Letters To The Editor
February 06, 2008 - MidWeek
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Del.icio.usVoters left out
Oh, for a chance to vote for president of the USA in the Primary Election here in Hawaii. We would be there with New Hampshire to be one of the first in the nation to do so. To get an idea where the electorate are leaning toward, regarding the candidates, would be of interest to many, I’m sure.
Also, kudos for “When Johnny comes Marching Home ...” by Steve Murray, and his interview of Dr. Ken Hirsch of Tripler Army hospital. For some of us who served in the armed services, but were never in combat, trying to understand the ones who were, at times, is difficult. Thankfully, the article brings some light as to the thoughts of our combat veterans.
I believe that the methods being used will help our servicemen returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and other wars such as Vietnam.
May it aid them in returning to as a “normal” life as possible.
Roy E. Shigemura
Honolulu
Editor’s note: The PTSD Residential Rehabilitation Program at Tripler Army Medical Center is run by the VA Pacific Islands Health Care System. Through a sharing agreement Tripler agreed to let the program use a wing of the hospital, which was converted to make it as comfortable as possible without looking like hospital rooms. Staff are employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Certify B&Bs
I am the coordinator of Na Hale Ho’okipa O Hawai’i Nei (Homes of Hospitality of Hawaii) a network of over 400 bed and breakfast homes, transient vacation unit owners, neighborhood businesses, property managers and supporters on the island of Oahu.
We formed to support a certifying process and proper regulation of bed and breakfast homes, condos and cottages (collectively referred to as TVUS). Na Hale Ho’okipa O Hawai’i Nei believes this is crucial to help maintain the integrity of our neighborhoods and the character of our small towns.
The vast majority of members vote regularly, pay their TAT, and GET obligations even if they do not have a non-conforming use certificate. All support a reasonable certifying process and better regulations of B&Bs and TVUs. Most live in Hawaii.
Bill 96 (Taxing B&Bs at resort rates) that Bob Jones seems to support raises more issues and questions and solves none of the important concerns regarding bed and breakfast homes, vacation homes, condos and cottages.
If bed and breakfasts get taxed as hotels and resorts, will owners be able to build a minimum of 20 new bedrooms on lots like a hotel? Can B&Bs now cater parties, serve pau hana cocktails, serve dinners, have live music like resorts and hotels? Certainly if B&Bs are to be taxed as resorts they should be allowed to make money the way resorts can.
What’s fair is fair. We certainly support the concept of fair and reasonable licensing and regulation, but this isn’t fair. This same proposal came up 20 years ago. We hope the City realizes again how unfair it is and pulls it so we can get on with the real issues that need addressing. We need to talk about protecting the quality of life in our neighborhoods by properly regulating and requiring permits for vacation rentals.
Angie Larson
Kailua
In the dark ages
Bob Jones is often bright, but not when it comes to light. His “no CFL” (compact fluorescent lamp) diatribe places him dimly in the technological Dark Ages of the 1980s. CFLs are much brighter now.
To achieve his “warm home lighting,” he need only buy 23,700 degree Kelvin CFLs, usually identified by “27” on the label. If there’s not enough light, he can increase lamp wattage and still be using only one third of an incandescent’s electricity use.
Since Mr. Jones is green at heart he should be leading by example, saying, “If Honolulu citizens reduced 40 watts per lamp by replacing 1 million incandescents with CFLs, HECO’s peak demand could drop by 40 megawatts and cause them to re-evaluate the need for a new $130 million power plant.”
Instead of grumping in the Dark Ages, let’s see Mr. Jones riding a light beam in 2008, shining as Mr. Efficiency and challenging the need for a new power plant.
Howard C. Wiig
Honolulu
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