Crabbe is best OHA CEO yet

"I could not turn back the time for the political change, but there is still time to save our heritage. You must remember never to cease to act because you fear you may fail." — Queen Lili’uokalani, 1917

The chief executive officer of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamana’opono Crabbe, had the courage to do what former OHA trustees, Gov. John Waihee, Robin Danner, president of the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement president, and other leaders in the Hawaiian community have failed to do. I applaud his actions to clarify our history.

The trustees should not hide behind closed doors to reprimand the most qualified CEO in OHA’s history, who has the skills to move this community forward into the next century.

Crabbe held true to the queen’s words expressed in 1917. Let’s stand behind him as a community, not tear him down. This is about a larger issue of setting history straight, in order to move forward.

Jacqueline Hong
Aiea

Time to vote out bad politicians

Annette Mahikoa Spinalo’s letter regarding the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and state Sen. Malama Solomon is so true ("Pass for senator just business as usual," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 6).

It reveals just another violation of moral behavior and absence of ethics and the sense of right and wrong by another elected politician.

To improve our society, it is up to the majority of citizens to make the needed corrections by either voting out of office these immoral and unethical individuals, impeaching them or taking legal action via prosecution.

Wilbert Wong Sr.
Kaneohe

Homeless just move elsewhere

One specific aspect of the homeless problem is the rapidly growing homeless population at Kapiolani Park.

Every week, more homeless people are setting up camps at the park. It appears that the "crackdown" on the homeless in Waikiki is just displacing many of them to Kapiolani Park. This makes local families more averse to using the park, and it must be a real turnoff to our tourists.

I don’t see any action being taken by the mayor, the Department of Parks and Recreation or the police to deal with this problem. We cannot wait for some grand solution to the overall issue of homelessness. This needs action now.

If Mayor Kirk Caldwell cannot even deal with this circumscribed problem, then we need a new mayor.

David Weiss
Wilhelmina Rise

Governor’s vow still unfulfilled

Didn’t Gov. Neil Abercrombie proclaim in 2011 (as preparations were being made for the APEC conference later that year) that homelessness is "a crime against humanity — this is Hawaii, this is paradise, there will be no homelessness in Hawaii"?

In the three years following, according to statistics ("Oahu homeless count rises for sixth year," Star-Advertiser, May 13), it seems the number of folks living on the street (unsheltered) has increased by nearly 25 percent, while those in shelters has risen by just under 6 percent.

It’s something to think about as the governor stumps for re-election this coming November.

Jim Wolery
Kaneohe

Homeless could live at WWII site

There we have the answer: Make the Honouliuli interment camp site into a home for the homeless.

If it was good enough for 2,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II, it should be good enough for the homeless people here in Hawaii.

June Lawrence
Waikiki

Bear could get out of control

I am disappointed that state Board of Agriculture Chairman Scott Enright approved an import permit allowing bears into the state ("Keep bear act out of state fair," Star-Advertiser, May 9).

I am even more ashamed of E.K. Fernandez Shows Inc. Vice President Donna Smith for saying that animal activists always object to animal acts. Activists care about animals and the safety of people. Bears and other exotic species should not be made to perform human tricks. It is not natural for them. No one knows when they could react in an adverse way and suddenly attack and escape.

It is heartbreaking to remember the horrific incident back in 1994 when Tyke the elephant attacked his trainer, escaped down a Kakaako street and had to be killed so violently in front of the public.

We should not take a chance on something like that happening again.

Naomi Egami
Palolo Valley