The social media was ablaze with many comments as to why Hawaii’s lantern floating ceremony is held on the same day as the national observance of Memorial Day, which is held every year on the last Monday of May.

I think the lantern ceremony is a worthwhile, solemn event shared by many for their departed family members. I am sure it will be a worthy annual event for years to come.

But the lantern ceremony should not be held on the same day as Memorial Day, which our nation reserves for our brave fallen military.

My suggestion is to hold Hawaii’s lantern ceremony the day before Memorial Day, on the last Sunday of May. The nation’s Memorial Day will be observed on the next day, Monday.

No conflicts.

Our country has designated Memorial Day as a day we as a nation pause and reflect, and appreciate those in our military that made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

We owe them a Memorial Day to call their own.

Jeff Konn

McCully-Moiliili

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House people at Barbers Point

I spent many of my military years at Naval Air Station Barbers Point. Since the base went back to the state years ago, wouldn’t it make more sense to use the buildings and infrastructure that already exist, so people can have their own community, rather than throwing more money to build new housing?

Use allocated money to get the community up and running. Folks would be away from tourists and not forced to do the daily shuttle from place to place.

Give it some thought and focus on how it could work, instead of why it can’t.

Donald Hinshaw

Gresham, Ore.

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Ask Creator for help with volcano

Much of the activity with Kilauea is credited to the handiwork of Madam Pele. Although countless have accepted her as part of the Hawaiian culture, many of us Hawaiians who are Christians do not recognize Pele as a legitimate deity.

She was birthed out of ancient mythology and even when the old religious system was abolished by the monarchy in 1819, some continued to hold to this belief system of many gods. Christians believe in a monotheistic Creator who is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-present. He is not capricious, but full of mercy and grace.

We believe the God of the Bible not only created all things, but sustains all things. If we want to see the lava flow controlled and property protected, perhaps we should credit it to the Creator and seek Him for help.

For those who claim to be followers of Christ, there is no place for honoring Pele. We serve a jealous God who wants no other gods before Him.

Robert Miller

Hawaii Kai

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Choose science, not superstition

Recent letters to the editor have suggested that the destruction caused by the current eruption of Kilauea can be attributed to Pele’s wrath over the proposed construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope and other human activities on the Big Island (“Mother Nature will restore balance,” Star-Advertiser, May 20; “Eruptions reminds us of misuse of land,” Star-Advertiser, May 24).

Others have suggested that this is nonsense (“Stop invoking Pele’s wrath in eruption,” Star-Advertiser, May 25).

I decided to take a closer look at this and see if I could get to the bottom of the controversy. I got out my Ouija board and ran a few sessions. Not satisfied with the results obtained from a single source, I consulted the stars and planets along with tarot cards. Although the results were consistent, I elected to go further using numerology, runes, scrying mirrors and tea leaves to bolster the results.

Finally I dusted off my magic eight ball. All gave essentially the same result. Pele is indeed angry. She is angry with those who would stand in the way of scientific progress and human development. Case closed.

Tom Strickland

Liliha

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Evidence doesn’t implicate Trump

The article, “Rosenstein hard-pressed to save Justice Department’s autonomy amid Trump’s wants” (Star-Advertiser, May 22), said that President Donald Trump threatens Justice Department independence by questioning the special counsel’s investigation into Russian meddling and alleged Trump campaign collusion with the Russians.

Trump “wants” an end to the investigation that has gone on for more than a year, succeeding an FBI investigation that may have started as early as 2016 during which an “informant” (aka “spy”) was inserted in the Trump campaign.

The Russians meddled, as is widely acknowledged, but after about two dozen Trump associates were interviewed and more than a million documents were submitted for review, there is no evidence of collusion.

None of the resulting indictments (money laundering, lying to investigators) implicate Trump. Continuing what Trump terms a “witch hunt” only serves the objectives of his political opponents. Perhaps that is the intent.

Tom Freitas

Hawaii Kai