Fireworks are part of Hawaii

Coming into effect on Jan. 2 is the fireworks ban.

I am not happy about the ban but I agree that illegal fireworks like aerials are the cause of many fires on the Leeward Coast. Those who use illegal fireworks have spoiled the fun for the majority of people.

Also, enforcement of the law to prohibit sales is difficult because many of us who enjoy fireworks contribute to illegal use by buying them in the first place. However, I think more should be done to stop the sale of illegal fireworks before a complete ban is proposed.

Hawaii wouldn’t be Hawaii without fireworks, especially at New Year’s. We should kokua and make sure this popular tradition is around for future generations.

Investigate all charter schools

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser is to be commended for exposing the rampant nepotism taking place at one of the charter schools. Let’s hope your reporters are digging deeper into the use of taxpayer money to fund these elite schools.

In the meantime, the state Department of Education should defer closing any public schools and instead prevail on the Legislature to conduct an audit of the charter schools to see if they are worthwhile. If not, the savings derived from their closure would eliminate any need to close public schools.

We need bigger tax reductions

All of this business regarding federal taxes in Washington are just smoke and mirror politics.

The bottom line is that they will act after everyone’s made their soapbox statements. The result will not help Americans of any social class; it will only continue the tax rates of the past 10 years. When all of this finger-pointing is over, none of us will feel any difference in our pocketbook, but we will have watched pathetic political theater.

If they really want to help us, then cut taxes more than Bush did.

Voters wanted tax cuts to end

The clear mandate of American voters is to let the tax cuts expire on schedule.

I vividly remember Democrats decrying Bush’s tax cuts for the rich while the Republicans campaigned to make the cuts permanent. This has been an issue in every election since 2002. Tax cuts for the middle class and lower were deemed so insignificant that they need not be continued after their expiration date.

Legislators who claim the voters didn’t know what they were doing are arrogant and elitist. The expiration date and future rates were available to everyone, and widely discussed during every campaign.

Honolulu needs a symphony

Our great country is going down the tubes, and now our great city is following the same path. The Honolulu Symphony is shutting down. Pathetic.

One of our very few cultural resources is disappearing. Gone. Even by national standards our orchestra was really quite good, but between lousy management and lack of support from higher-ups, it couldn’t survive.

To lousy management: I sent a donation in June; I received a thank-you note in September, dated July.

Lack of support: Our city government should have and could have found some money for support. Instead it pays $116,000 just to the director of the Royal Hawaiian Band and gives him Cabinet rank for providing pleasant music to lunch-munching downtowners and other leisure places.

Great — but that’s entertainment, not culture. What happens to Beetho-ven or Mozart or Tchai-kovsky? How about a Cabinet position for a director of culture, who could also be symphony band master?

No culture means degradation of the quality of life. Is that what we want?

Help prevent animal cruelty

I am a student concerned about the growing problem of animal cruelty in Hawaii.

Statistics show that 32.6 percent of animal abuse was by neglect and abandonment.

There are many animal shelters here desperately seeking volunteers: people to donate time to walk, bathe and show affection to abandoned animals.

In other cases, they encourage volunteers to pass out fliers, help with administration duties, fundraising and requests for foster homes and even adoption.

I love donating my time to these animals and giving back to my community. I strongly suggest that people who have a love for animals, or who just want to donate their time, seek out these shelters and offer assistance.

The smallest gesture — from a donated bag of dog food to a warm and loving hug — could save an animal’s life.