COURSE COMPLETION AN IMPORTANT FACTOR

Every motorcycle fatality is especially tragic to all riders — we are all aware of the vulnerability of riding.

However, helmet or no helmet, a reported statistic, is not the only factor in injuries and fatalities. I believe a more significant statistic is whether the rider completed the Motorcycle Riders Safety Course administered by the state of Hawai'i's Department of Transportation.

Hopefully, such information could be included in the reporting of such accidents.

Chuck Nakagawa | Mililani

BEACHES

CARING FOR SHORES IS EVERYONE'S DUTY

I'd like to add to and support the letter from Margaret Mary Kauakahi Boyd (June 8) whose comments are really appropriate for all of O'ahu.

From my interactions with people on our beaches, we seem to have three general groups of people: Those that care about our environment and put effort, time and money behind their beliefs; those that don't get involved but try to at least not make things worse; and those that really don't care or realize their impact on the environment and do whatever they want.

For local fisherman casting from the beach: I may have stopped to ask you if you could pick up your trash and stop throwing cigarette butts into the tide pools, onto the lava, or into the ocean. For people who claim to respect the ocean, why are some so careless?

Why aren't more smokers active in more beach cleanups? They should be out cleaning up after their fellow smokers, giving out pocket ashtrays to prevent more cigarette butts from entering the environment.

'Opala is and will always be an issue. Use the beach but take away more 'opala than you bring.

Greg Schmidt | Honolulu

CORAL REEFS

GOLF COURSES ARE CAUSE OF REAL HARM

Next time you're out at a celebrity golf tournament, remember that all that lush, green grass is a result of millions of gallons of our dwindling fresh water, pesticides, herbicides, phosphates, fertilizers and nitrates that always inch their way into the ocean to kill our reefs. Build a golf course, the reef dies.

I've been watching them die as I've dove on them almost daily since the mid '70s. Add that to our traditional massive state and county sewage spills and we have dead Maui reefs. All of these studies are just another political smoke screen for the real vampires, our golf courses and the state and county politicians who play on them! Every time you hit a golf ball, a little more of Maui's reef dies.

Scientifically find ways to play golf without killing our priceless reefs? No way! It might cut into the profit margin!

Bobby Baker | Kihei, Maui

MAKUA VALLEY

INOUYE MUST TAKE HIS SHARE OF BLAME

In arguing for the resumption of live-fire training in Makua Valley, Sen. Daniel Inouye claims that efforts to get the Army to comply with the requirements for environmental impact statements amount to "nitpicking" and "delay tactics." This is a peculiar way for the third most senior member of America's highest lawmaking organ to regard the obligations of law.

Sen. Inouye has seldom seen military pork that he did not want to swallow. Anything that gets in the way of bringing home the bacon is deemed not in the interest of "our warriors."

This is rarely called the nonsense that it is because of the status of the purveyor and because military issues are seldom located in a larger context.

The most important aspect of that context is this: America's massive military empire — including the 22 percent of O'ahu land that is covered by military installations — is morally and fiscally irresponsible.

Daniel Inouye is as accountable as anyone for this sordid state of affairs.

When he leaves office, his fine record on some other issues will be severely stained by the consistency with which he has supported military pork and American imperialism.

David T. Johnson | Professor of sociology, University of Hawai'i-Manoa

NATATORIUM

TODAY'S NEED IS FOR BEACH, MAYBE COURT

How refreshing to read of current efforts to finally resolve the Natatorium problem.

I competed in the Natatorium as a teenager and we hated having to go there. It was no "jewel of Waikiki," as it has been described. The water was murky and unpleasant. There were of course no lines along the bottom to separate the lanes so long ropes with wooden floats were strung the length of the pool and often entangled the racers. The turns and backstroke starts were impossible against the slippery mossy walls.

Complete restoration to its original structure should not even be considered. It does not meet current citizen desires, could not be brought to today's health and safety regulation and the proposed high restoration costs do not consider the ongoing expenses of high maintenance, supervising personnel and the inevitable liability from injuries that would occur.

Today's need is for an oceanside beach with available parking where families can relax and enjoy the natural setting. A portion for a sand volleyball court would be good, since beach volleyball is increasingly popular globally and Hawai'i has some of the best volleyball athletes.

Jane Wylie | Honolulu

JOIN OUR TEEN EDITORIAL BOARD

From the quality of our schools to the economy to politics to Hawai'i's job market: When it comes to these issues and more, there's no shortage of opinions among our high school students.

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The Teen Editorial Board meets monthly to offer its views on key issues and news of the day throughout the 2009-10 school year.

Our Teen Editorial Board meets with Hawai'i's key decision-makers, with the mission of making a difference through civic engagement.

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