROUND SYSTEM

I read the apology to the people of the Wai'anae Coast by Mike May, president and CEO of Hawaiian Electric Co.

This is the third time that we had to deal with HECO cranes and cherrypickers. What we deserve and need, Mr. May, is an underground utility system. What we do not need are sagging utility pole lines, transformers that are not spaced farther apart, and overloaded utility poles that cause stress on the poles.

Like hundreds of residents, I was turned away at Wai'anae Mall on Dec. 5. On Dec. 6, I left home at 4:30 a.m. and by 5:30 a.m. I was in Nanakuli. It took me another hour to reach my final destination.

HECO expects all of its employees to report to work every day, and it is no different with my employer.

The thicker and stronger utility poles that you mentioned in your apology notice are frightening. Why? The newly installed poles are taller, the diameter wider and they weigh more.

When the next powerful storm comes, these poles are tall enough that they will knock down the poles on the makai side of the highway.

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