CAR-POOLING

TWO OR MORE PERSONS IN ZIPPER LANE WORKS WELL

Before a decision is made on reverting the Zipper Lane policy to three passengers or more, the Department of Transportation should consider the overall benefit that has been seen since allowing vehicles with two or more persons to use the Zipper Lane: Traffic has been much smoother in the mornings, with fewer major tie-ups.

Traffic is really heavy only when school and UH is in session. Those who are complaining should also remember that they have the option of using any of the freeway lanes and are not commanded to use the Zipper Lane.

Traffic is getting worse, and each of us needs to be more considerate of the other person, whether it is driving with more courtesy or just remembering that not everyone's life can accommodate car-pooling.

ALL HOURS

LET'S CRACK DOWN ON HUMAN NOISE POLLUTION

We need to address human noise pollution: noisy dirt bikes/ATVs, modified motor scooters, booming music from drivers on public roads and in residential areas.

These people don't care about anyone but themselves. It would be nice to enjoy a quiet evening without irritating noise. This happens at all hours of the day and night.

The City & County should start enforcing the law in residential areas.

CRIME

THE HAWAI'I WE ONCE LOVED IS NOW GONE

I am a 26-year-old local girl born and raised here and a graduate of the Kamehameha Schools. Never did I think I would leave Hawai'i or be glad to be going.

I had always thought more people (locals, military and tourists alike) should immerse themselves in the Islands, whether it be culture, scenery or sport. My opinion, however, has changed. While visiting from Maine, my in-laws became the unfortunate victims of a common problem. While at the Pali lookout, our car was broken into and close to $1,000 worth of personal property was stolen.

To add insult to injury, while checking the mail with my two young children, my husband was approached and threatened by a neighborhood troublemaker for looking in his direction ... oooohh.

Not only is it too expensive to live here, but due to the attitude and conduct of a good portion of people, I have chosen not to.

I am very proud to be Hawaiian but want people to understand that there is a difference between Hawaiian and local. As proud as I may be, I would hate to be in the same category as drug addicts, thieves and troublemakers who have no respect for anything.

It's sad for me to think my children will never experience the Hawai'i we once knew and loved. With that said, I believe no one will. That Hawai'i is gone, that time has passed.

GOVERNOR

GEN. SHINSEKI WOULD BE PERFECT CANDIDATE

As the Democrats look for someone to stand up to Gov. Lingle in the 2006 election, it seems to me we have the perfect candidate in retired Army Gen. Eric Shinseki. This patriot is obviously qualified for this position.

His victory over a Republican governor would make the national news considering the history of how he was treated by the Republican administration in Washington, D.C.

Our senators and congressmen should do all they can to persuade the general to serve his country once more.

A&B PLAN

KAKA'AKO WATERFRONT SHOULD BE DEVELOPED

I read in the Nov. 5 Advertiser that the A&B Kaka'ako plan was opposed two to one by one group of people. This may be a majority of those present, but it is not necessarily representative of the general public.

Opposition seems to be from a small minority of people wanting to keep the area for their private use. Others have stated that we should develop more open space, without specifics on how to pay for the development and the upkeep.

I share the concern about selling state land, but selling the land for a specific regulated use that benefits residents makes sense.

Today Kaka'ako Waterfront Park is in fair condition, not very inviting, not heavily used. Frankly, I do not feel it's a safe place. The area needs to be developed to make it more inviting to a broader segment of residents.

Let's take action now to fulfill the vision of making Kaka'ako a place in which to learn, work, live and play.

DEVELOPMENT

SAVING KAMILO NUI VALLEY IS A TOP GOAL

Given the development climate of Hawai'i Kai, I commend the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board for taking proactive measures to preserve an important community resource and enhance the livability of East Honolulu.

At the Oct. 25 meeting, the board reiterated its support for the East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan, which includes maintaining the current urban growth boundary and agriculture lands of Kamilo Nui Valley.

The East Honolulu Sustainable Communities Plan explicitly states that future development is anticipated within the boundary only and not outside the urban growth boundary. The plan explicitly notes that Kamilo Nui Valley is a valuable and multifaceted resource, providing agriculture, watershed, open space and scenic vistas.

Over the past year, I have witnessed hundreds of East O'ahu residents, area legislators and the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board seamlessly unified on saving Kamilo Nui Valley from development and maintaining the urban growth boundary.

