O'AHU

KAMA'AINA WELCOME IN WAIKIKI, BUT NOT AUTOS

From a Waikiki resident, thank you — I suppose — for the editorial, "Waikiki needs stronger presence from kama'aina."

My reservation stems from your emphasis on increased parking availability so that more autos can jam into Waikiki.

Kama'aina, please do come to Waikiki, but leave your autos elsewhere.

Do what Waikiki residents do: Use TheBus or walk a short one-half mile to all the fabulous Waikiki destinations.

Note to Mayor Hannemann, et al: Help kama'aina return to Waikiki and boost the revived glory of Waikiki by enhanced bus service. Make Waikiki as low an auto zone as is possible.

OIL PRICES

ENERGY COST WILL FALL WITH BETTER TECHNOLOGY

The current high price of oil is driven by growing demand by India and China, low production constricting supply and strong foreign currencies that make oil cheaper for foreigners than Americans.

More importantly, oil prices will stay high because of a growing consensus in the oil-trading community that oil will continue to grow more difficult to find and expensive to recover.

However, the increasing price of oil is prompting rapid development of alternative energy. While oil becomes harder to get every day, the immature alternative energy and conservation industry continues to become more efficient.

The cost of energy will continue to rise until oil becomes more expensive than alternatives, then the cost will fall as technology improves.

There will be a difficult transition, but our grandchildren will probably face no shortage of energy.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

TEACHERS ARE THE KEYS TO STUDENTS' SUCCESS

In recent days, you have featured inspiring stories on the accomplishments of Dr. Cindy Ta, a role model worthy of all of your paper's interest and praise.

But the element of her story that inspires me to write is her identification of her early teachers at Palolo Elementary, Ms. Gayle Terayama (kindergarten) and Ms. Sandy Kanemura (first grade), as being keys to her success.

You see, I am the proud and admiring spouse of a teacher at Barbers Point Elementary School, who along with her great colleagues has a similar impact on her students.

So, to all the kindergarten and first-grade teachers from Kahuku to Barbers Point and all points in between: Through your daily efforts and passion, you are creating the environment for our future Dr. Tas.

And for young Alisi Fifita, I hope to read of your great return to Palolo Elementary in 15 to 20 years as perhaps Dr. Fifita.

ALCOHOL

ANHEUSER-BUSCH PROMOTES MODERATION

I was discouraged and somewhat angered that your alcohol admonishment to young graduates ("Party danger for Class of 2008," May 25) singled out the one company that spends millions of dollars each year promoting moderation.

Having worked for Anheuser-Busch Inc. at the Los Angeles brewery for 27 years, I know how well both the national and local beer operations support the environment and community culture while promoting moderation.

Anheuser-Busch is this country's last national brewery.

If you need to slap the alcohol business, don't single out the most responsible company.

CHINATOWN

ENFORCE LAWS, DON'T REMOVE SHADY ARBORS

I read the story about the removal of Chinatown's arbors with sadness.

According to the city, the arbors are being removed to "take away shade from reputed gamblers and drug dealers" in the hope that they will go elsewhere.

My questions is: Where are the decent, law-abiding citizens who also use those arbors to go now? It would be far easier for the city to simply carry out the law, and arrest the gamblers and drug dealers.

Every day, I see the "freedoms" of O'ahu's good citizens being taken away.

Sleep is taken from us by noisy "boom-boom" music from drive-by cars.

Safety is taken from us by youthful felons.

Now the freedom of enjoying O'ahu is taken by the removal of our shaded arbors.

It's time to get our priorities straight and stop taking the right to enjoy this island from decent law-abiding citizens. Simply enforce our laws. Simple as that!

AG LANDS BILL

STRONG POLICIES NEEDED TO SUPPORT ISLE FARMERS

I have worked with Dean Okimoto and the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation on many events to promote Hawai'i's agricultural industry. I am impressed with their passion and vigilance in being involved in so many issues facing our farmers and ranchers.

As I have worked toward including many local products into my menu, I have learned about the many challenges that face our local farmers. While land and water are the two key ingredients in agriculture, we also need other ingredients to make our farmers viable. We need a menu of tools that the farmers can choose from to help them be competitive in this global economy. This menu is called incentives for important agricultural lands. These incentives need to be bold enough to make a positive impact in the agricultural industry.

I urge the governor to support this legislation to establish incentives for important agricultural lands. We must have strong policies and actions to ensure the success of our farmers.

TEENAGERS

LOOK INWARD, DON'T SEARCH FOR SCAPEGOAT

I had been unaware that some in my generation saw Ms. Paige Takeya and her contemporaries as the "doom of the world." After reading her column ("Listen up, adults, practice what you preach") in the May 23 Advertiser, however, I better understand the rationale behind that judgment.

Ms. Takeya was presented with an opportunity to suggest change, to be an advocate for her generation. Instead, she squanders an entire column playing the blame game, laying her (perceived) shortcomings at the feet of others.

If I were to take Ms. Takeya's argument to its logical conclusion, her lack of time to participate in the political process is actually nobody's fault, since I can blame my parents and they can blame theirs and so on.

Please forgive your parents for trying to enrich your life in ways that were not available to them when they were in high school.

When Ms. Takeya feels that life has let her down and she needs to make sense of it, she should try looking inward instead of searching for a scapegoat.

Maybe then, my generation would have less reason to feel apprehension about hers.

TAXPAYER MONEY

LEGISLATIVE VOG STUDY WASTE OF TIME, MONEY

I can't believe that the Legislature is going to do a study on what to do about the vog.

Next, I suppose, they will try to do something about when the sun rises and sets.

What a waste of time and taxpayer money. But then again, what else is new? Whose bright idea was that, anyway?