HOUSING

USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO HELP SENIORS WITH RENT

In "Emptying out the piggy bank: As rents go up, seniors struggle to make ends meet" (Sept. 11), we are informed that seniors want to "age in place," yet the only solution proposed to offset rent increases seems to be moving the elderly out and into senior housing with long wait-lists. This can cause some to become homeless.

Has anyone looked into the possibility of providing funds to assist them meet their rent increases and allow them to stay in their present homes?

If taxpayers are providing the senior housing, it might be more cost-effective to let our elder citizens remain where they are if they choose to do so.

ST. CLEMENT'S

PAVING WAS OVERDUE, PART OF BEAUTIFICATION

Jack Sidener's commentary on Sept. 11, "Our driving disorder in need of a remedy," provides one more "opportunity" for getting the facts straight. If Mr. Sidener had bothered to visit St. Clement's in Makiki and talk with us, he would have learned that "the whole front yard" of St. Clement's has not been paved.

What has been paved is the mudlot/dustbowl that had been in existence for years — a mudlot/dustbowl full of potholes and big rocks, and dangerous to both children and adults. The colored aggregate concrete was chosen specifically so it wouldn't have the appearance of stark, white concrete and would be a safe surface on which to walk.

What has been paved is the asphalt that was cracking and heaving from the roots of the very old monkeypod and keawe trees on the campus. We did some necessary pruning of these trees to encourage their continued health, and increased the variety of plants around their base. We have put indigenous plants in areas that had previously been used for parking; we have replaced the chain fence with palm trees and other bushy flora; and we have put sod where there once was patchy crabgrass.

The big circle in the aggregate concrete is part of the preparation necessary for a spiritual labyrinth that will be installed later this winter. As these new plants flourish under the care of the landscape architects who oversaw this project, we will see a beautifully lush area that will contribute to the revitalization of the Makiki neighborhood.

PRICE HIKE

HOW WAS COSTLY GAS SWITCHED OVERNIGHT?

This seems too good to be true. How is the gas we buy today different from the gas we bought last week? In that time frame, gas delivered at one price has changed overnight. Did expensive gas get substituted for what was in the tank overnight?

Product brought into the refineries gets paid for. What I don't get is when is it paid for? You can't refine it before you get it. Do you receive it now and pay for it later when the price goes up? Might explain why the prices have behaved the way they have. Or is someone making an unfair profit out of this mess?

I have got to learn how it's done. I'd like to make money like that.

SUBSIDIES

YES, KEEP GOVERNMENT HANDS OFF OIL MARKET

The Sept. 12 column by Cliff Slater omits some very important facts.

Slater believes that (1) the market will always set the "right" price and (2) a gas cap is not the way to allocate gasoline.

What he forgets to mention is that (1) the government subsidizes the oil industry by $4 billion a year (2005 energy bill), (2) the oil industry doesn't have to pay for the soldiers and overseas military bases that protect American corporate interests (we, the taxpayers, do that) and (3) the oil industry socializes the cost of our addiction to gasoline (i.e., we pay for global warming's vast consequences).

So when Slater says keep government's hands off the oil market, I agree with him. Stop subsidizing the oil companies with our taxes.

ALA MOANA

BEWARE CONDOS BEING BUILT BY THE SHORELINE

The Hawai'i Community Development Authority (regarding developers) knows very well of the principle "Beware of the camel that pokes his nose in your tent, for he intends to take over your entire tent."

But how are you going to explain to your grandchildren just how the Ala Moana Beach Park Ocean View Gated Condos were built? Can't you just see the entire Ala Moana Beach area (once a public beach park) covered with high-end condos?

And few local people will be able to afford to live in them. And how do the common folk get to the beach? Why, by boat of course, as you are still allowed to be on the beach up to the high-tide mark. Do you think "they" will allow a beach access path? Ask the camel!

NO TO AKAKA

APOLOGY RESOLUTION DIDN'T STATE THE TRUTH

Perhaps I'm oversimplifying the situation, but Sen. Morgan's Committee Report of 1894 indicates that without a doubt, the United States government had no hand in the overthrow of the queen. Sens. Inouye and Akaka rely on Congressman Blount's report of 1893, which had no objectivity, just opinion and a great deal of misinformation.

The Apology Resolution of 1993 would not have existed if the senators did their duty as senators to find the truth. Now we seem to have a bunch of blithering egotists who believe they know everything there is to know about the facts of 1893 and the Hawai'i politics leading to the present day.

