MILITARY

SOMETHING WRONG WITH CAR REGISTRATION RULE

In November 2007, I purchased a vehicle from someone in the military. When I went to transfer the title, I found out that anyone in the military is exempt from paying car registration fees in Hawai'i. I had to pay the full registration, even though it expires in June 2008.

This is wrong. If the state is going to exempt the military from car registration fees, the state should pick up the tab, not the resident civilians of Hawai'i.

It's just another sly way the government is ripping off the people of Hawai'i.

POSITIVE STORY

KUDOS TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS OF NEW DOCTOR

Kudos to Dr. Cindy Ta's parents and teachers ("For family, another dream fulfilled," May 21).

Would a positive, inspirational article grace your front page on a daily basis? Hana hou?

DRIVER'S MANUAL

FAR LEFT LANE IS SET FOR PASSING ON HIGHWAY

C.K. Billington (Letters, May 5) explained how he tried to get his pregnant wife to the hospital in an emergency situation. Three vehicles driving at the same speed next to each other blocked him from passing them, despite sounding his horn and flashing his lights. He now "wholeheartedly agrees" that there should be a law against blocking the left lane on highways.

The current Hawai'i Driver's Manual (online) already identifies the far left lane on a multi-lane highway as the "passing lane." However, it does not explain that it means drivers should stay out of the left lane if you are not passing any cars in the immediate right lane, which is the "through" or "travel" lane. A diagram shows this on page 79.

Also, I suggest that if you see in your rearview mirror a car catching up to you or following closely regardless of your speed, move to the "through" or "travel" lane if it is practicable. It is the safe thing to do.

Of course, if an emergency vehicle is behind you in the passing lane, the proper thing to do is to move to the right so it can pass on your left.

ALA WAI

ELDERLY BICYCLIST WAS PUSHED OFF SIDEWALK

I would like to write this to the jogger who pushed my father-in-law off his bike on Mother's Day on the bridge near the Ala Wai Canal.

My father-in-law, who is almost 80, broke the law and rode his bike on the sidewalk for a few feet because there wasn't another place where he could travel safely. Yes, he could have walked his bike. Yes, he could have left his bike at home but didn't.

A lady jogging behind him yelled for him to get out of the way, and as she passed she pushed him over. Witnesses saw it, but walked on. No one wanted to get involved.

He bounced off a telephone pole and fell onto the street. As a result, he got a pretty bad cut and required stitches on his arm. The police were called, but because he broke the law by riding on the sidewalk, nothing could be done. She walked off.

I want to let the witnesses know they should put themselves in my position. Would you want me to keep walking if it was your family member?

I also want to let the lady who pushed him know how sorry I am for her. I am sorry you are so angry and bitter and took it out on a good man. I am sorry you felt it was OK to push an elderly man. I am sorry you don't seem to understand that when you do something to harm another, it comes back to you tenfold.

This is why I am not angry or bitter, I just feel very sorry for you.

MAHALO

CARRIERS' FOOD DRIVE A WONDERFUL KINDNESS

Thank you to the postal carriers. On May 10 as I was driving down my street, my heart was warmed by seeing blue bags filled with cans left out for the postal workers and their canned-food drive.

When everyone gives a little, we all benefit. A big thank you to the postal carriers for being our legs in this wonderful act of kindness.

KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WILL TRULY FULFILL VISION

I would just like to commend Kamehameha Schools for taking the initiative to truly fulfill Princess Pauahi's vision of educating all Native Hawaiian children.

This is a step in the right direction. Let us equip our children with the best education so that we may end this vicious cycle of being at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder.

Let's give them every opportunity to succeed.

MAKING AN IMPACT

ACTS OF KINDNESS MAY HAVE BRIGHTENED DAYS

Who and what is it that makes our world the way it is now? How can we as individuals make an impact on the way others live? As high school sophomores, this is a question that is often asked.

But what about the now? That's what we decided to explore with our project on Random Acts of Kindness. That is to say, what can one random act of kindness do to the life of another, and what can it do for the world?

We treated others to Monday morning coffee, filled an empty parking meter and dropped lucky pennies on the ground. We rode our bikes to school for a day, picked up trash and recycled cans that had been thrown away.

We don't really know the consequences of our actions, to be honest.

But it is possible that a small act of kindness brightened someone else's day — and what more can we ask for?