Ho‘opili will be asset to the state

As a lifelong West Oahu resident and member of the Ho‘opili Community Task Force, I’m excited to see that a community such as Ho‘opili is coming. It’s the perfect addition to Kapolei and the type of community that will complete the vision for the region.

Ho‘opili will be an all- inclusive community. Together with D.R. Horton Schuler Division, our task force provided many elements to the Ho‘opili plan — not just homes, but schools, parks, businesses, stores and even a farmers market. And how convenient and healthy to have all of these features within walking distance.

This new community is an ideal model for Kapolei and for the entire state. It is for our future as well as an economic resource.

Georgette Stevens
Kapolei

Subsidies affect how people act

Wow, what a concept as stated by Marc Alexander, the state’s homelessness coordinator, that providing free meals to the homeless doesn’t solve the problem — it only draws more homeless ("State aims to clear out homeless," Star-Advertiser, May 18).

It’s a big revelation when a government official recognizes that people’s behavior changes when they are offered something for nothing.

I wonder if this concept applies to other programs, such as jobless benefits, welfare, food stamps or Medicaid.

John Faris
Waikiki

Have homeless work for food

Why not treat the homeless like the Portuguese, Japanese, Filipino and Korean immigrants who built this great state?

Build small plantations to grow produce in heavy homeless areas of the state, creating jobs from growing, to packaging, shipping and sales of goods.

Tim Rajkowski
Kailua

Arresting victim just isn’t right

I can sympathize with the city prosecutor in principle — yes, we must stem the tide of domestic violence in Hawaii ("The evil of domestic violence led to arrest of witness," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 16).

Nevertheless, arresting and detaining witnesses to coerce their testimony is completely out of bounds.

What if the victim/witness suddenly had a short-term memory loss or was dealing with post traumatic stress disorder, relative to the alleged assault?

In any event, is it acceptable in our community to detain victims so the city prosecutor can win cases? This situation stinks.

Tim Orden
Kaneohe

Oahu rail could bankrupt us

Shortly over a year ago, in response to my letter to urge a vote against Obamacare, I received an email from our then-Congressman Neil Abercrombie that Obamacare, once implemented, would save our nation millions of dollars.

Today the cost is projected to be more than $100 billion.

I am also afraid that our rail system will cost us so much more than our governor predicts, while serving so few.

The many jobs that government will create for the union workers and additional monies for union management will not be covered by ridership fees and rail will become a heavy burden on us and our children.

Hawaii can very easily follow in the footsteps of California, New York and Wisconsin, and go beyond broke.

Steven Norstrom
Honolulu

People who feed the homeless are helping only themselves

Religious groups that feed the homeless are also typically proselytizing to them. It’s a trade: food for preaching.

These groups are fooling themselves and trying to fool others when they maintain that their concern is the homeless. They are more concerned with having an audience. They should join forces with the state’s effort to draw homeless people to social services and shelters.

Enabling mentally healthy people who have made a decision to live in parks and other public areas is unfair to residents who can no longer enjoy those areas. And feeding those with mental illness and enabling their flight from mental health services is unconscionable.

If the state demonstrates that it can provide the services, then any group whose actions discourage the homeless from seeking those services is clearly acting in its own self- interest, not that of the homeless.

Elisa Johnston
Honolulu