"Ex-police chief replaces Djou on Council," Star-Advertiser, June 10: It looks like the City Council has picked a puppet who will support all their agendas. The Council should have let the people choose the one to have Charles Djou’s seat. The Council could have done better.

Puppet? I do not think so! Donohue’s previous experience as Honolulu police chief (an administrator accountable for budgeting, operation and management of an important government agency) will definitely provide the Council with a realistic outlook of how to fiscally and responsibly make decisions, for the betterment of our city.

Well, he is off to a great start — raising taxes on landlords that will be passed on to tenants.

"Aiona preserves high-tech tax credits," Star-Advertiser, June 10: Right on, Duke! This encourages business to stay and come to Hawaii and is the only way to improve the economy of Hawaii. This is something the Democrats and unions do not understand, and yet they both want more jobs to magically appear. Business provides jobs and state tax revenues, not government and unions.

The Legislature in its infinite wisdom decided that changing the rules after the game has started was OK because, after all, it was to balance the state’s bloated budget, and, therefore, the end justifies the means. It’s no wonder that Hawaii has a bad reputation when it comes to business climate.

Another case of the Republicans giving the rich a tax break and making the middle class make up the budget deficit. Time to get rid of these Republicans.

"A day fit for a Hawaiian king," Star-Advertiser, June 11: I have moved away from home since 1983. I can remember sitting on the curb of Ala Moana and watching the parade. I’m glad to see that the parade ends at Aliiolani Hale, where it should, in respect to our Alii King Kamehameha. Also, I’m glad to see that the Hoolaulea and other festivities are being held across the street on the grounds of Iolani Palace, and also that the leis are being draped over his arms and not around the neck area where the feathers are.

How can a ruthless, murdering dictator be praised as someone great? Sure, he unified the islands, but couldn’t this have been done without force? I think Kamehameha was an evil, power-hungry monarch. If he was born today he would be despised.

You need to remember that Hawaii was a monarchy 200 years ago, not a democracy. This is what they did. They went out and conquered. Kamehameha is revered as the king who unified the Hawaii people. The Hawaiian people love him and you don’t have to. We honor him the same way the people of Japan, England and even the U.S. honor their former leaders.

I love the spin: "unification of the Hawaiian Islands." And yet, if he did the same thing today, he would be considered a war criminal. The Hawaiians claim the United States illegally overthrew the government. Well, so did Kamehameha then.