Lahaina needs employee parking

The County of Maui supports businesses that help drive the economy.

Those five restaurants and luau near Lahaina Cannery Mall provide hundreds of jobs and are also great places to eat – not to mention the top luau in West Maui.

Front Street has 14 public parking spaces on the mauka side; ten to 12 are occupied by employees’ cars. They are parked there all day!

Did you ever try to run in Longs after 4 p.m. for a quick stop? Forget it – the 15 spots by the door are taken by luau employees.

The management of these fine establishments should have their employees park near the highway and not on Front Street!

Perhaps the Cannery could clear the corner by the Front Street bridge and create an open lot that would benefit all of Lahaina.

CHRIS BRECKELS, Lahaina

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Mahalo for teaching students about careers

“Opportunity Rocked” on Feb. 24, 2015, as the Lahaina Intermediate School eighth grade class visited one of seven West Maui hotel properties.

This was the sixth year that Lahaina Intermediate has partnered with the West Maui hotels to show students what the different career paths (that they will have to choose in high school) look like.

We would like to thank the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua; Napili Kai Beach Resort; Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort; Royal Lahaina Resort; Sheraton Maui; Westin Maui; and Hyatt Regency Maui for showing our students how “Opportunity Rocks.” We appreciate the knowledge and hospitality. Thank you for giving back to the keiki of Lahaina.

LORI KOYAMA, Lahaina Intermediate School

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Plans announced for Kamehameha Parade

The Na Kamehameha Commemorative Pa’u Parade & Ho’olaule’a Planning Committee would like to warmly invite you to commemorate and celebrate our ali’i through our statewide theme: “E ola ka Mo’i Kamehameha ‘Elima,” Honoring the 150th Anniversary of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I.

The NKCPPH festivities will take place on Saturday, June 13, at 9:45 a.m. on Front Street. It will start from Kenui Street and proceed south toward Shaw Street. The ho’olaule’a will open at 9 a.m. at Keawaiki, Lahaina Banyan Tree Park. Festivities will include exhibits, a parade and pa’u awards presentation, food booths, Maui made crafters and local entertainment. The festivities are scheduled to last until sunset.

One of the Planning Committee’s goals is to build and gather community. It is through this parade and ho’olaule’a that we create a venue to not only honor our ali’i but to educate as well. By doing this, we keep all that they have done for us alive.

Applications are available for 2015 parade participation. We have six stations for commentary – a great way to showcase your organization, make announcements for upcoming events or to promote your organization. Deadline to apply is Friday, May 29.

For updates, you can visit facebook.com/nkcpph.

Mahalo for your continued support of our island people and rich heritage, and we look forward to your response. Please contact me at (808) 264-8779 or sfdhawaii@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you.

DARYL MAULIOLA FUJIWARA, 2015 NKCPPH Planning Committee Chair

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Business appreciates MEO’s support

My name is Diane Beaucaire, owner of Diane’s Cleaning, a company specializing in final construction cleaning since 1998. Throughout the past 16 years, MEO has been of tremendous help, providing me the financial

assistance needed to fund my projects, even when banks could not help me.

Today, ten employees are working on two big projects: the new Hyatt in Kaanapali and the Grand Wailea room renovation (750 rooms), because of the MEO Business Development Center.

Thank you to everyone at MEO BDC, especially to John Flom, my loan fund manager. Thank you, MEO. I really appreciate what you have done not only for my business and family, but also by providing jobs to people on Maui.

MEO is helping Maui County to promote new businesses, support existing ones and create jobs.

DIANE BEAUCAIRE, Diane’s Cleaning, Kihei

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Honolulu rail project needs a timeout

After eight years, the rail project is failing. With only two miles and no stations constructed, and having chosen one of the most remote and least reliable train manufacturers, Ansaldo, we are now told that the remaining available funds are insufficient to finish the rail project.

The city wants taxpayers to come up with the additional billions that would be required to finish rail. The only question is whether to extend the excise tax surcharge, which is already costing a typical family $800 per year, or raise property taxes.

In light of the above, council members and legislators need to take a timeout and take a hard look at where we are and how we got here.

Accordingly, we are asking our elected representatives to demand accountability and transparency on the following topics before considering any further taxes or loans.

Let’s see an annual audit of all rail moneys spent thus far starting in 2007 through 2014.

Let’s see contractor bids on the remaining ten miles of the project, so we know the price of the project in 2015 dollars.

Let’s see a clear statement of facts about the project’s projected impact on the current level of traffic congestion.

Let’s see a clear statement of exactly how the city will force thousands of bus riders daily to transfer to rail.

Let’s be clear on the number of new residents needed in the TOD areas to meet the current projected rail ridership.

Let’s see a clear-headed analysis of less expensive viable alternatives, such as bus rapid transit on managed lanes.

JOHN BRIZDLE, Timeout Honolulu