LACK OF ALOHA IN PAST GAVE US BLACK MARK

I read with interest the articles about Hawai'i's declining tourism but that Princess Cruises are bringing in several more cruises next year. I hope the ships will be greeted with aloha and enthusiasm.

When Cunard's Queen Victoria came here on her maiden cruise, I had lunch with a friend who was aboard. She told me in every city and village they came to, they had been greeted with fireboats, officials and crowds of people and she asked why nothing was done when the ship came to Honolulu.

I was embarrassed, frankly, and made up an excuse. But really there is no excuse. Walmart was the only one that made an effort. It sent shuttles for the passengers so they could shop in its store. Walmart diplomacy. Maybe we should turn the Hawaiian tourism responsibilities over to them. City or state officials did not do a thing, although the ship made three stops at Hawaiian ports.

I know people who sailed here years ago on Matson liners and are still talking about the warm reception they received and still feel aloha toward Hawai'i. Unfortunately, the passengers who came here on the Queen Victoria have no fond memories to take home. This has a chilling effect on people's estimation of our state and their interest in visiting us.

Cissy Dawes | Honolulu

DEVELOPMENT

O'AHU BECOMING A SUBURB OF MAINLAND

With each passing year, O'ahu becomes more like the Mainland. At one time, this would have alarmed us; now we tolerate it. We also tolerate the problems that come with transformation. A homeless population that grows because of unaffordable housing and insufficient social services. Traffic jams. Environmental degradation, including construction runoff that harms marine life.

Dumps filled with our garbage and waste. Devaluing of agriculture and conversion of agricultural land to real estate. Our most precious resource is the Islands' uniqueness, and yet we allow — because we are greedy, naive or shortsighted — this uniqueness to be jeopardized. Instead of burying O'ahu beneath concrete and asphalt, let's support cultivation of the land to produce our food, help us be self-sufficient and preserve respect for what truly sustains us.

This is the right use of the land. Turning O'ahu into a suburb of the Mainland is not.

Pat Matsueda | Honolulu

HO'OPILI

GET INVOLVED TO HALT IRREVOCABLE STEP

I urge all residents of O'ahu to become involved in the decision to take the acreage proposed for Ho'opili out of agriculture use.

The state Land Use Commission will have to re-classify the land from "agriculture" to "urban." Likewise, the City and County of Honolulu will have to change the zoning from the agriculture district to the (A)partment, (R)esidential or (I)ndustrial districts.

This land is probably the most productive ag land on this island, and we certainly do not need another Mililani between Waipahu and Kapolei. These houses will go in long before the rail is viable. Imagine 15,000 more cars on the freeway in the morning. Let's try to handle growth through facilitating urban infill/redevelopment and through development of marginal ag lands before taking this irrevocable step.

Jack Arnest | Honolulu

BETTER OPTIONS EXIST IN URBAN HONOLULU

A representative of the city overseeing the development of Ho'opili asked me, in response to my opposition of the housing project, "Where else can we build more homes?"

We can build in areas that won't exhaust the Islands of precious agricultural lands. Here are my suggestions:

Kaka'ako: There are acres of undeveloped land with adequate underground infrastructure already in place. Last session we passed legislation mandating a certain percentage of affordable housing depending on the land area being developed. Land owners are not building on the land.

Kapi'olani/Mo'ili'ili/McCully: These areas are populated by very old, two-story walk-up apartment buildings. The city can remove the three-story height limitation on these areas and let us go vertical. Going vertical will improve the skyline, provide fulfillment of the affordable housing need, and create workforce housing for those who work in Waikiki, Downtown Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and Fort Shafter.

These are blighted communities. Why is there not a push to modernize these slummy downtown areas so that we can be proud of our urban core?

I say that government should refocus on these areas as opposed to sacrificing our precious agricultural lands which play a major role in creating a sustainable and self-sufficient Hawai'i.

Rep. Rida Cabanilla | District 42

HEALTH CARE

HIRONO SITE OFFERS USEFUL PAGE ON BILL

Everyone, from pundits to regular people, is talking about the proposed health care bill, and yet it is very difficult to learn the facts.

We've all heard the myths about death panels and illegal aliens, but even our trusted news sources cannot seem to tell us exactly what H.R. 3200 really says.

I found a very useful source of information that answers many of the myths with facts, and I recommend that anyone who is concerned with learning the truth take a look at www.hirono.house.gov/ and click on Health Care Myth & Facts.

Alex Preiss | Honolulu