TRANSIT

WE WON'T NEED RAIL BY TIME IT IS COMPLETED

The light-rail system will work only if your neighbors use it. (Admit that you will still use your car!)

Our taxes are already high. You and your children cannot afford the $3 billion, plus overruns, that it will cost. What makes us imagine we can afford to maintain light rail? We do not adequately pay our teachers and police officers. Our streets, sewers and schools are in disrepair.

The rail system is expected to be completed in 10 years. By then, Kapolei will be diverse and independent. Commuting to town for school and work will be obsolete. We won't need light rail when it's ready.

Let us focus on things that will work: flexible bus transit, staggered school and work schedules and moving educational, business, government and recreational facilities to the Leeward side as soon as possible.

THESE NUMBERS JUST DON'T QUITE ADD UP

Sixty thousand new homes. Zero new parks. Zero new roads. Zero new sources of water. Zero new sources of energy. Zero new sewage treatment plants. Zero new schools. Zero new fire stations. Zero new police stations. Zero new hospitals.

One train.

Somehow the numbers don't add up.

HOT LANES MAKE MORE SENSE IN MANY WAYS

HOT lanes are a better choice than trains.

Cost: Three elevated reversible HOT lanes would cost $1 billion, rail would cost $3 billion. We could use the extra $2 billion to buy a fleet of mini-buses and also fix traffic congestion in Kona and Maui!

Convenience: HOT lanes get you door-to-door in your car faster. Trains are slower than HOT lanes because they stop. Trains don't go door-to door and require you to carry all your baggage with you.

Flexibility: HOT lanes are reversible, so they alleviate traffic during rush hour in both directions. Trains are not reversible — they may be full going one way, but empty on the return trip. HOT lanes allow all types of vehicles, such as ambulances, fire engines, police cars, construction trucks. Rail is limited to trains only.

Security: In case of emergencies like a tsunami or terrorist attack, HOT lanes would allow fire, police, medical and military vehicles. Rail would not.

Reliability: HOT lanes are made from concrete, with no moving parts. Trains will break down. Then what? Please stop this train!

TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK

ARROYO VISIT WAS TOO DISRUPTIVE FOR DRIVERS

Once again, the taxpayers suffered gridlock, this time because of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's travel to assorted functions.

Considering all the police and security used along the travel routes, perhaps a study could be made considering the use of helicopters to achieve the president's itinerary.

Some of us have better things to do with our weekend time.

TRANSPORTATION

RIDER OFFERS RULES FOR ETIQUETTE ON THEBUS

It's time again for a reminder when using TheBus.

Keep the area between fender wells clear so that seniors and disabled passengers have safe access to handrails on both sides.

Front rows are for the elderly. Move to the rear for seating and standing room. Keep the rear exit door clear so passengers can pass safely and smoothly.

Seats are for passengers. Bags should be on laps and feet on the floor, not seats.

Take a little time and put rubbish in trash bins at bus stops. Food and beverages will bring roaches.

TOURISM

HOTEL WORKERS DESERVE TO GET FAIR CONTRACTS

Over the last several months, I have heard and read local news stories that herald steady hotel occupancy rates, rising room rates and record-high hotel revenues.

It's shameful that the large hotel corporations, many of which reap their highest profits in Hawai'i nei, cannot negotiate fair contracts with their lowest-paid workers.

Share the wealth, guys!

OIL INDUSTRY

RECENT GASOLINE PRICES SHOW VALUE OF CAP

Do you remember all the lamentations from the governor about how the gas cap was causing gas prices to rise? Well, the governor finally got her way, and the gas cap was rescinded. Let's examine the evidence of how gas prices have been affected.

While national average prices dropped 53 cents between Aug. 3 and Sept. 17 (from $3.01 to $2.48), the average price in Honolulu dropped 14 cents (from $3.23 to $3.09). On Aug. 3, the average price in Honolulu was 22 cents higher than the national average; on Sept. 17, it was 61 cents higher.

Do you think that is a coincidence? Or is it possible that our politicians who were squawking the loudest about the negative effect of the gas cap are perhaps in the pockets of the oil companies?

Does anyone still believe that if the gas cap were still in place Honolulu prices would not have dropped more than 14 cents when the national average fell by 53 cents? If so, I have real estate in Antarctica I'd like to sell you.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

MYRIAD REASONS FOR FALLING TEST SCORES

This letter is in response to John Kawamoto's question about causes for the falling test scores for the SAT and other national tests (Letters, Sept. 5).

As a painter who has worked in many of Hawai'i's schools, I have seen firsthand why the school system is so dismal.

