Help foster parents help children in need

Thank you for printing the editorial concerning the troubling failure of the Aloha State to update the stipend received by parents willing to foster children here (“Settle lawsuit over foster parent pay,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Jan. 9).

The opioid crisis in America is being reported daily. The related crisis in available foster care for the many children being neglected and abused as a result of their parents’ drug addiction is now being understood. Has that crisis reached these islands?

The state Department of Human Services and House leaders, especially House Finance Chairwoman Sylvia Luke, should settle this lawsuit without spending critically needed funds on the suit itself. Spend the money on the children and be generous with those who take a risk to foster “at-risk” kids.

Please do not allow anyone to walk away from the opportunity to foster children here because they have been made to feel like beggars at the state’s table.

Carol Pierpont

Hawaii Kai

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Let homeless live by government offices

Kakaako is overrun by homeless people, most of whom refuse to go to provided shelters.

Just a few of the camps and storage areas are located at Mother Waldron Park, along South, Queen, Pohukaina, Cooke and Keawe streets, and at bus stops.

Most of these people are the same ones who occupied Kakaako Gateway Park and Kakaako Waterfront Park for many years. It seems that officials cannot handle this situation, so I have some suggestions.

Move all the homeless from this up-and-coming community called Kakaako to the grounds of the state Capitol, Honolulu Hale and the Honolulu Police Department headquarters.

Have individuals erect tents in an orderly fashion so as to provide room for all. Place hygiene stations strategically throughout each site.

Hawaii government officials just might come up with a solution for the homeless if they are confronted by them on a daily basis, just as hard-working, taxpaying residents are.

Mary Leffel

Kakaako

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‘Monster’ houses built for tourists

At first glance, Harold Senter’s letter seemed facetious (“‘Monster homes’ fill rental-unit shortage,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 7).

He writes that the garish mega-complexes throughout Oahu are being built for use by our local residents.

I urge him and others to Google “vacation rentals” by Zip code and see the hundreds of short-term tourist rooms that pop up. They cost upwards of $150 a night.

There are currently no enforceable city or state laws to stop this unregulated cottage industry. Monster houses do not fill any needs for locals, kamaaina or kupuna seeking affordable housing.

Likewise, the property owners have no affinity for the betterment of the community or its residents. Immediate legislation is needed to curtail further construction of these obtrusive dwellings and to assist in finding solutions to a rental market crisis in Hawaii nei.

Karyn Herrmann

Hahaione Valley

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Don’t build high-rise at Ala Wai harbor

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has proposed some sort of development at the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor through a potential public- private partnership.

There have been several meetings to receive public opinion about this proposed development. At every meeting, attendees unanimously rejected a massive high-rise, something the state has not ruled out.

The Ala Wai boat harbor is public land, created many decades ago to serve the recreational needs of the public. The boat docks, public parking and most importantly the public beach all provide tremendously positive benefits to all the wonderful citizens of our island, residents and tourists alike.

A high-rise would reduce beach access, deny the needs of boaters, affect property values and property taxes of nearby buildings and trigger a tidal wave of lawsuits — an unqualified disaster for years to come.

Allowing this to happen would violate a sacred public trust and be a complete failure of leadership among our duly elected public officials.

Thomas Kim

Waikiki

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Nothing offensive about island’s name

Chinese immigrants started arriving here in 1852, Portuguese in 1878, Japanese in 1884, Koreans in 1903, Filipinos in 1906. My Japanese grandparents arrived here in 1894.

As a child here in the 1940s, I witnessed large language barriers between the immigrants. It was necessary to use descriptive words to communicate and identify people in our day-to-day living.

Racial extractions of residents were commonly used to identify locations and camps where they lived, some without street names. Offensive? Wasn’t then, isn’t now.

The names for Chinaman’s Hat, Turtle, Rabbit, and Goat islands are a perfect example of endearing descriptions for those tiny offshore islands. Offensive? Wasn’t then, isn’t now.

Roger Chang thinks Chinaman’s Hat is slanderous, disgraceful and politically incorrect (“Stop calling island Chinaman’s Hat,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 6). Nonsense!

Political correctness can create unnecessary negativity.

Iris Mudgett

Mililani

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Not bothered by ‘Chinaman’s Hat’

Chinaman’s Hat? It doesn’t bother me. I’m 100 percent Chinese.

Bill Fong

Makiki

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Oprah a good choice to run for president

Oprah Winfrey would be a credible and viable presidential candidate. With America’s and the world’s different ethnicities, her ability to see and relate beyond “other” is a definite plus.

She also has revealed all or most of her personal secrets, so there’s not much dirt to dig up. Even though she publishes “O” magazine, with a picture of her on the cover each month, she is definitely not narcissistic.

We could sure use her expertise with people.

I am positive she will be able to relate to any and all of us (including the homeless) even though she is a billionaire.

I would definitely support her running.

Cassandra Aoki

Kaneohe