Dust and drivers
Dust and drivers
It’s not the dirt roads that are the problem (Tribune-Herald, June 21); it’s the mentally challenged and inconsiderate drivers who kick up the dust by driving too fast. Also, the lack of police presence and their indifference doesn’t help solve the problem.
Det Picher
Keaau
We all lose
What is it with people these days? Can’t they take responsibility for their own actions? If you make a choice to live on a dirt road, be realistic about the problems. Whining about the dust on a dry day is like complaining about the air on “Kona weather” days. It does not change things.
If you really don’t like the dusty road, get out there and water your section of the road, air-condition your house, do something positive.
I have lived in Hawaiian Paradise Park for 20 years. The roads are in much better shape than they were then. People wanted roads that weren’t bumpy, so they got the HPP homeowners association to grade the roads and make them more passable. That came at a price. People can now drive faster and therefore they kick up dust when they drive. Sure, the promise was made that the roads would someday be paved, but some of us will be surprised if they EVER finish the job.
Complaining to the Health Department about something that is not in the homeowners association control does nothing to help the situation. Who do you think is going to pay? It’ll be me and all the other owners as the cost for fines or even finishing the roads is going to come out of our pockets.
So, thank you, whoever you are. You have created an impossible situation where everyone will be losers.
Suzi Bond
Keaau
A real comparison
Did you notice that someone bought the island of Lanai for one-tenth of what it will eventually cost all taxpayers of Hawaii to build Honolulu’s 20-mile light rail?
Michael Engstrom
Hilo
Praise for police
I tried to drive to South Point earlier this week but got caught at the roadblock near Pahala (due to the fire). Since I was stuck for a while, I had the chance to watch the Ka‘u police in action as they dealt with commuters, tourists and locals who were stuck at the roadblocks.
The Ka‘u police should be commended for their courteous, friendly attitudes and professionalism! They put everyone at ease and were genuinely pleasant to deal with. I wish all police were so pleasant.
A. Silva
Keaau
Proud hybrid owner
As the owner of a sweet little Honda Civic Hybrid, I’ve been following the discussion of the merits of owning a hybrid. After eight years, my hybrid still averages 45 mpg, compared to the 30 mpg my old workhorse of a Volvo station wagon used to get. This saves me one in three trips to the gas station, which I appreciate in a busy week. I got a very good deal on my hybrid because it was a standard transmission and didn’t sell as quickly as the automatics at the dealership. I’ve heard of other hybrid owners negotiating good prices.
Norm Stahl (Tribune-Herald, Your Views) made the very astute point that the savings on gas expenditures for a hybrid are compromised due to the high cost of replacing the battery.
However, he then tarnished his point by making the childish blanket judgment characterizing all hybrid purchases as “liberal status symbols.” Currently, most of Oahu’s public buses are hybrids — who does that make them liberal status symbols for? The riders? The drivers? The city council?
Consider this: Oil is a finite resource. As the world population grows and countries like China, India and Brazil achieve more prosperity, the demand for oil is going to rise. Time magazine recently covered current “dirtier” methods for getting more oil. All had new potential environmental risks and unknown health dangers.
Living in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, and also the largest consumer of oil, maybe some of us hybrid owners are truly looking for ways to cut back on our oil consumption. Not only is it a great example to set to the rest of the world — showing that we care — it just may ensure that there is enough oil to go around until other technologies are developed.
So besides the fact that my car is emitting less toxins into the air we all share, I feel very happy that something as essential as my driving is able to conserve some of the overall supply for all of us.
I also happen to enjoy the new technology. Why ridicule that?
Catherine Kennedy
Volcano