Loss of Kalakaua lane will mess up Waikiki
On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council will consider Bill 51. This bill would eliminate one of four Kalakaua Avenue lanes from Kaiulani to Kapahulu avenues in order to broaden and improve Kuhio Beach Park, the promenade of which was widened just a few years ago. City planners say that the loss of the lane will not adversely affect Waikiki.It is not wise to remove a single lane, even if it may be from the least congested stretch of Kalakaua Avenue. One lane is an irreplaceable asset, and its removal would severely limit the city's ability to respond to future needs and opportunities.
Let's look at the record. First, needed and convenient side streets suddenly disappeared under superblocks and other large developments. Then, necessary street parking began to disappear, too.
Now, one lane is to be sacrificed in exchange for an unnecessary, $13-million beautification project. What will be the next to go?
Richard Y. Will
Open market doesn't belong at Restaurant Row
Your June 8 editorial criticizing Wendell Brooks Jr., court-appointed receiver for Waterfront Plaza, for eliminating the open market at Restaurant Row was unjust and unwarranted.A receiver's first duty is to protect the asset. That is obviously what Brooks was doing.
The open market made money for the small vendors selling their goods but did not help the other tenants in the property who were paying rent, operating costs and all other costs associated with being a tenant.
I do not believe that the open market tenants paid much to offset the other tenants costs in the Waterfront project, and may have actually increased the cost to the tenants through additional "wear and tear" on the property.
As president and CEO of one of the larger commercial real estate property management and brokerage firms, I have always been opposed to people's markets on commercial properties because they hurt the other businesses and do not pay any rent, insurance, property taxes, etc., that tenants are required to pay under their leases with their landlord.
Steven Sofos
(Via the Internet)
Estrada has the right to bury Marcos in Manila
In reference to your June 4 editorial, "Estrada mustn't kowtow to Marcoses," the grand humiliation of the Marcos' regime was apparently co-opted by the United States in order to secure Clark and Subic bases as U.S. military interests.When the masses overthrew his regime, it was the United States that came to the rescue of Marcos, putting him aboard a military chopper and sending him to Hawaii.
After his exile, the U.S. was nowhere to be found, especially after it left its two forward bases in the Philippines.
You may disagree, but President-Elect Estrada has every right to put the former president's body in his final resting place. The United States must take the lead in this regard. After all, it sustained its prized bases under the Marcos regime. It should put this issue to rest.
John S. DelRosario Jr.
Koblerville, Saipan
(Via the Internet)
Protesters forget beauty of compromise
Yet again, some self-styled "environmentalists" are attempting to throw a monkey wrench into a venture which potentially could be of benefit to our economically strapped Big Island.This time, they are opposed to the filming of NBC's television show "Wind on Water" at Mahaiula, because it may "disturb the serenity" of the park, "bother the regular users" and, God forbid, could "lead to paving of the access road."
This, of course, is couched in terms of "saving the environment," without regard to the estimated $12 million which could be brought into the Big Island if filming takes place here.
I love this island and its land, wildlife and beauty. I, too, try my best to be environmentally sensitive. However, I also care deeply that so many of us find ourselves continually struggling just to make ends meet.
It's time for those who choose to oppose almost every move to improve the economy to realize that we must utilize all of our resources. A balance can be reached by which our aina can be protected. At the same time, our most precious resource, our people, can improve their lives and gain some hope for the future.
Collin B. Neal
Puna, Hawaii
(Via the Internet)
Hawaii Republicans are badly divided
I am a lifelong Republican but I am displeased with Hawaii's Republican Party. Last month, Hawaii's Republicans held their state convention in Waikiki. They had members of the Republican National Committee from Washington come out and talk about Victory '98 and how the GOP will win big this year in Hawaii.But the convention featured members bickering with each other and laughing at candidates. It was like a circus.
The reason that Democrats have been so successful in Hawaii is because they have a very strong grass-roots organization. They are working their headquarters day and night. On the other hand, Hawaii Republicans just complain about the single-party system running this state.
Here's an ingredient for the party: If they can organize and unify as one strong force, then they can win big this November. But it seems to me that the Democrats of Hawaii are a lot more unified.
Maybe Hawaii's Republicans should take a course from them in Unity 101.
Jonathan Rosenthal
(Via the Internet)
Write a Want to write a letter to the editor? Let all Star-Bulletin readers know what you think. Please keep your letter to about 200 words. You can send it by e-mail to letters@starbulletin.com or you can fill in the online form for a faster response. Or print it and mail it to: Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802. Or fax it to: 523-8509. Always be sure to include your daytime phone number.
Letter to the Editor