CREDIT FILES

STRONGER ID THEFT LAWS ARE CLEARLY NEEDED

Hawai'i recently enacted a law that allows only victims of identity theft to freeze their credit files.

This is like allowing people to install locks on their doors only after they have had a break-in.

Clearly, a stronger law is needed considering that Hawai'i ranks 6th in the nation in identity theft.

I cannot imagine any opposition to this since the choice to freeze your credit files would be completely optional.

There is no way that someone could fraudulently open new accounts with your stolen identity information if your credit file was locked. This would be a major pro-active measure to protect all of Hawai'i's consumers.

SAFETY

SOME PEDESTRIANS HAVE POOR TRAFFIC JUDGMENT

My heart goes out to all the families who have lost loved ones in recent pedestrian accidents.

I had to write and comment about what I witnessed recently while driving on Dillingham Boulevard from Chinatown.

I was shocked to see three people jaywalk or just bolt across Dillingham Boulevard nowhere near marked crosswalks.

I was not surprised the next day when I read in your paper that yet again more pedestrians had been hit.

I know some of the accidents are due to people driving too fast, yet obviously it appears that a great percentage are due to pedestrians not using their best judgment.

ALL SHOULD BE MORE CAUTIOUS ON ROADWAYS

Pedestrians vs. auto. That's what I hear when I'm at work as an ICU nurse at The Queen's Medical Center.

We all need to be more accountable for our actions, both drivers and pedestrians.

My father always goes for his daily two-hour walks all over his neighborhood. Never have I worried as much as I do now. I tell him to look both ways before crossing, be very cautious because there are crazy drivers out there, wear bright-colored clothes — the list goes on and on.

On a recent day, I drove around to run my usual errands by Ward and Punchbowl. Within two hours I had yielded to three jaywalkers.

As the driver, I drive defensively. You have to be aware of all your surroundings.

Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks, but still must be very cautious and make sure the driver sees and acknowledges them before continuing on.

It just seems everyone is in such a hurry today.

HPD OFFICERS SHOULDN'T BE TRAFFIC OFFENDERS

The Honolulu Police Department's continued effort to educate everyone about sharing the road is much needed.

We need to raise the safety consciousness of drivers and pedestrians if we're going to successfully reduce the dangers to pedestrians.

But I would also like to see HPD officers act as role models, and not just as educators and enforcers.

Twice in the past three weeks, I have observed HPD cruisers run red lights at crowded crosswalks without their lights or sirens on.

In one case, another pedestrian and I had to literally jump out of the crosswalk as the officer's car sped through a left turn to avoid waiting for the next green.

HPD's officers should practice what they preach. They are just as responsible for sharing the road as other drivers. And they should be role models, not offenders.

FREAR HALL PROJECT

UH REGENTS INSISTED ON TRANSPARENT PROCESS

Jim Dooley's article "UH got off lightly on dorm audit" (Feb. 14) attempts to leave the impression that the University of Hawai'i did not act properly in selecting the development team for the Frear Hall project. It is the wrong impression.

The university not only acted properly, but went beyond what is usually done to ensure that the competitive process was open and transparent.

The university was exempt from the state's procurement code when it solicited proposals for the Frear Hall project. Nevertheless, even though it was not required, the university used a competitive process that complied with spirit of the procurement code. An evaluation committee, from an initial group of 11 teams, chose the two highest-ranked teams who were thereafter asked to make final presentations.

To ensure that the two top-ranked teams were given a fair opportunity to make their case, the regents took the unusual step of having the final portion of the selection process done in a public meeting.

Indeed, the regents insisted that they be provided with all of the information of the final two development teams and considered not only the information provided by the evaluation committee, but reviewed and studied all the details of both proposals before voting to select the development team that would best serve the interests of the university.

Seldom are such selections made under such completely transparent and public circumstances, but the regents believed this decision warranted going above and beyond what is usually required.

CAR BREAK-IN

HPD PROFESSIONALISM, QUICK RESPONSE LAUDED

We have two daughters who are residents of O'ahu, and we have visited your beautiful island many times.

We had a devastating experience during our visit over New Year's. While visiting Sunset Beach, my wife's purse was stolen from our vehicle, and we figured there was little chance of recovery.

However, immediate action was taken as soon as we reported it to an officer. The thieves were caught in less than an hour. With the exception of a diamond engagement ring, all our possessions were returned to us.

We want to express our deep appreciation to the Honolulu Police Department, in particular the Wahiawa station personnel, for their top-notch effort. Their professionalism, kindness and emotional support was far beyond our expectations.

ELECTION 2008

OBAMA IS OF THE WORLD AND HE 'IS' AMERICA

Barack Obama is not only a good American; he "is" America.

He is Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. He is Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali. He is the first man on the moon. He is Tiger Woods and Cal Ripken Jr. He is Oprah and he is Bono.

Barack Obama is a leader who will lead us, and a politician who will not play party politics.

He is our local island boy, our Harvard man. He will be "our" Abraham Lincoln. He is of Africa, of Asia, of Europe. He is America.

RANDOM TESTING

THE COST IS HIGH WHEN TEACHERS USE DRUGS

The excuse that it is "too expensive to drug-test our teachers and staff" is a poor one.

It is more expensive to have children mentored by role models who use or promote the use of illicit drugs.

Police and firefighters are required to be randomly drug tested. They are public employees who need to be in their right state of mind to protect the public.

Teachers also have an important career: to mold, shape, prepare and educate our future.

Teachers need to be held to the same standard.

The cost of having an illicit drug user as a role model, and the cost of a poor education, surely outweigh the $85 price per drug test.

Having just one teacher under the influence of mind-altering substances while teaching our children is inexcusable.

O'AHU

ROOSTERS A NUISANCE IN MANY NEIGHBORHOODS

Janice Jones of Kapolei (Letters, Feb. 6) hit the rooster problem accurately.

Roosters are invading neighborhoods from Hawai'i Kai to Kapolei.

The Hawaiian Humane Society does absolutely nothing to help.

What is it going to take for our elected officials to see the problem? A bird flu epidemic?

ELECTIONS

VOTING BY MAIL IS A GREAT CONVENIENCE

Turnout for the last general election the lowest in Hawai'i's history? Voting by mail is a no-brainer.

My family has been voting by mail for the past decade, and what a convenience it has been for our 93-year old great-grandmother. The time and the precious gasoline saved nowadays is a blessing in disguise.

Set a deadline for candidates to file to run for an election, say two months prior. Ballots then would be mailed out to registered voters with reminders to mail back their ballots posted in the local media. The election process would begin and be completed by or around Election Day.

More importantly, to be allowed to register when applying for the mail ballot would also encourage eligible citizens to vote.

WAIPAHU INCIDENT

GOOD SAMARITANS SHOWED ALOHA SPIRIT

Mahalo to those who stopped to help an injured elderly man on busy Farrington Highway in Waipahu about 12:30 p.m. on Feb. 13.

One of the good Samaritans, without thought or hesitation, offered the T-shirt he was wearing to cover and compress the man's injury. Another man used his lavalava to provide shade for the injured man.

And another man used his shirt as a pillow to cushion the injured man's head.

These good Samaritans stayed until fire department and EMS personnel arrived.

These individuals are shining examples of the aloha spirit. Mahalo to you, and God bless you and your family.