I have not checked around, but sure hope that the hotel industry has some good deals this summer! With the downturn in visitor traffic to the Islands because of the economy and/or swine flu and not knowing when it will all turn around, a lot of people don't want to travel.

One temporary solution may be that everyone vacation in their own state, city or country for now. That would help every individual country or state a little, and it wouldn't be the vicious cycle that it could end up being (no visitors, no jobs, bad economy, etc.)

Perhaps local airlines, hotels and car rental companies (since we have no Superferry) could work together to make interisland travel for kama'aina affordable. It may also help the golf courses and other activity-based businesses, and also restaurants and hopefully retail, too. Since summer is upon us, if we could afford to travel within the state, we may see a lot of families taking their summer vacations here!

Wouldn't it be great if we could help out our own economy?

Kari Komine | Honolulu

PEARL CITY FOOTBALL

GENEROSITY OF COACH, STAFF COMMENDABLE

Accolades to Kai Kamaka and his football staff at Pearl City High School! What an amazing and generous act of community service, donating their coaching stipends to the football program.

I commend him and his 11 coaching assistants for their thoughtful and gracious gesture. They will be coaching for free and donating their time and energy to the kids and the football program at Pearl City High School.

Let's give their football program our full support! Go, Chargers!

Laraine Yasui | Pearl City

POLICE CHIEF

WHY THE ISSUE WITH CHARTER THIS TIME?

I enjoyed reading your comprehensive article about Chief Boisse Correa and the accomplishments of the police department under his leadership (May 21).

However, I am confused by the justification offered by police commission chair, Christine Camp, not to reappoint the chief to another five-year term.

The police commission reappointed Correa's predecessor, Lee Donahue, to a second five-year term. After one year Donahue decided to retire from the department.

There was no problem with the city charter then. Why now?

Julia Schmitt | Honolulu

CORREA SHOULD HAVE BEEN REHIRED AT HPD

It's disappointing to see the phony shenanigans of the Honolulu Police Commission regarding Police Chief Boisse Correa's contract renewal.

First, they give him an exemplary rating, supported by Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and many diverse members of the community. Then, they make the disputed claim that he was unwilling to commit to more than one more year.

The final straw is when they would rather hire an interim police chief when his contract expires on Aug. 27 than keep him on temporarily. There's something very wrong with this picture.

Faye Kennedy | Honolulu

ROAD RULES

MORE ENFORCEMENT ON SIGNALS WILL HELP

As I read Thursday's front-page article about Hawai'i drivers being among the worst in the nation on the road rules test, I could not help but agree, based on my own anecdotal information from observing Hawai'i street traffic for 21 years. There is one easy-to-enforce law that police should remind Hawai'i drivers about via ticketing as necessary. Enforcement could help to make our roads a lot safer.

When a driver is changing lanes or making a turn, he/she should use the turn signal to alert other drivers! I have seen accidents and many close calls result from drivers' failure to properly signal a lane change or a turn. Why not have the police enforce this law?

DICK RANKIN | Hawai'i Kai

PROPOSED CUTS

HELP SAVE MEDICARE HOME HEALTH BENEFIT

Nurses from all 50 states were at Capitol Hill on behalf of our patients to help preserve access to home care and hospice services amid $13 billion in suggested cuts to the home health benefit in the proposed 2010 budget. I support expanded access to healthcare, but not at the expense of my patients who rely on home care each and every day.

These cuts are being proposed despite research that shows home care is cost effective and that nine out of 10 senior citizens say they would prefer to receive healthcare in the comfort and familiar surroundings of home rather than in an institution. These proposed cuts will jeopardize the ability of Americans — including 78 million baby boomers who are entering retirement age — to choose home care.

Virtually every American knows or loves someone who is ill, in declining health or living with a chronic medical condition who wants to stay in their own home while they receive treatment.

Please contact our representatives in Congress or visit www.HelpUsChooseHome.com to learn what you can do to preserve the Medicare home health benefit in Washington.

Beth Hoban, R.N. | Prime Care Services Hawaii