OPEN SPACE

KAKA'AKO WATERFRONT MUST BE PRESERVED

I am one of the people who objected online to the A&B proposal for the Kaka'ako waterfront. This land presents the final opportunity for our government to preserve and develop open oceanfront space strictly for public use in Honolulu.

Think "Central Park" — or even just Kapi'olani Park. Our grandchildren, great-grandchildren and generations beyond would enjoy the beauty of our island shore without the commercialism of a development. With thought and dedication, it could be a world-class park, second to none in beauty. And it would be a testament to what hopefully is our community and governmental reverence for our island's amazing and unique natural environment and culture.

We have so many places to shop and condominiums rising as far as the eye can see. Why would we want to ruin the last possible open oceanfront space?

KAKA'AKO

FOES OF DEVELOPMENT MORE THAN A&B SAYS

With all the hubris over the plans for Kaka'ako's oceanfront development, why not offer equal footing and publish the Friends of Kewalo Basin Park Association Web site (www.ke walo.org) so readers can see why this group is opposed to the development of the waterfront.

A&B seems to skew the numbers to its convenience. Only recently it stated there were a handful of people who objected to the development. There have been more letters to The Advertiser, not to mention the 150 protesting recently, than A&B would admit to being against the development.

KRAUSS COLUMN

WHISTLEBLOWER LEFT OUT

The information finally brought forth in Bob Krauss' Nov. 8 column, "H-3 sites yield clues of early Islanders," is appreciated. I must take issue, however, when he states, "Some (archaeologists) quit because of controversy." If you devote an entire section to why the reports were delayed, you should at least mention anthropologist Barry Nakamura and the whistleblower crusade he waged against Bishop Museum. Anything less doesn't do justice to the truth.

SOLUTIONS

PLANNING A SUCCESSFUL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

As the consultant contracted to conduct the Honolulu High-Capacity Transit Alternatives Analysis/Draft EIS, we thank Cliff Slater for recognizing Parsons Brinckerhoff's experience and expertise in transportation infrastructure systems. The expertise includes bus, light rail and rapid rail transit, HOV and managed lanes (including reversible, High Occupancy Toll, and similar systems where lane operations are actively manage), highways and bridges, etc.

Where he errs — and misleads the public — is his single-minded opposition to rail. If he were truly interested in improving mobility for the people of O'ahu, he would be promoting a comprehensive transportation approach with both rail transit and increased roadway capacity.

The Kapolei-to-Manoa corridor is now heavily congested in both directions for many hours of the day. Major investments in transit and in traffic lanes will be needed to serve future population growth.

Slater cites I-15 HOT lanes regularly but fails to mention that San Diego continues to extend its light rail transit system throughout the county, in addition to over 80 miles of commuter rail that connect Oceanside and San Diego. A well-planned and -operated transit system is one piece of a successful transportation system.

We pride ourselves on being independent and objective. A manufactured set of numbers will not pass muster at Parsons Brinckerhoff, with the City and County of Honolulu, with the citizens of O'ahu, or at the Federal Transit Administration, where the competition for the limited funds is fiercer than ever before.

ANTI-WAR VIEWS

'SUPPORT FOR TROOPS' A PROTEST IN DISGUISE

Regarding Medea Benjamin's Nov. 9 letter: She shouldn't use "support for the troops" to cleverly disguise her anti-war viewpoints. Her letter reads like a talking-points bulletin from Michael Moore.

In a few short paragraphs, she manages to cloud the issue of the war in Iraq with so much blather that the truth is forgotten. Lies? Inadequate body armor? Pretending our war dead don't exist? Insinuating the war is merely a pretense for more oil?

War is a serious subject; she insults us all by treating the topic with such blatantly partisan accusations.

What happens to Iraq if we pull out now? And what happens to American security if our mission in Iraq fails? Until then, I'm sure the troops can do without Benjamin's kind of "support."

READING

IT'S THE PARENTS WHO SHOULD HOOK THE KIDS

I was struck by Sylvia Mitchell's Nov. 4 letter ("Help libraries get our keiki hooked on books") and could not help but respond. I hope this letter is taken in the spirit it is intended, which is with much thanks and respect to our teachers and librarians who do wonderful things for our children. But in my humble opinion, it is not Ms. Mitchell's responsibility to "get our keiki hooked on books." They should arrive at the library door already loving and appreciating what good children's literature has to offer.

Parents should be reading to their children from the age of 1 on. Fifteen minutes of your time, sitting quietly, no TV, no radio, no distractions, per day will create a love of reading that lasts a lifetime. As time goes on, the children will start reading along with you and eventually to you. There is no greater gift you can give to your child. Fifteen minutes, folks. We can do that, can't we?

Parents need to relieve our teachers and librarians of some the burdens we have mistakenly placed upon them. If you are expecting the educators and librarians in your community to hook your kids on books for you, you have missed the boat.

NEW BINS

SO EXACTLY HOW MUCH GREEN WASTE IS OK?

In response to Bill Brennan's Nov. 6 letter: Is that a magic bin that will take all of my green waste on that pickup date? Or are they going to set a limit that the homeowner can only have one bin of green waste per pickup?

Didn't they have problems with solid waste also getting mixed in with the greens?

Are the planners looking into potential problems, or are they going to say that it will take more money to stop the project than it will to continue with something that doesn't work?

Government agencies should explain themselves more openly.

SAFETY

UNATTENDED-CHILD LAW WOULD BE GOOD THING

Regarding a Nov. 8 letter about "running errands and leaving kids in cars": First, anyone who would leave children unattended in a car or anywhere else should be held accountable for his action. I should know because I am one of those people. Sometimes.

We are so preoccupied with our daily activities and multiple errands that we tend to forget about the safety of our children, even if it's only for a minute or two. Maybe having this law put into place is a good idea, and hopefully people will think twice about leaving their children unattended.