TIMING SYSTEM

KUDOS TO MARATHON FOR ITS DISPLAY OF INTEGRITY

Ever run a marathon? It's not easy. Ever taken public responsibility for a mistake? Even harder.

I'd like to give my own finisher's medal to Jim Barahal for doing the unthinkable and not passing the buck. His "mistake" of making a careful and rational decision to use tested, cheaper technology to make an already great race even better would never have even come up on anyone's radar if it hadn't been for the bad luck of torrential rain shorting the timing system.

OK, the race organizers should have weatherproofed the system better. And anyone trying to qualify for Boston who may have missed getting an official time is bound to be irritated at this snafu.

But the display of integrity and willingness to do everything it takes to make things right on the part of the Honolulu Marathon Association warms my heart almost as much as the event itself.

This year's race marked the fourth time I've run the Honolulu Marathon. Every year it is impeccably organized, and the outpouring of support from local volunteers never fails to amaze and inspire me. To let this one honest mistake tarnish a race with such a wonderful record of aloha would be a real pity.

Next December, I'll be lining up at the start with whatever timing system Jim Barahal decides would be best—even if it's the same one he chose this year.

Thank you to the Honolulu Marathon Association, and all the volunteers I couldn't thank as I staggered through the aid stations!

RUNNER LEFT WITH BAD TASTE AFTER GLITCHES

This was the sixth year I've run the Honolulu Marathon, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.

After braving a two-hour line to pick up my finisher's certificate, I was told they didn't have one for me, that there was some problem with the timing chip.

I was directed to a second long line of finishers waiting for the "trouble desk." I decided not to waste another couple of hours.

Considering the increase in entry fees this year (to $125 for early registration), it is unconscionable that the organization was unable to provide all finishers with a correct finish time; that is the basic requirement incumbent on race management.

Over the years, the absolute lock that Nike has on the Honolulu Marathon Expo rankled as well, but it was something that was easier to overlook when the race was otherwise well managed.

Big Sur and other major marathons have expos that display the wares of numerous running shoe and apparel manufacturers, not just those of the major sponsor.

This year, after failing to get my finisher's certificate, it was particularly annoying to pass the Nike tent and see the thousands of dollars being spent by runners—many of whom didn't get what they had already paid for.

SUGAR BOWL

UH FANS' CRITICISM OF FRAZIER IS UNWARRANTED

I am not one to voice my opinions publicly, however I'm really tired of people who call themselves fans pounding on Herman Frazier over the Sugar Bowl tickets.

I think that Hawai'i has the poorest fans. They are not team supporters, only team followers. They're only fans when Hawai'i is a winner. Where was the support over the past years?

The last two games at Aloha Stadium were sellouts, however none of the previous games this year was even close.

Coming into the season, everyone knew Hawai'i had a great team, yet where were the sellouts at the beginning of the season?

If I was Herman Frazier, I would probably have done the same thing. What would the "fans" have said if the University of Hawai'i had to buy thousands of unsold tickets? The only criticism that I would have is they should have limited the number of tickets each person could buy.

Give the man a break. I definitely wouldn't want his job. If the "fans" want to prove me wrong, let's see them sell out all of next season.

UH SHOULD HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH FIRST

Isn't the Sugar Bowl traditionally sold out? And didn't I read that Georgia sold all of its 17,500 tickets in one or two days? Then why did Herman Frazier cave in to the bowl committee's pressure to give up 4,000 tickets like a novice car buyer at a used car lot? (A good general rule: In used car lots, bowl games and almost any other situation where money is involved — when someone pressures you to make a decision right now, it's usually to someone else's advantage — not yours.)

With the distinct possibility of UH's appearance in a bowl game the week before they beat Washington (thus securing a bowl bid), Frazier should have had the foresight to check out how fast tickets have previously sold at the bowl games UH might be invited to attend.

Armed with that information and/or the general rule above, he would have been ready when the Sugar Bowl people called with their pressure tactics. He could have insisted on at least three or four days to place radio, TV and print ads warning everyone to purchase tickets by a certain date or the university would turn them back to the bowl committee.

Even without knowing the history of bowl ticket sales, he should have asked for at least a day or two to respond to their request, done the research and then made the decision of what to do.

