Don’t dictate business deals

I agree with the Hawaii Kai community that it’s truly sad to see Foodland leave Koko Marina Center, as it’s been a staple where many of us shopped over the decades.

What I don’t agree with is the notion of a few people from the community — like state Sen. Sam Slom, state Rep. Gene Ward and Portlock resident Paige Altonn — stepping in to try to block or sidestep the decision of the property owner to lease the space to a new tenant who had placed a winning bid to secure the space. This is a decision that most likely best represents the center’s financial stability for longevity and profitability.

The argument that Foodland’s departure will leave a gaping hole in the community for fresh local produce is very weak. We have several open markets in the area. We have a large, well-stocked Safeway store and a Costco.

Let’s not turn into another NIMBY neighborhood that dictates who can and cannot conduct business in the community.

Matt Derby
Hawaii Kai

Point of school is to get good job

The state Department of Education has it all wrong. The ultimate objective is not the high school diploma but training our youth for jobs. What good is a high school diploma if graduates can’t find jobs?

For more than 50 years, educators have talked to employers to project what type of jobs will need to be filled in the future and what they want from the employees to fill those jobs. The DOE can structure its curriculum to provide those employees.

Not every student wants to or should go to college. Not everyone wants to work in an office. We need to take a look at manufacturing and production. At one time, "Made in the USA" meant quality and gave our country pride. Now, we’re a consumer nation.

Before you can solve a problem, you must first analyze and identify the problem. I see so little of this being done.

Rudolph Yap
Kaneohe

Students need social studies

The point of social studies elective classes, and all electives in general, is to spend time exploring new territory, to discover new interests or to realize what isn’t interesting — to help students learn what they want. That experience is valuable. That experience makes room for growth, and inspires students to take control of their own learning.

The state Board of Education’s proposed changes are bad for students. Forcing social studies to be the neglected stepchild of education will ultimately create a group of people who do not understand themselves, each other or society in a broader social, political or historical context.

Members of the board have said that other states require only three social studies credits. But Hawaii is a unique place with unique challenges, and students need to understand the history and implications of these challenges. Connections like that cannot be made in a math or science classroom.

Sarah Nishioka
Mililani

Abercrombie a disappointment

You know that old adage, "If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all"? Well, the governor should listen to those words of wisdom and think before he speaks.

He can’t say anything nice about the Pro Bowl. He represents our state and now people all over the world are wondering what kind of leader we have in Hawaii.

I have been very disappointed in our governor. Can I take my vote back? I changed my mind.

Terry Luke
Kailua

Taiwan president’s position on China was misrepresented

In the article by Dr. Denny Roy’s article (“Asia’s security threats,” Star-Advertiser, APEC: The Issues, June 19), he mentioned that the incumbent Taiwan President Ma Yin-jeou supports the principle that Taiwan is part of China, which is absolutely incorrect.

Since President Ma took office in May 2008, he insists that the Republic of China (Taiwan) has been a sovereign and independent nation since 1911.

Over the past three years, Ma’s administration, under the framework of the ROC Constitution, turned to the 1992 Consensus as the foundation of an active effort to improve cross-strait relations. This has been carried out under the principles of “parity, dignity and reciprocity.” These efforts have helped to gradually transform the Taiwan Strait from a military flashpoint into an avenue of peace.

This is the principle consistently upheld by President Ma.

Takuay “TK” Lee
Director, Press Division
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles