KAPI'OLANI PARKNEEDS A CLEANUP

I wanted to again express my displeasure and complain about the "homeless by choice" tents in Kapiolani Park. It is a total disgrace! I and many others are tired of not being able to use our park and having our tax dollars wasted continually on maintenance to repair areas ruined by campers, whether from their tents or their urinating.

The signs clearly say "No Camping;" if you need another law, then say "No Tents." The shelters have room.

I cannot imagine what the problem is with the city or state for not dealing with this. I know several people who have contacted the mayor's office and nothing is done.

Many visitors are also appalled and are saying they will not come back.

We elect our officials to act as leaders and expect them to take care of business — like enforcing laws.

Clean up our park now!

MICHAEL MCGUIRE | Honolulu

PHONE BOOKS

BUSINESSES SHOULD KNOW TOMES A WASTE

A large bag of three telephone directories arrived at my home recently. These will be followed by more telephone directories from a different publisher in the not too distant future. Businesses pay a huge amount of money to be featured in these books, but they should realize they may now be throwing that money away.

Since the advent of the Internet I have not used a telephone directory. They are a waste of paper resources. I throw directories like these into the recycle as soon as they arrive, as they take up too much space on my shelves.

I do keep a directory at home in case of power failure. A single directory does not take up much space. It is three years old and still looks brand new.

How many telephone numbers have changed in the time since this one was published? Not many! Any new businesses can easily be found on the Internet. We do not need so many directories. If I could refuse them at time of delivery, I would.

Smart businesses should refuse to be drawn into paying for expensive listings in these directories, then eventually they would not be worth publishing.

WENDY NAKAMOTO | Honolulu

BULKY TRASH

CHARITIES WILLING TO PICK UP USABLE ITEMS

My husband and I walk along the streets of our neighborhood in the early morning and have noticed the items people put out on the sidewalk for bulky trash pickup.

There are a lot of usable items along with nonusable items that are crushed in the truck that could be used by others.

I would encourage people to call organizations such as Salvation Army and Big Brothers/Big Sisters who will come to your home/apartment for free to pick up usable items.

All it takes is a phone call to them and they will take it from the front door without the necessity of taking it down to the sidewalk for pickup.

It provides used but useful items for people who would buy them and also keeps these community organizations in business rather than filling up the landfill.

RUTH SMITH | Honolulu

CIVIL UNIONS

'WILL OF PEOPLE' ALSO CORRECTED WRONGS

Mr. Macritchie should understand that it was the "will of the people" that brought about the legislation that corrected each of the racial atrocities that he listed in his letter (Jan. 19). It is also a fact that everyone knew in their heart that racial bias is wrong, which has allowed these laws to stand.

Equating true racial characteristics with a "sexual choice" that one makes in their life is also wrong. You cannot equate a God-given package of racial characteristics with a "tendency" or a "preference" for a homosexual lifestyle. Consequently one cannot refer to House Bill 444 as a "civil rights" bill. The proponents of H.B. 444 are talking here about certain rights for a select few who are demanding that their same-sex relationship deserves the same recognition and respect as the marriage of their heterosexual brothers and sisters. Morally, socially, spiritually and even medically, this will never fly.

The legislators are elected by the majority, and they are bound to represent that majority. The only fair way to deal with this bill and others like it is to put it to a vote of the people.

JOHN BISHOP | Kailua

SUPERFERRY

'CRUCIAL CAPABILITIES' MUCH APPRECIATED

From the Advertiser article "Superferry craft Haiti-bound," (Jan. 19):

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood stated: "These ships will add crucial capabilities by supporting operations to move large volumes of people and cargo."

Can't help but wonder if all those folks who drove the Superferry out of Hawaii understand this message.

MILTON ALLIONE | Kailua

ELECTIONS

VOTES COUNT; GET INFORMED, INVOLVED

Voters, your vote does count, as evident in the special election in Massachusetts. The early favorite was considered a sure win but the vote of the people led to an upset.

Citizens should not get discouraged or not vote because they feel they can buck the system.

President Obama and Senator-elect Scott Brown are two recent examples of how your vote counts.

With the start of the legislative sessions, participate by knowing the issue and then testify, call or write so that our leaders know the feeling of the people.

Use your vote in November to let them know if they met your expectation.

Start now to become an informed American citizen for the next election.

LEONARD LEONG | Honolulu