If you consider not caving in to the bowl committee's pressure a risk, then consider that the bet was covered when the university rented the lower campus to Toyota recently for exactly the same price as 4,000 Sugar Bowl tickets —$500,000.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURES

INFRASTRUCTURE A MESS, WHERE IS MONEY GOING?

I opened my morning paper on Dec. 11 only to find a plethora of things going wrong in Hawai'i.

I have been here for three years, and I have to say that I have never been in a place that has had so many things go wrong. There was a water main break snarling traffic on the West side, the city is fighting to implement sewage treatment regulations it has been exempt from for 25 years, the Honolulu Marathon was poorly managed, and homesteaders are getting ripped off.

I would not be so ashamed of Honolulu or Hawai'i if it wasn't for the budget surplus and the taxes we all pay.

Where does this money go? Clearly it is not going toward roads, infrastructure, public transportation, education or basic services. It makes one wonder who gets this money and how they use it. The public sees little of this money in use, especially when we all wait in traffic due to crumbling infrastructure.

TRANSIT

COUNCIL, PUBLIC INPUT KEY IN TRANSIT PROJECT

I would like to respond to your Dec. 12 article on the proposed expert panel for the city's mass transit system.

First, Mayor Mufi Hannemann characterized the agreement for the transit route along Salt Lake Boulevard as "shaky." To clarify, the mayor offered Salt Lake Boulevard to the community if I would vote for the minimum operable segment (MOS) from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center via Salt Lake. He sealed the agreement with handshakes.

Furthermore, the community reluctantly agreed to defer the widening of Salt Lake Boulevard and the $30 million appropriated for the project with the understanding that the widening of Salt Lake Boulevard would be done concurrently with the transit line. The community views the mayor's offer and the delay of the widening of Salt Lake Boulevard as his firm, unchanging commitment.

I welcome this panel and support having it make a recommendation to the City Council since Bill 79 reserves the right of the council to make the final decision. Resolution 07-376 changes this process and gives this right to a panel of experts.

If this happens, the council will be boxed in and will find it difficult to not fund the technology regardless of the cost, because we shirked our responsibility by allowing this panel to make the final decision.

Also, since taxpayers will pay for this massive, multi-billion-dollar project, we should allow them to provide their input at a public hearing. This should not be too much to ask of the administration.

OIL

GOVERNMENT MUST ADDRESS ENERGY ISSUES

Growing demand for petroleum has begun to exceed supply and reserves of cheap conventional oil.

With the rising price of crude, a shift has happened that makes previously uneconomical sources such as tar sands take up the slack in supply. That is good for now. But wait a bit for the high cost of liquid fuels to work through the economy. Inflation will drive up costs of a myriad of items our society expects, depends upon, needs and wants.

The energy content of everything from a loaf of bread, milk, fish and meat is hidden. More obvious costs subject to increases are electricity and the transport system, including trucks, automobiles, airlines, tractors.

Our presidential candidates mouth various alternatives for liquid fuels and electricity without objective assessment of the environmental risks, unintended consequences, costs, and the time required to develop and disseminate technologies.

High on some candidates' lists is nuclear — but what is the total availability of uranium and how will spent fuel be disposed of? Another popular alternative to petroleum is synthetic oil made from coal (so called "clean coal") — but what is the cost and environmental risk of CO2 sequestering? Let's hope — no insist — that our government honestly answer these and other tough questions.

However, this probably won't happen. More likely, the pain-adverse public will demand relief from shortages, opt for ill-conceived government programs that disregard the simple economics and ignore the welfare of future generations.

And what politician will speak the truth?

ALA WAI BOAT HARBOR

WHAT IS MOTIVE BEHIND PARKING HEARING DATE?

With an issue as contentious as controlled parking in the Ala Wai Boat Harbor, it amazes me the Department of Land and Natural Resources would schedule a public hearing six days before Christmas.

No doubt they are aware of the absence of many interested parties during this holiday period. The residents who don't travel will be so busy shopping for their children and families that allocating time for a public hearing is not possible except for very few.

Is this good government at work or more shibai to force their will on the people of Hawai'i?

Let us have a fair public hearing. Their plan is filled with flaws and the public has a right — and needs — to be heard.

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