Listen up! Act now!

While we worry about an attack from North Korea, can we ignore the hate sentiment in our own country and allow this to continue (“3 deaths, 4 arrests linked to white nationalist rally,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 13)?

In a statement, the American Association of University Professors said: “To remain silent in the face of hatred is to be complicit in that hatred. Therefore, we will not remain silent while white supremacists, emboldened by the rhetoric of the Trump administration, perpetrate violence and incite bigotry. After equivocating, the President has finally denounced the KKK, the Nazis and other white supremacist groups. But he and his administration must do more.”

All national groups and religious leaders must weigh in.

Barbara G. Melamed

Kaimuki

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White ‘nationalists’ are supremacists

Though vile under any name, the abhorrent rally of hateful people inciting fear and violence in the name of white supremacy should be called just that: white supremacists, not a name they chose to appear less controversial, white nationalists (“3 deaths, 4 arrests linked to white nationalist rally,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 13).

Kim Osborn Mullen

Kailua

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Focus on prevention, not fire sprinklers

As I live in a condominium with no sprinkler system, I am concerned about fire prevention just as much as everyone else. However, forcing every condo owner to pay for retrofitting sprinklers is not economical for those of us on fixed incomes (“High-rise sprinkler measure advances,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 10).

There should be more emphasis on prevention — namely, banning smoking from all buildings, inside apartments as well as the common areas. I know that this is just one of the causes among many of apartment fires, but banning smoking will also make condo living a more healthy environment.

Julie Chiya

Makiki

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Mandate needed to protect high-rises

I was ecstatic to see the article saying that the Honolulu City Council had voted unanimously to move legislation forward requiring older residential high-rise towers to be retrofitted with sprinkler systems (“High-rise sprinkler measure advances,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 10).

Unless it is mandated, it simply won’t happen.

The devil is in the details, however, and the matter of affording it without bankrupting people out of their homes is one of the big ones. Joe Taxpayer shouldn’t have to bear the brunt, but we need to be compassionate about our kupuna as well as others who would have difficulty footing the bill directly.

Another important issue, however, is how to do this — sprinklers aren’t necessarily the be-all, end-all. Surely in 2017 there are other, imaginative fire suppression ideas that might be better for retrofits, especially in a building like the Marco Polo that will be seeing substantial reconstruction at the same time.

Karin Lynn

Marco Polo owner

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Moiliili

Bicycling can make you feel young again

Last weekend, my 69-year-old husband and I participated in the Hawaii Bicycling League’s night ride around Waikiki to promote bicycling safety awareness. It was magical!

There were about 150 cyclists of all ages and abilities. Honolulu police accompanied us on bicycles and in patrol cars, keeping us safe in our lanes. Waikiki visitors loved the sight of this parade of twinkling, blinking lights.

My husband and I have recently rediscovered bicycling. He wants to celebrate his 70th by going on a mainland bike trip so we’re getting in shape cruising our neighborhood. Bicycling together has deepened our connection as a couple (especially since our son just went off to college) and inspires us to appreciate the beauty of Oahu, day and evening.

In these fast-paced technological times where hardly anyone looks up from their cell phones, bicycling offers us an invitation to count our blessings and feel like a kid again.

Marcia Mager

Mililani

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N. Korea may repeat Japan’s war mistakes

History repeats.

Kim Jong Un of North Korea, in threatening to start a war with the United States, is just as absurd as Hideki Tojo of Japan attacking Pearl Harbor and starting a war with our country on Dec. 7, 1941.

Our country’s population was almost twice as large as that of Japan then.

We had natural resources in abundance while Japan had little, not even fuel oil to run its ships and aircraft fleets.

North Korea’s population is 25.4 million today while our U.S. population is 326.7 million, 12.8 times larger.

Shortly after World War II started, the big three automobile manufacturers — Ford, General Motors and Chrysler — started to manufacture aircraft.

North Korea’s manufacturing sector is so small; what can it do to meet war needs?

Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, was quoted as saying upon his return to Japan, “I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”

Will history repeat itself?

James Kataoka

Mililani Mauka

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DOE must show it cares about students

With some of the lowest test scores and teacher salaries in the nation, one would think the state Department of Education could at least get the students to school on time.

I really appreciated the article written by Percy Higashi, who detailed the ridiculous bus situation that now burdens so many students and families on Maui (“DOE must fix Maui school bus snafu,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 13). He even offered a solution.

I am sure that the DOE could see this dilemma coming but as usual, it was too little, too late.

Education just doesn’t seem to be important to the powers that be in Hawaii or they would pay our teachers more money to keep them here and they would get our kids to school on time in safe school buses.

Sandra Hayes Shawhan

Mililani