Stop corporate donations

Political donations and endorsements by corporate entities breed corruption.

Why would a corporation or organization lay out millions of dollars to get a candidate elected?

Why would an individual spend millions of his or her own money to obtain a position that pays an annual salary of less than $200,000?

In this day of high-speed Internet, there is really no need for candidates to raise funds to promote their candidacy; therefore, let’s make corporate donations and endorsements illegal. Let’s limit political donations to $25 per individual. Let’s demand reform and stop the mockery of our political system now.

School, BOE failed to help

I truly admire the perseverance of Robert Hogan in defending his daughter against the bullying she was receiving at Waianae High. It is sad that he had to resort to federal intervention to remedy the problem. It also speaks very poorly of the initial response by the faculty of the school and the state Board of Education.

I would urge that every parent experiencing similar bullying of their child to contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, but only after the school and BOE have been contacted and no positive response has been forthcoming.

Mission shows compassion

The article relating to Honpa Hongwanji Mission’s compassionate position on gay rights was enlightening as well as reassuring ("Honpa Hongwanji Mission gets vocal with values," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 23).

When some churches have steered their flocks to practice discrimination and hate against gays, this Buddhist church has chosen to reject prejudice against our fellow human beings.

It shouldn’t have to take discovering a family member is gay before accepting and supporting people for what they are and allowing them the same rights and privileges the rest of us enjoy. Similarly, it shouldn’t require one of our own to suffer HIV, drug addiction or homelessness before we can show compassion for them, instead of denigrating or condemning others like them whom we don’t know. We are all family.

Honpa Hongwanji should be commended for its courage and compassion. Let’s hope others of faith follow its lead. 

Goats can help stop fires

On the mainland, goats and sheep are being used to chew up the vegetation that can translate into brushfires. Can the city and state pick up on this idea to minimize the expensive fires that flare up all the time, endangering homes?

The animals could be contained with temporary fencing until their work is done. Maybe shepherds would be necessary; it could provide jobs for locals in the area to protect and guard the animals.

Mentor a foster youth

The recent suicide of a former foster youth should not be looked at as an example of the failure of our child welfare services, but rather an opportunity for the entire community to help this very vulnerable population. More than 100 youth emancipate from the foster care system every year in Hawaii. Over the last 10 years, there has been an increasing emphasis on understanding the needs and developing resources to ensure better outcomes for these youth. But still, foster youth have higher rates of high school drop out, homelessness, unemployment and mental health needs. These young adults often do not have a strong connection with a caring adult who will help them through this very difficult time in their lives.

Devastating outcomes for foster youth can be prevented with community involvement. Become a mentor or donate your time or money. Make a difference in the lives of foster youth facing the challenges of life on their own. 

Heed 1977 general plan

I have to seriously question the proposal to build a 1,200-home community in Laie. In my experience at the Honolulu City Planning Commission, the powers that be in Laie have never supported the city’s general plan for Oahu, and it appears that history is repeating itself.

At the heart of the general plan (adopted in 1977) is its provision for distribution of island population that calls for full development of urban Honolulu, a second city in Ewa and slow growth in other areas. The pertinent point is that all projected population growth is provided for in the plan. If growth is permitted in slow growth areas such as Laie, then it must be subtracted from the other areas because what you do in one area affects all others. If not, then we would be planning for a population in some areas that is greater than what is forecast to occur.

Fish color can mislead

The color of treated fish is also not a good indicator of quality ( "Color not trustworthy indicator of fish freshness," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 25).

The majority of gassed fish I see are tombo ahi, with an unreal bright-pink sheen, whereas fresh tombo is an almost-white-to-pale-pink. In my opinion, the gassing is not to "retain color," but to give it the color of higher-quality fish. It definitely affects the taste, and tombo has a mild taste to begin with. I advise anyone I see buying it to use it only for highly seasoned dishes, such as poke.

Cut housing allowance

I cannot believe that the University of Hawaii Board of Regents would consider, much less approve, continuation of the $60,000-a-year housing allowance for UH President M.R.C. Greenwood ("College Hill has a vacancy," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 21).

How can the regents even consider this measure when they have instituted increases in student fees, making it a hardship for some students to continue their education at UH? Yet they will approve an additional $5,000 a month for Greenwood to live elsewhere while the UH president’s house is available for her to reside in?

This is infuriating to me as a taxpayer in the state of Hawaii. If Greenwood prefers to live outside of the home provided for her, she should pay for her own rent out of her ample annual salary of $427,507. After all, $60,000 per year is enough for several local students to complete their education at UH. If anything, scholarships should be given instead of a housing allowance.