LISA MATSUMOTO

SURVIVING VICTIM NEEDS OUR SYMPATHY MORE

It is sad, indeed, that Lisa Matsumoto died after a car crash while driving drunk and in her prime time of life.

While all the sympathy and news coverage goes to her, please do not forget about the other woman who was an innocent victim of this vicious crash.

She did not pick the alcohol, yet she became a victim.

She will suffer all her life, both mentally and physically. She needs our sympathy more.

WHY DIDN'T ANYONE STOP LISA MATSUMOTO?

After the unfortunate accident involving Lisa Matsumoto, your newspaper published the story along with a "story chat" so readers could send their condolences and their views.

Many were positive, offering sympathy. Many obviously felt that alcohol was involved and were chided by other readers. Some suggested that everyone wait and see what the autopsy results were. Well, now the results are in and it is now determined that she had three times the legal limit of alcohol.

Lisa Matsumoto may have been talented and skilled at being a playwright and I hope that being this outstanding community person in the arts does not excuse her for what she should have known was terrible.

It is now equally important for the person or persons with whom she may have been associated in consuming this great amount of alcohol to step forward and explain why they let her get behind the wheel of the car. They must realize that they also have a great responsibility as her friend to prevent such tragedy.

They should be held liable, and if she consumed the alcohol in a restaurant or lounge, it, too, should be held accountable for its actions.

TRANSIT PANEL

EXPERTS SHOULD MAKE TECHNOLOGY DECISION

The city administration has proposed that an independent panel of national and international experts with proven credentials select the technology for the fixed-guideway project.

As former finance director for the City and County of Honolulu and chairman of the Honolulu Transit Authority, I fully agree with this approach. Qualified experts rather than laymen should make this selection.

An independent panel would base this decision on logic, engineering criteria and technical requirements rather than politics or outside influence. This is not a beauty or popularity contest. It is the most important infrastructure project the city has ever undertaken, and it must be done correctly.

Past practice for every other similar decision, such as the type of vehicle to purchase for TheBus, has always been left to the administration and the transportation department. Politics and turf battles have no place in this important project.

Now that the decision to build transit has been made, we deserve the best possible fixed-guideway system to serve the people of Honolulu.

CITY COUNCIL

ISLE RESIDENTS SHOULD SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY

The University of Hawai'i football team has been a great source of pride for the people of Hawai'i this year, and it's wonderful to see the outpouring of letters to the editor reflecting that pride.

I wish, however, that people would show the same loyalty to their island home by supporting the sustainability bills currently up for review by our City Council.

If we care about the environment and the future of this state, we must actively push for policies and laws that will make Hawai'i more sustainable.

These measures will not happen without feedback to our elected officials through phone calls and letters. Take a few minutes to review the proposed bills on the City Council Web site and to contact your councilmember and the mayor.

I'll bet if we had to convert Aloha Stadium into a landfill, everyone would finally realize how important it is to preserve our natural resources before it is too late.

SUGAR BOWL

UH FAN UNABLE TO BUY BETTER BOWL SEATS

I have a question for the University of Hawai'i athletic department or whoever has been in charge of the tickets to the Sugar Bowl.

Already having plans to be on the Mainland, I was able to make plans to attend the Sugar Bowl. On the Monday after the announcement of the Sugar Bowl, I purchased tickets from my friend, a season-ticket holder. I wanted to buy the best seats possible but was unable to purchase anything but the $125 tickets. The computer system would not allow me to buy the $145 tickets.

When I received my tickets, I found we are in the "nosebleed" section. Then it was announced that more tickets for season-ticket holders are available. I have lived in Hawai'i for 35 years, and I know as sure as I know there is a nose on my face that those purchasing the latest tickets will more than likely have better seats than I.

How can this be? What kind of cronyism is this? To paraphrase the bard, there is something rotten at UH.

UH SHOWS NO LOYALTY TO LONG-TIME SUPPORTER

Talk about spending big bucks for seats with a poor view. After spending a lot of money to go to New Orleans to support the University of Hawai'i Warriors in the Sugar Bowl and being a season-ticket holder for more than 20 years, how I am rewarded by the UH ticket office? By assigning me seats in the nosebleed section.

Everything at UH is all about money and it's really unfair and pathetic. Their claim that they based their distribution of tickets on the amount of premiums paid last year is hogwash.

For the past 10 years, I've purchased four tickets at an average price of $600-$800 per year, which approximately totals $6,000-$8,000. Before that, I purchased two tickets every year for 10 years, which amounts to approximately $3,000-$4,000.

You mean to tell me that my $9,000-$12,000 to support the team doesn't mean diddly compared to someone, for example, who for the first time purchases a pair of season tickets and spends a measly $100 for two premium seats for sideline tickets?

What kind of loyalty is that to a supporter who has been there for the team for more than 20 years? I would say none.

HECO

UTILITY POLES SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR TERMITES

I am looking at the picture on Page B2 of the Dec. 15 Honolulu Advertiser showing a HECO utility pole that fell and landed on a city bus.

It is obvious from the picture that subterranean termites hollowed out the lower area of the pole and the weight of the upper structure plus the added weight of heavy transformers took its toll on the structural integrity of the pole.

The termites feast only on the center area of the poles, and their damage is not visible from the exterior surface of the poles until failure occurs.

There is a method to inspect these poles for termites. It is called "sounding" of the poles — a trained and experienced worker strikes the pole with a heavy hammer and listens for hollowness.

HECO should inspect poles around strategic street intersections and high pedestrian areas to reduce the possibility of fatalities and vehicular gridlock.

In an emergency attempt to save a pole, it can be drilled to the hollow point and treated with a chemical termite barrier until HECO's workload permits replacement of infested poles that pose danger to the public.

BLAISDELL CENTER

SYMPHONY BACK HOME, BUT SOME ISSUES REMAIN

After several months of traipsing around town to follow the Honolulu Symphony to less-hospitable venues, I was very disappointed about the return to the Neal Blaisdell Center.

The city has raised the parking fee and the auditorium was freezing. The thermostats, which are obviously set for a tropical outside ambiance are never reset to accommodate severe winds and chilling rain squalls and downpours. Management needs to exercise some discretion in conserving resources. Concertgoers should not have to resort to parkas and ski jackets or furs and opera gloves to be comfortable. Arghhh.

Also, after the last concert at Hawai'i Theatre, maestro Andreas Delfs announced that the symphony would go back to its "Conversations" before the concerts at 7:15 p.m. A goodly crowd of seniors was at the doors before the 7 p.m. opening, waiting to enjoy the "Conversations," when it was announced that the "Conversations" would not be held until after the concert.

The concerts don't usually end until 10:30 p.m. or later and that's already pretty late for attendees who need to commute home to Windward, Hawai'i Kai, Kapolei or Mililani. Arghhh.

A number of issues need to be addressed by the Honolulu Symphony to make its venue and offerings more user-friendly to increase subscriptions and participation.

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