Letters: Install the water system for the Waikiki surfboard rack; Ask Elon Musk to turn the guideway into a roadway; The railway line should run between the campuses of the UH

Install the water system for the Waikiki surfboard rack

Waikiki’s second surfboard rack arson could have been avoided so easily (“Kalakaua reopens in Waikiki after surf racks burned down for the second time in less than 2 years,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, October 17).

In those days of public malfeasance on beaches, this second fire could have been avoided with a simple fire-fighting water spray system that would go off with any heat, smoke or flame, much like many systems. commercial buildings and apartments.

We have a small, deadly group of people going to public beaches like Keawa’ula (Yokohama Bay) State Beach, Makua State Beach and even Kawakiu Beach in Molokai, destroying, destroying and engaging in illegal activities, causing devastating closures of public beaches.

Given this current situation, at least the Waikiki surfboard racks can be proactively protected. We only wish that law enforcement on all public beaches could be strengthened to reduce malicious damage to our island’s ocean treasures.

John and Rita Shockley

Open Access Coalition

Grow up and roll up your sleeves for the vaccine

During a deadly pandemic where most police, firefighters, teachers and medical workers saw fit to be vaccinated, a minority refused to do so and their unions took a stand against vaccination mandates. Union leaders say they recommend vaccination, but it should be a “choice”.

For a public servant, refusing the vaccination is no more acceptable choice than driving while intoxicated. These officials show their ignorance and arrogance not only for their own lives and that of their families, but also a complete disrespect for the public they have sworn to serve and protect.

Local governments, schools and hospitals have given them leeway by allowing testing in place of vaccination, even though vaccination is the most important weapon in the fight against the pandemic. There are no religions that actually prohibit vaccination, and valid medical reasons for not getting vaccinated are extremely rare.

We cannot afford to let the people who should be leading the way be the problem instead of the solution. These refusniks need to grow up and roll up their sleeves or be fired.

Donald Rostow, MD

Hawaii Kai

Don’t let acts of hate rob you of your rights

Every day we read about someone doing or saying something, and someone else decides it was wrong and then starts a hate campaign.

People are hassled by neighbors and outright strangers to disagree with someone. Women are stigmatized and rejected because they are not June Cleaver. Families are forced to leave their homes, schools, cities, or even change states because someone said they said something about someone else.

Phone calls, sideways glances, and outright belligerent acts seem to be the norm today. Politics, religion and even medical preferences are now grounds for harassment, embarrassment and even dismissal. And the people behind it are proud of them. Then they blame the other guy for “making” them destroy him.

They cannot accept responsibility for what they have done. It’s about time we found out if they can take what they’re up to. It is high time to make them follow their own rules. Call their hypocrisy. Demand that you have the same rights they seem to demand.

James pritchett

Moiliili

Atlanta Braves Must Get Rid of ‘Tomahawk Chop’

Now is the time for the Major League Baseball playoffs. I love it, but the Atlanta Braves baseball fans’ “tomahawk chop” and the old Hollywood western buzz that goes with it is offensive and must go.

There’s even a tomahawk light show in town, but the natives of America weren’t clubbed savages. The current mayor of Atlanta should know. The true history of the indigenous peoples of America (including Native Hawaiians), as well as the brutal history of slavery and institutional racism in America, must be taught at all levels in schools if we are to end racial and economic inequalities.

Raymond Catania

Lihue

Ask Elon Musk to turn the guideway into a roadway

When city leaders signed a financing agreement for the rail transit project in 2009, the cost of rail transportation was estimated to be some $ 5.12 billion. Currently, it is expected to cost up to $ 12.4 billion and face a shortfall of around $ 3.6 billion, according to recent estimates from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation.

The railway project, which began construction on February 22, 2011, is now years behind schedule and is experiencing problems with the cars, their wheels and their tracks.

Is there no end to this disaster? Recently, some have suggested that it simply be turned into an elevated causeway.

How about that for a solution? Mayor Rick Blangiardi can hand the project over to Elon Musk, whose company can tear up the rail and run electric buses on the elevated guideway.

It would mean relief from this disastrous and costly project. Just give him the whole project and wash our hands.

Cotton Chuck

Kailua

The railway should run between the campuses of the UH

David Shapiro is up to date with the current state of the rail again (“Honolulu taxpayers face a big blow to Kakaako rail easements,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, October 17).

I was a strong supporter of the project many moons ago because I had lived in places with a strong public transportation system. However, the lack of financial accountability, the incompetence of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and the continued mess of the project are shameful and require new decisions to get back on track.

Let’s get off the rail on Beretania Street and connect the University of Hawaii-West Oahu and UH-Manoa.

Angelique Kealani Siga Solomon

McCully

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