IT WORKS IN NAPA, BUT WON'T HERE

Proponents of more B&Bs in our residential neighborhoods argue that because B&Bs are beneficial in some other parts of the world, we should also increase their presence here. (Karen Luke letter, Oct. 5). This ignores the uniqueness of this island and its social and cultural fragility.

What works well elsewhere can be detrimental here. B&Bs may benefit rather than detract from the quality of life of Napa Valley residents, but their B&Bs are dispersed in a mostly rural area. They are not concentrated in dense urban residential areas and are not located within a few feet of single-wall constructed homes with jalousie windows, where they infringe on the privacy, peace, and security of local residents.

Napa Valley's B&Bs do not erode the cultural underpinnings and tear at the social fabric of their residential communities; nor do they negatively impact the housing needs of the local population as they do on our island. They also do not threaten the viability of a large hotel industry and jeopardize the livelihood and medical coverage of unionized hotel workers as is the case here.

URSULA RETHERFORD | Kailua

OBAMA

CRITICISM TYPICAL OF GOP NITPICKING

I am not a Democrat, but I think Richard M. Smylie's views (Oct. 6) regarding President Obama's "priorities" were very predictable and typical of the recent Republican nitpicking opposition to anything the President does.

Surely he doesn't believe the value and priority of any meeting with Gen. McChrystal can or should be judged by its length.

Surely he doesn't believe that the president's policies regarding the war in Afghanistan might be any different had he not flown to Denmark to represent his hometown, Chicago, in its bid for the Olympics. Surely, in this age of advanced technology where the president need not preside in the Oval Office to do his job, he doesn't really believe that such a trip reflects any of the administration's priorities.

By the way, while I'm sorry Chicago didn't win its bid, I'm thrilled for Rio de Janeiro and Brazil who now will host South America's very first Olympic Games. [0xa0][0xa0]

MARK YASUHARA | 'Aiea

FURLOUGHS

TEACHING NOT A JOB, BUT A PROFESSION

I think teachers are underpaid and underappreciated. It takes dedication to be a teacher. Now teachers are sharing the pain of this financial crisis by taking a 7.9 percent pay cut. But the HSTA is causing financial and nonfinancial pain to students, parents, and the community at large. Furloughs are unprofessional; they damage the professional goal of educating students and serving the community.

The union is bringing a mercenary attitude to an admirable profession. Professionals focus on getting the job done, not on pay by the hour. The teacher's financial pain should have been limited to just that, a pay cut.

I hope the furloughs lead the community to greater appreciation and support of teachers, and lead the teachers to a renewal of their dedication and changing of their union leadership.

BURT FURUTA | Pauoa

DIAMOND HEAD

ZIP LINE WOULD BE THRILLING, SAFE RIDE

How about putting in a couple of zip lines from the top of Diamond Head Crater to the center of the floor? People would pay $10 each for a thrilling, fast, but safe, ride back down to the parking area. There are no zip lines on O'ahu. Why not? [0xa0][0xa0]

ROBERT CHOMOS | Honolulu

RAIL TRANSIT

ELEVATED SYSTEM MAKES MOST SENSE

As one of the architects currently working on Pearlridge Station portion of the Honolulu Rail Transit, I am writing in support of this excellent project and its positive effects anticipated for Honolulu. As we are all well aware, the Department of Transportation Services proposes an all elevated urban rail system for Honolulu for very good reasons. An elevated system provides speed, reliability, greater carrying capacity and traffic safety. In short, this is best value for dollar.

Architects strive to design projects that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, whether it is a high-rise residential building or a transit station. Architects would like to have utilitarian transportation primarily concealed from view, such as the subways we know in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tokyo, London and Paris.

The reality is that we cannot afford the extraordinary high cost of this given today's construction prices and Hawaii's water table. On grade is another choice, but as previously stated it is very problematic. Therefore Ho-nolulu's elevated system must balance functionality with its visual appearance within an urban setting. I believe that this can be achieved within the current development scheme for Honolulu's rail project.

mel choy, aia, raia | Principal, M5Architecture, LLC

TROOPS

CHOOSE WISELY TO PREVENT CASUALTIES

As President Obama and his staff discuss the strategy of the war in Afghanistan, my input to this very important question as to whether to send more troops, as Gen. Stanley McChrystal has requested, comes from past military history.

Most of the active military may not remember the great Gen. Douglas McArthur, who got relieved by President Harry Truman for disagreeing with him over going into Manchuria to fight the communist Chinese army. Since I, too, was in the war, I must, in retrospect, thank President Truman for stopping the fighting and keeping me and my fellow soldiers alive.

This discussion now going on in Washington, D.C., is very sensitive. Our troops are not expendable or dispensable like tin soldiers. We must make the correct decision to prevent any more unnecessary casualties.

TOSHIO CHINEN | Pearl City