Some senators woke up, according to a newspaper article, and realized how they had been duped by Sens. Inouye and Akaka, who pushed the Apology Resolution through with some rationale that the resolution is simply an apology and nothing more. If those senators had initially read the resolution and checked the facts, they would not have been left upstream without a paddle. There is some hope for the United States when senators begin to understand how they have been duped.

If this bill passes, it will be a great catastrophe for the state of Hawai'i and the United States of America. Every senator who votes for this should get on his knees and ask forgiveness.

I can find no words to describe the horrible future if this atrocity passes.

FISH FEEDING

KUDOS TO ATLANTIS FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING

As a frequent snorkeler on the reef fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village, I have noticed increasing numbers of nenue, or rudderfish. In areas where reef fish are fed by visitors, this species becomes dominant, as it has in Hanauma Bay. As visitors waited for the Atlantis shuttle vessel to ferry them to the submarine tour off Waikiki, they were feeding fish from the 'ewa side of the pier, slowly affecting the reef ecosystem.

I wrote to Atlantis Adventures to complain, and was amazed to be called by Ron Williams, the company president. After a brief discussion, he agreed that fish feeding could impact the fish population and promised to talk to his staff.

Imagine my surprise the next day to see that the fish food box was gone. A corporation with a conscience is notable. Thanks, Atlantis, for doing the right thing.

Aging U.S.

PROGRAMS FOR ELDERLY NOW MORE IMPORTANT

Catherine Toth's excellent series on "The Changing Face of 50" (Aug. 21-23) is must reading for everyone who cares about the future of our community and our country. We need to better understand the many ways in which aging is being redefined by the more than 76 million people aged 50 and older in America today.

This is especially true in Hawai'i, where many people are living active and satisfying lives well into their 80s and beyond. Indeed, people 82 years of age and older are the fastest-growing segment of our population.

As we adjust ourselves to the new realities of aging in the 21st century, it's more important than ever to strengthen programs that are vital to the health of older Americans. That's why AARP Hawai'i is an ardent supporter of Social Security and Medicare, both of which are celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2005.

Hawai'i's 184,000 Medicare beneficiaries should be aware of the new voluntary prescription drug coverage that is scheduled to take effect at the beginning of next year. This is especially good news for people on fixed incomes. To find out if you're eligible for extra help with your prescription drug costs, you need to sign up during the enrollment period from Nov. 15, 2005 to May 15, 2006.

Again, thanks for the fine report on aging, and for reminding us of the close connection between good health and longevity.

FREE RIDE

BE A 'SLUG' AND UNSNARL TRAFFIC

While getting my toes done recently, I struck up a conversation with the woman next to me, who turned out to be a Navy captain — you go, girl! I lamented about Honolulu's growing traffic problems. She recently transferred from the Washington, D.C., area and told me how many, including herself, solved their commuting problems. Two or three days a week, she would be a driver and the other days she would be a "slug."

For the past 25 years, in the Northern Virginia area, thousands of daily commuters have been snatching bodies from bus stops or park-and-ride lots in order to drive in the HOV lanes into Washington. The HOV lanes require three people in a vehicle, and driving in the HOV lane can mean the difference between a half-hour commute and a two-hour commute.

The riders are called "slugs," and the drivers are "drivers" unless they are trying to steal slugs out of turn, then they are "body snatchers." This casual car-pooling system has its own rules and etiquette and, according to participants, the system works quite well.

The driver determines which radio station will play and where the temperature will be set. The slug is expected to ride without conversation and does not pay money or offer gifts. Many slugs get to sleep or catch up on reading the news. There is no expectation or anticipation of any friendship to be formed. This is solely about getting into the HOV lane. Drivers get to work faster and slugs get to work for free.

Lines of slugs form at the specified starting points. The first slug in line tells the one behind what the destination for that line will be. Slugs pass along the information and form new lines for different destinations. Once the driver or body snatcher has delivered you to the stated destination, which may be a bus stop at the Pentagon or on a corner adjacent to a federal office building in the heart of D.C., you are on your way. At the end of the day, the slug lines form again and the drivers and body snatchers begin picking up slugs for the commute home.

There is no discrimination — men and women drive and slug equally. The concept is growing, and slug lines are forming in traffic-congested cities across the U.S.

There are Web sites about slugging and where to pick up

a slug or a ride. Check out www.slug-lines.com, among others.

Our military and federal government worker community in Hawai'i is large and many have been slugs in the past. What do you think? Will it work here? Can we be slugs, too?