Show mercy toward bird-killing teen

Having been a young man myself and having raised a son, I would like to present a different point of view on what punishment should further happen to the young man who was recently charged and pled to a crime for killing protected birds at Kaena Point (“Teen gets 45 days in jail for killing albatrosses,” Star-Advertiser, July 7).

He is going to jail for 45 days, but many feel that is not enough, and are calling for his university to expel him. What he and his younger friends did was appalling, shameful and deserving of punishment. But may I remind each of us — including myself — that we in our humanity have also done some shameful things in our past, and yet others either did not find out, or extended mercy to us.

I hope and pray that this young man would realize that he has been given an opportunity to turn his life around and be a protector of nature and God’s creatures. May he also realize he has the potential for a wonderful life ahead of him. It is his choice.

Robert R. Taylor

Nuuanu

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Why hasn’t Trump finished reviews?

The Star-Advertiser reported that “the Trump administration says the travel ban is necessary to keep Americans safe until it can review the vetting process for refugees and others” (“Hawaii’s challenge over travel ban rules denied,” July 9).

Since its travel ban was first attempted and rejected months ago, what has the Trump administration been doing to protect us from alleged imminent harm from Muslim refugees?

The U.S. already has an effective and thorough vetting process to screen out potential terrorists. It takes as much as two years before immigrants from the designated Muslim- dominant countries are allowed to enter our country.

Clearly, President Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban was concocted not for national security, but to show his adoring base that he was doing something. Yet, why didn’t they complete reviewing the existing vetting procedures and propose improvements, if any further delay jeopardizes our safety?

Why can’t Trump even tell us what is defective with the current process?

Francis M. Nakamoto

Moanalua Valley

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Trump’s delusions worse than his lies

Jacob Sullum’s claim that President Donald Trump’s misstatements of facts “probably are best understood not as lies but as ego-stroking delusions” (“Trump may be preposterous, but not necessarily a liar,” Star-Advertiser, July 8) is more disturbing than if our commander in chief was intentionally lying.

His basing critical decisions on delusions rather than reality could result in global disaster. Delusions can be more dangerous than lies.

Mark Wilson

Makiki

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Rail needs thorough financial audit first

Apparently the City Council and the Legislature are now together in the business of breeding lemmings.

With the City Council selling more bonds, creating more debt to pay off the last debt, and the Legislature holding a special session to get more involved in this city project, we all need to stand together and seriously Care About Rail Extortion (CARE).

At least the Federal Transit Administration makes the monkey perform before it tips the grinder.

Honolulu deserves a sound financial rail audit before those greedy for power and money (including our elected politicians) do any more damage. We are out of money to maintain our beautiful island home and we need to use our minds, make our voices heard, vote the lemmings out, and CARE.

Let us get facts and solid figures from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, some good solid answers to good solid questions, before this can gets kicked any farther than Middle Street.

Mary J. Culvyhouse

Kaneohe

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Give homeless jobs to beautify Hawaii

We have a problem with people being homeless here on Oahu. It happens for many reasons and circumstances.

We also have a problem with Oahu being dirty and overgrown with grass, weeds and trash.

Let’s combine forces and do something about it.

If the city employed the homeless to pull weeds, pick up trash and do other beautification projects, it could really improve Oahu.

If passed next year, House Bill 1281, the homeless employment pilot program, could put the homeless to work on some of these matters.

Homeless people receiving a day’s wage for their work gives them a chance to feel the worth of doing something useful for our island.

The homeless can be seen all over the island with their belongings in shopping carts, or you see the camps of homeless along the roads or under bridges.

They may be homeless, but they are still members of families and are human beings with feelings and dignity. They want to be treated with respect.

Wayne Thompson

Wahiawa

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Is Airbnb liable for water catchment?

An important piece of information was left out of your article on water catchment systems (“Water catchment systems need to be properly maintained,” Star-Advertiser, July 10).

A woman “showed up at her rustic Airbnb rental” to find an “open swimming pool with about a foot of scummy water in it.”

What, exactly, did Airbnb do to make the situation right?

Did the woman get a refund? Who is liable if she gets sick? Airbnb?

You need to do some investigative reporting on the subject of Airbnb, VRBO, Uber, Lyft, and similar “virtual” companies to let the public know exactly where responsibility and liability lies, and what the public’s recourses are.

Bob Gould

Kaneohe