The state has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to figure out what's wrong and how to fix it. I will tell you for free:

No dress code. Damaged and substandard school buildings. Outdated electrical systems in school buildings. Not enough computers. Too much pidgin spoken between students and teachers. Too many soda machines. Not enough homework. School day too short. No discipline in classroom. Disgusting bathrooms with no towels or doors on toilets, holes in the walls and graffiti. No school supplies. Too many unqualified teachers. Too many days off from school. Outdated, torn and graffiti-filled schoolbooks. Not enough schoolbooks. Outdated learning systems. Dysfunctional legislators who are making decisions about education. Too many narrow-minded people in the DOE who cannot grasp new ideas and don't see the root causes for the dismal educational system that they run.

WAI'ANAE

HOMELESS ON BEACHES ARE NEWS ON MAINLAND

We are visiting our son and daughter in Omaha, Neb., and have been deluged with negative news out of Hawai'i about homeless people on the Wai'anae Coast.

We have told people about that beautiful part of the island. Now, there are reports in the local paper of all the homeless and littering of the beautiful beaches.

I hope city officials address this issue promptly. This gives a black eye to the beautiful Islands.

MILITARY

TROOPS THANKED FOR THEIR SERVICE OVERSEAS

I had a similar experience to Don McDiarmid Jr. (Letters, "Passengers shared joy of returning Marines").

Last Christmas, I was at the Atlanta airport returning to Hawai'i. I was in the military's USO center when I heard loud applause in a large gathering area of the terminal below. About 40 soldiers in desert uniforms and combat gear humbly and solemnly walked toward their departure gate. Scores of people clapped, cheered and offered support to these proud warriors, who were heading off to fight in a foreign land. Many onlookers shouted words of praise and encouragement as these defenders continued on. It was a truly moving experience!

To all U.S. soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors, Coast Guard, reserve and their families, thank you for the job that you continue to do amazingly well!

GOLF

WIES SHOULDN'T LISTEN TO MICHELLE'S CRITICS

I'm tired of listening to critics who say that Michelle Wie needs to win and she shouldn't play with the men!

In our society, we teach our children that winning isn't everything. Still, we have responsible adults saying that she has to win.

Why should she play only on the women's tour? Just to satisfy the critics?

I run a children's band, and our goal is to entertain and make people happy. Michelle makes millions of people happy.

Some people make a big fuss over the $10 million she's made. I've seen her play, and I've seen the effect she has on people, golfers and nongolfers. Believe me, she's worth $100 million.

Mom and Pops Wie, you're doing a great job. Please don't listen to those critics! Michelle, you go, girl!

MICHELLE WIE DOES NOT BELONG IN MEN'S EVENTS

After having woken up two days in a row at 3:30 a.m. to watch the Omega European Masters, I was left with one thought: Why would a 16-year-old girl be competing against 150 men in a golf tournament in Switzerland?

Playing in the final group on Sunday in a woman's tournament has to be better than missing the cut (again) in a men's event.

Move over, Michelle — kudos to Casey Watabu, Dean Wilson, Scott Simpson and Kimberly Kim. They won events in this summer's schedule. They also played where they belonged.

JAPANESE CHAMBER

HONOLULU GROUP DIDN'T ENDORSE REP. CASE

I am writing in response to the Election Update printed in The Advertiser on Sept. 10. It stated that "U.S. Rep. Ed Case announced that he has been endorsed by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai'i."

Since this printing, the Ho-nolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce has received numerous inquiries about Mr. Case's announcement. To clarify this matter, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce is a separate and independent organization, which is governed by its own bylaws and follows independent policies on candidate endorsement. We do not endorse candidates, and have not endorsed Mr. Case.

The Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Hawai'i is on the island of Hawai'i, and represents its own members on the Big Island.

BOE

ELECTORATE DESERVES ANSWERS ON SHON FIRING

It is unbelievable how the Board of Education handled the termination of Jim Shon's contract. It kept its actions and decisions — arrived at in a closed-door session — secret, and refused to divulge how each member voted.

Secret votes do not sit well with the electorate. The public has a right to know how the boardmember, as elected officials vote on such important issues.

Of the 14 members who sit on the board, it is my understanding that only one member voted against not renewing Mr. Shon's contract for another term. The public deserves answers regarding this and other decisions affecting so many people. It is obvious that other motives are behind this decision. Mr. Shon has been an effective advocate for charter schools in Hawai'i and was admired by his colleagues, the students and parents he served.

The board needs to be held accountable for its decisions and make those known publicly.

Hawai'i's charter schools are striving for autonomy. They will never receive it or the stability of the system if the board is allowed to act behind closed doors.