SAFE

DESALINATION COULD SOLVE WATER PROBLEM

Why does Hawai'i have a problem with insufficient water supply? Our Islands are surrounded by saltwater, and the rainfalls have been decently stable. Desalination is an expensive process of turning saltwater into drinking water, but with the potential water shortage Hawai'i has, I believe it would be worth the price.

The cost to desalinate ocean water used to be $1,000 per acre-foot of water; but with the technology we have, the cost has gone down to $650 per acre-foot. With new advancements in technology and having Hawai'i try to perfect this method of purifying saltwater, the cost will go down.

Is this process safe? Nature does this all the time. In nature, this basic process is responsible for the hydrologic cycle. The sun causes water to evaporate from surface sources such as lakes, oceans and streams. The water vapor eventually comes in contact with cooler air, where it recondenses to form dew or rain. This process can be imitated artificially, and more rapidly than in nature, using alternative sources of heating and cooling.

CONDOS

KAKA'AKO MAKAI MUST NOT BE OVERBUILT

Stop the monster that is about to developed in Kaka'ako Makai.

Since the 1970s, the state has been planning to redeveloped Kaka'ako Makai as a park with low-level commercial space. However, since September, the Hawai'i Community Development Authority has been entertaining a proposal from A&B to build a complex with 900 leasehold condominium units, adjacent businesses that will be 65-feet high and some green space.

The HCDA justifies the decision to build the complex because it meets its vision for Kaka'ako as "a place to live, work, learn and play." The intent of this vision is to develop a community where people can walk to work. There are already many high-rise units being built in Kaka'ako Mauka to meet this vision.

Consider this: All good cities have town squares. Develop Kaka'ako Makai as the central park of a town square. Build open-sided structures like precontact meeting houses not taller than a coconut tree where halau can practice and you can gather with your friends and family. Build a place for skateboarders.

The public is about to lose 30 acres of near-shore green space that would be a community asset for generations.

EXTRA KEY

THERE'S A BETTER WAY WITH UNATTENDED KIDS

We don't need to criminalize the leaving of a child in a car.

Just encourage a simple solution: have a spare car key made.

Then you can leave the engine running (so the child is air-conditioned), lock the car, do your errand, unlock the car with your spare key, and away you go.

No air-conditioning? This will still work for a short errand. Open the windows enough to let fresh air in, but not enough for thieves to reach in.

Either way, the child and the car are safe from theft while you do a brief errand.

GETTING THINGS DONE

SENIORS' 'LEGISLATURE' WILL OPEN

With the 2006 legislative session just around the corner, it's time to exercise our rights as citizens of a participatory democracy. For Hawai'i residents age 50 and older, an excellent way to do this is by taking part in and supporting the Silver Legislature, which convenes tomorrow at the state Capitol for the first time in 12 years.

For the Kokua Council and co-sponsors of the model legislature, including the Hawai'i Alliance of Retired Americans, HSTA Retirees, the Executive Office on Aging, the League of Women Voters and AARP Hawai'i, this much-anticipated event for senior citizens is both a cause for celebration and concern.

There's cause for concern because surveys indicate that nearly 50 percent of us don't bother to register to vote. Too often the reason given is that people feel powerless, don't understand the issues, or don't have even a basic grasp of the legislative process.

The Silver Legislature, a nonprofit and nonpartisan group, addresses these concerns by helping seniors overcome the obstacles that can limit our participation in the government decision-making process.

The objective of the model legislature is to familiarize participants with the workings of government and provide hands-on experience in drafting and introducing legislation, testifying at legislative hearings and building grass-roots support for issues of concern to our communities.

Earlier this year, a number of preliminary forums were held throughout the state to help seniors understand the steps in the legislative process. These forums will culminate in a three-day celebration of democracy beginning tomorrow, as 150 registered delegates gather at the state Capitol to take part in the Silver Legislature.

This is more than a basic lesson in civic involvement. In past years, participants in the Hawai'i Silver Legislature played a direct role in creating bills that were formally introduced at the Legislature and eventually passed into law. Examples include the removal of the excise tax on prescription drugs, home care tax credits and the lowering of automobile insurance rates.

The coming session offers an exciting opportunity to have a hand in addressing issues of concern not only to people 50 and older, but to our children and grandchildren as well. Long-term care, affordable housing, affordable healthcare and the rising price of prescription drugs are challenges that must be met sooner rather than later — especially as the percentage of seniors increases in relation to our population as a whole.

The Kokua Council and its partners look forward to empowering greater numbers of seniors and other concerned citizens to be effective advocates in shaping the future of our state. The time is now to help promote positive social change through active participation in the political process.