‘Ugly Unregulated Chunks Of Metal’

The infestation spreads (May 1, 2018)

One of my sons, raised on Oahu, just visited from the oceanside suburb of San Diego where he now lives. He had been commenting on the electric scooter rentals that are the latest tech entrepreneur money-making disruption there. I emailed him your article on dockless rental bicycles appearing in Honolulu (“Competition May Be Coming To Honolulu’s Bike-Share Market”). His reply: “Only a matter of time before your streets are littered with ugly unregulated chunks of metal.”

As I understand it, the scooters are rented with an app that shows you where to find one and how much battery charge is left on it. They’re unlocked with your smartphone, and your credit card is charged for the use. The scooters can get left anyplace, it seems. The business has spawned a subculture of opportunists who locate docked scooters at the end of the day, take them home for the night, recharge them, put them back out the next morning, and get paid for doing this. San Francisco also has this infestation, and is struggling to regulate it. Honolulu may be next.

My son tells me that the company trying to get its foot in our door with the dockless bicycles is one of those with the dockless electric scooters scattered around greater San Diego. Maybe a CB reporter should delve into this situation, before it’s too late.

— Dale Evans, Waimanalo

Thankful For Mural Project

Touching the lives of young people (April 30, 2018)

I would just like to thank Estria (Miyashiro) for all his hard work and vision in making this happen (“Students Create Visions Of Their Communities With Murals”).

He has touched the lives of so many young people in our community. He has opened their eyes to things about Hawaii that they took for granted.  This project has allowed them to dream big and gain knowledge about who we are as “keepers of the Aina” here in Hawaii.

It would be nice if Civil Beat would follow them more on this in-depth journey they are taking through Hawaii. Share with the people of Hawaii what these young people are doing today.

— Dayna Wright, Honolulu

Kupuna Dream Appreciated

Some of us are just short of funds (May 1, 2018)

Wonderful article (“A Brighter Future For Kupuna Would Be A Dream Come True”). Being a single female kupuna who worked all her life and now facing health issues, and trying to make decisions on how and where to age, I enjoyed this article, even if only to dream about what may never be.

One way us former working kupuna retirees could be helped is to subsidize kupuna who have worked all our lives, but are just short of funds to be able to relocate and move into a senior community. Some of us are too sick to stay in our homes, and age in place and need the security and help that a community offers. But, because our retirement salaries are sometimes short of being able to afford this move, help would be appreciated. 

— Jackie Hong, Aiea/Halawa Heights