Hotels should dump phony resort fees

I found it interesting that mayors, travel and tourism agencies representatives were so vocal about the effect of a 1 percent increase in the hotel tax on tourists.

We recently stayed in a Waikiki hotel for three nights, and our bill showed a “resort charge” of $103.65. What did we get for this 11 percent charge? Wifi, photo, free meal for kids, phone calls, a $5 discount for Iolani Palace, a shopping bag, a free Sea Life Park pass with one paid, a $20 gift card valid in the gift shop, a savings book, surfing instructions, yoga classes and a few other items — none of which were requested, wanted or used.

If there is a concern about increasing the hotel tax 1 percent or around $3, where was the outcry when hotels started adding such phony resort charges and fees?

I would not have noted a $3 increase in the room charge but I did notice a $103 charge for, in effect, nothing. If hotels want to increase their rates, do so, but they should not have such add-ons for unwanted items.

Merle Crow

Waialae

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Prosecute attack on handicapped

I would like share my thoughts about the recent attack on a handicapped person in the parking lot of Marukai Market.

I hope for the sake of all the handicapped, as well as the elderly, that those who prey on such people are prosecuted to the full extent of the law to deter further incidents of this nature. If not, it will only encourage more attacks on our vulnerable citizens.

If it was a federal crime, it should be prosecuted as such to show the severity of such a despicable act.

Kelii Ching

Kapolei

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Equifax at fault for data breach

The Equifax data breach affects 143 million Americans, almost half of the population. Data breaches happen when companies have lax security, so obviously the fault lies with the company. The company says to log in to their site to see if you were affected by the data breach.

If you go on their site and enter your information, it may respond that you “may” be affected and to sign up for free credit monitoring to “protect” you. Equifax is offering free credit monitoring, but there’s a big catch. You must submit a credit card to get the free service for the first year, and after that you are automatically billed for the service unless you cancel it.

Also, in the terms of use, customers are forced to settle any legal disputes through forced arbitration, which always benefits the defendant. You are at a big disadvantage if you sue them.

Obviously, Equifax screwed up big time and is trying to make money for their screw up.

Jon Shimamoto

Mililani

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Don’t minimize rape, murder statistics

The article, “Hawaii stomping out crime” (Star-Advertiser, Sept. 1), states that rape was up 11.9 percent and murders were up by 20.9 percent. Perhaps that should have been included in the headline.

Rape and murder crimes up — other crimes down. The article presented the positives in a positive light, comparing county and state statistics in specific years — 1975 compared to 2016, 2016 compared to 2015 and 2007 — to emphasize the good work of the police, which they deserve. However, the article should not minimize the increase in rapes and murders.

Women and mothers of women would appreciate knowing how the state is working to decrease rape and murder in Hawaii.

Sharon Hurd

Kapolei

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Homeless crowd into fast-food restaurants

I want to personally thank the city and City Council for their continuous homeless sweeps. Eating in fast-food restaurants or having a frappuccino used to be so boring at Starbucks, where paying customers sat at tables, used restrooms in a timely fashion, plugged into wall receptacles to do a bit of computer work, and were able to get their own soft drinks in the dining areas.

Now, it’s so much more interesting trying to find a table and/or power outlet at Starbucks after paying $6 for a drink. Certainly, someone sleeping with a glass of water on the table should have first priority. Jack in the Box in Waimalu frequently shuts down the soft-drink machine, because so many of the homeless thieves go in and fill 64-ounce water flasks with soda.

Burger King in Waimalu cut off the power to its outlets because homeless plug in and stay all day. Wendy’s in Aiea moved tables away from the outlets for the same reason. McDonald’s in Pearl City now has a stream of homeless people using the one unisex restroom as a washroom.

Keep up the good work, City Council. Oh! And maybe someday you could start addressing the drug addiction, alcoholism and mental health issues that keep so many of these people on the streets.

Tana-Lee Rebhan-Kang

Aiea

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BOE may regret hiring Kishimoto

I was very dispirited after learning about the selection of an out-of-state candidate, Christina Kishimoto, as the new state superintendent.

How Board of Education members could make this selection is beyond me, when we have capable candidates from Hawaii.

I didn’t realize that in addition to being from out of state and not having her Hartford, Conn. superintendent’s contract renewed after three years, and having contentious issues raised by constituents in her recent Arizona district where she has been superintendent for less than three years, Kishimoto lacks teaching experience.

I hope that in one or two or three years, the BOE doesn’t regret its decision to hire her. If so, shame on them for not giving one of our Hawaii educators the chance to improve our schools. And board members should all resign for not looking out for the best interests of our children and wasting our taxpayer funds.

Joanne Swearingen

St. Louis Heights