“Priming the pump with a paint job” (Star-Advertiser, Sept. 8) was a good explanation of the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park’s present situation.

The story brought members from the larger community to supplement the city and merchants with valuable resources and volunteers.

On the morning of the community painting, it drizzled, then rained hard. Everyone said this was a Hawaiian blessing. When we were ready to paint, the sky cleared with a slight breeze.

We watched Imai Kalahele paint the outline of the Koolau range. The artist gave simple directions: Take a cup of paint, choose a spot, and paint inside the lines. All questions for direction were answered with “whatever.”

In two hours, the area was cleaned and the pump house was transformed. The four-sided mural, “The Blessings of the Koolau,” gives the park a new inviting look with renewed promise. The city will close the park on Oct. 16 to install the new fencing.

Sandy Pohl

Creative Arts Experience

Nuuanu

—

Fight North Korea with information

North Korea has won the nuclear race. Like us, it can never use its nuclear weapons. Further sanctions won’t make it disappear.

If we capitulate, North Korea has won the right to keep its people imprisoned and more than a million Koreans working as slaves. B-1 bombers and nuclear weapons can’t free them.

But we have superweapons that North Korea fears more, superweapons that toppled the Iron Curtain in 1989 — information and open borders.

People behind the Iron Curtain knew of the freedoms and prosperity in the West, and after Czechoslovakia opened its borders in 1989 every communist government behind the curtain, including the Soviet Union, collapsed.

End all sanctions but insist North Korea end the isolation of its people. Flood them with all our commodities and free information cannot be kept out. Once North Koreans know they have a great prison warden, not a great leader, Kim Jong-un’s jail will collapse.

Sam Gillie

Hawaii Kai

—

Tropical fish collectors harmed

Once again we see the state of Hawaii practicing selective discrimination against a viable business entity. I’m talking salt water tropical fish collection, with no more issuing or renewing collection permits (“Ruling halts commercial scooping of Hawaii aquarium fish,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Sept. 6). No other ocean business activity is so highly regulated.

I made a living in this industry from 1970 through 1982. It’s a very hard and yes, dangerous young man’s occupation.

Do we see this same regulation in regards to lay netting? This practice rapes the reef of anything that swims, endangers monk seals and green sea turtles, but this practice is still permitted.

The divers who make a living collecting salt water tropical fish from Hawaiian waters do it on a selective basis. A dead fish has no value. By selective harvesting, they preserve the industry for years to come.

Deane Gonzalez

Hawaii Kai

—

Condo units need fire extinguishers

Require mandatory portable fire extinguishers in every condo unit without an automatic sprinkler system. Have the condo association issue a lightweight, easy-to-use fire extinguisher — don’t leave it to the condo resident to voluntarily obtain one (they won’t do it).

Require mandatory training on the use of the fire extinguisher. Require it to be positioned in a noticeable location (not hidden away in a closet where its existence will be forgotten as well as its location).

In effect, make every able-bodied resident a firefighter who can respond quickly to putting out a fire in their unit, long before the fire department arrives. Seconds count.

Talk about installing sprinkler systems in old condo buildings has resulted in nothing happening. It costs too much. Residents can’t afford it. Portable fire extinguishers? Now, that is affordable and feasible and may save lives.

Stephen Kabei

Salt Lake

—

Provide help, not ‘tough love’

In response to C. Richard Fassler (“Apply tough love to Waikiki homeless,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Sept.10), a few points:

First, instead of his proposed “tough love,” why not formulate appropriate public policies addressed to this housing problem, just as we do when considering other public issues?

Second, providing food and medical care to homeless people, which Fassler criticizes, seems like basic human decency. After all, we don’t deny those services to needy older people, young people or the disabled, who may have homes.

Finally, I own and occupy a residence in Waikiki, and have some knowledge of these matters, whereas Fassler, well, “has spent a great deal of time in Waikiki.” Hmm. Nuff said.

Michael Kappos

Waikiki