• Biker stunts could be deadly • Empathize with both sides • The time to buy real estate • Leave Hawaiian tradition alone • Passing a drug test proves yourself to your employer • Give me a break • We
• Biker stunts could be deadly
• Empathize with both sides
• The time to buy real estate
• Leave Hawaiian tradition alone
• Passing a drug test proves yourself to your employer
• Give me a break
• We need the Superfer
Biker stunts could be deadly
A number of us were playing the front nine at Wailua recently and observed a group of bikers heading north on Kuhio Highway.
Suddenly, about five of these bikers reared up on their back tires and roared down the highway on their rear tires. If one of them had lost their balance or hit a rock, the rider plus passengers in vehicles behind or in the opposite lane would have been killed or critically injured.
Those five bikers weren’t thinking about what their stunts could have caused on a highway that has seen too many fatal accidents over the years.
• Wendy Akita, Lihu‘e
Empathize with both sides
Did our beloved atheist Bettejo Dux just embrace the Vatican to reinforce her views (“Empathize with the Palestinians,” Letters, Jan. 12)?
I agree, Bettejo, that we should have empathy and compassion, not just for the innocent Palestinians but for the innocent Israeli people as well.
As you say, 2009 has just begun, but where were you throughout the entire year of 2008 when Israel was getting bombed on a daily basis from Hamas? Those Israeli civilians are no less innocent, and Israel was forced to exercise restraint under pressure from the U.S., which placed their own people in harm’s way.
True, not having your own home hit by rockets and grenade launchers from a distance closer than Ni‘ihau tends to make one arrogant and condescending, but there is a much bigger picture involved.
For the past few years, anti-Semitism has raised its ugly head once again throughout Europe and the U.S., and it is being spearheaded by the far left. Look again at Israel on a map, Bettejo. Are you aware that the nations surrounding that tiny country tried to push them into the sea back in 1973?
• Bob Clemmons, Wailua
The time to buy real estate
Regarding the Board of Realtors story, (“A good time to buy Kaua‘i real estate,” Business, Dec. 28), I see this story as trying to get income for Realtors, not as a good time to buy.
It published the median price of a single family house on Kaua‘i in November 2007 as $525,300. In November 2008, $615,000. That is 17.08 percent more than last year.
Maybe they meant to say it was a better time to buy last year? They may want to scramble for another part time job just in case.
• Steven Martin, Kapa‘a
Leave Hawaiian tradition alone
NOAA has propose a fishing license starting in 2011 with a fee of $15 to $25. People of Hawai‘i should fight this.
Hawai‘i waters belong to the people of Hawai‘i as the beaches are public domain, and should be for fishing.
NOAA should be more concerned with foreign ships with big drag nets catching all fish without regard to species.
State legislators should invoke state rights.
If NOAA is so large, maybe it should downsize, save tax payers money and leave Hawaiian tradition alone.
• Stephen Louis, Knoxville, Tenn.
Passing a drug test proves yourself to your employer
It’s an insult to the taxpayers who pay the teachers salaries when teachers refuse to be drug tested.
The teachers say that they went through a lot of time and schooling to get where they are. They say that they should be treated honorably and like the professionals they are, not like criminals. Then why don’t they comply as an honorable professional and take the drug test which they already had agreed to do in signing their contract? What’s so dishonorable in taking a little drug test?
In my job, I take a drug test every year (when my name gets pulled out of a hat and so far it’s been every year since I started there, where I’ve working from 1991).
It’s an honor to be drug tested. I get a chance to prove to my employer that I can perform my duties as a professional and with a clear mind everyday.
We the people realize that you are under pressure when it comes to teaching our children. We know that there are a lot of unruly children and we appreciate you for the time and patience you perform as professionals in your field of work.
We no way mean any insult to you. All we ask is to know that you take the drug test to assure us as parents that our children are getting the high qualities of education that you teach and that it’s with a clear mind and a safe environment.
• Howard Tolbe, ‘Ele‘ele
Give me a break
Let’s keep a perspective here (“Police issue 39 citations at reggae concert,” The Garden Island, Jan. 13).
This is Kaua‘i, not some police state where people are harassed for being human. Why would a crowd of people getting together to have fun and listen to music on private property be the target of a license plate and vehicle defect crackdown?
I guarantee a similar number of vehicle citations could be made at any event of that size on this island if they so wished. Why was this one targeted?
I can’t imagine neighbors were complaining about cars nearby with expired safety checks. The energy and time spent on these petty “crimes” could have been better utilized elsewhere, like on the roads.
• Anita Cook, Koloa
We need the Superferry
The employment loss here on Kaua‘i is astronomical. Look around and you will see many once bustling activity desks on the island empty and without brochures.
There seems to be only one timeshare company left … and the others have closed their outside booths.
Many restaurants have recently closed shop too, including the Blossoming Lotus, Coconuts, Jamba Juice in Kapa‘a and the fish market next to Kojima store.
The job loss is tremendous from all the closures. And these are just the closures that are apparent.
We need the Superferry before our island becomes the first island to say, “would the last person to leave please turn out the lights?”
• Bill Ellison, Kapa‘a
