Recent coverage of brutality against animals presents an opportunity to discuss why this kind of behavior should be a concern for the community.

According to the National Link Coalition, mistreatment of an animal is often the first warning sign of a larger problem, as those who intentionally harm animals have a propensity to also harm people.

Research found that in families with children suffering abuse, pet abuse also was occurring 88 percent of the time and about 71 percent of people entering a domestic violence shelter reported that their partners abused or threatened a family pet.

When Hawaiian Humane Society investigators encounter evidence of domestic violence, child and/or elder abuse in the course of their rescue work, it is reported to the appropriate welfare agency immediately.

We encourage all community members to view animal abuse as a serious issue. By increasing the awareness of the connection between animal abuse and other forms of violent crimes we are helping to stop the cycle of violence committed against both animal and human victims.

Pamela Burns

President and CEO, Hawaiian Humane Society

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Timers can promote time-of-use adoption

Your article, “Few HECO customers try time-of-use program” (Star-Advertiser, July 30) was excellent except for the implication that it was best suited for retirees who are home all day.

Employed families can use timers, which are inexpensive, simple to use and perfect for time-of-use applications.

They can set their dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers to operate between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

If they have air conditioning, they can time it to start on “high” an hour before they arrive home. That way, they enter a pre-cooled house, allowing them to lower the setting after 5 p.m.

If Hawaiian Electric doesn’t have enough takers, it should do more to present the above options. The program will take off like a jet plane.

Howard C. Wiig

Manoa

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Hawaiians gave up gods many years ago

Sesame Shim is quoted saying, Haleakala “is a very sacred site for our culture, for our people” (“Protesters await Haleakala convoy,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2).

Shim should speak for protesters and not for us Hawaiians. Had she read our history books, she would have known our Hawaiian cultural sacredness was based on a religion and gods that were abolished in 1819 by King Kamehameha II to end the killing of Hawaiians for sinning (breaking the kapu).

Additionally, there has never been a church acknowledging the religion or gods since.

Bill Punini Prescott

Nanakuli

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Protests against telescopes misguided

It’s sad and disheartening that instruments of science that will advance our knowledge of the universe have become targets for cultural struggles.

I can understand protests against oil pipelines that will endanger the traditional lives of native peoples, but protests against telescopes with limited footprints make me sad.

There are so many targets of protest worthy of the emotion and the passion of Hawaiians. Why pick on the ones that will advance human knowledge for all and ignore the ones that make money for a few?

Jean Toyama

Downtown Honolulu

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Hawaii is no place to burn ethanol

Hawaii is an environmentally sensitive state. I wonder why we continue to use ethanol in our gasoline. Search the internet using search terms “ethanol” and “pollution” to understand the overwhelmingly net negative impact that ethanol production has on the environment.

Worldwide, ethanol has driven up the cost of food, increased the use of harmful fertilizers and herbicides, and destroyed uncountable fuel systems and engines.

Scott G. Gier

Ewa Beach

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Wisdom of founders makes nation great

Lately I’ve wondered if our country has reached its peak and are we now on the path to decline, like other great empires of the past.

But then our republic is uniquely designed. The framers of the U.S. Constitution possessed detailed knowledge of the collapse of past empires.

They took that history into account as they crafted a government consisting of three branches, reasoning that even if one branch failed, the other two branches should enable the Union to survive.

The Founding Fathers had extensive knowledge of human psychology.

They understood that a zealous cult suffering from a sense of great loss could result in a branch being occupied by hypocritical, arrogant narcissists with a grandiose sense of self-importance. But, they reasoned that even if 33 percent of the people blindly supported this failed branch, the country should survive.

The recent election of new leaders will change the direction and identity of the country. The question is: In which direction?

Rodney Sato

Mililani