Okimoto has done much for farmers

Al Santoro’s letter does not represent the views of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation ("Okimoto is hardly farmer’s best friend," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 1).

Some may not agree with former HFBF President Dean Okimoto’s endeavors. However, his contribution to connect Hawaii’s farm production to Hawaii’s chefs, restaurants and tourism industry has increased the pocketbooks of many a small farmer. He is credited for starting the KCC Farmers Market, which has paved the way for all other farmers markets statewide.

As in any democracy, constituencies have the right to vote for their leadership. In the last election, the majority of HFBF’s delegates chose a new slate of officers.

As for the bureau itself, we welcome and support any agricultural business, small or large, that can make available agricultural land productive, provide jobs and contribute to Hawaii’s stagnant economy. Also, for more than 12 years, development planned for the ag land at Ho‘opili and Koa Ridge were known, and various agreements and business obligations were made accordingly. If agreements with landowners are not honored, it will be difficult to obtain leases in the future.

Myrone Murakami
President, Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation

We need protection from ‘Franken-foods’

At a meeting called "The Future of Food," Dean Okimoto announced he is now president of an agricultural company that will "farm" 200 acres on Oahu, once government lands. In one sentence, he combined the words "organic," "Monsanto" and "Whole Foods" for Hawaii’s future. Monsanto brought Agent Orange (linked to Type-2 diabetes) to Kauai, then to Vietnam. It grows corn for ethanol, for animal feed and human "Franken-foods."

While the state Department of Health mandates food vendors use ingredient and nutritional value labels, and are imposing anti-local "food safety laws," not one law protects us from genetically modified foods or animals fed genetically modified crops.

We must protect the organic and/or local farmers like Al Santoro, Ma‘o Organics, taro farmers and coffee growers before they go under like the non-GMO papaya growers.

Sylvia Thompson
Makiki

Why are uninsured vehicles allowed?

Fixed rail is not the answer because there will never be enough ridership to make or keep it viable. Traffic is reduced 30 percent when school is out. Who will ride then? How much will the fare be?

The mayor and his team push rail but have done nothing about uninsured drivers and vehicles. Why? Taking them off the road would reduce the number of cars by 20 percent, a modest estimate. Why aren’t penalties for these lawbreakers not more severe, like permanent loss of driving privileges for the first offense? They can ride the bus!

Gary Suzukawa
Moiliili

Charge landowners benefiting from rail

Amid all the hoopla about the rail, an issue I’ve not heard anyone mention is the benefits to be realized by speculators with interests in lands lying west of the rail project by the rise in value of their holdings. Those lands should be assessed to help pay a fair share of costs associated with the rail project alongside Oahu’s taxpayers.

While it may sound reasonably simple, the fact is that the process is quite complex and will take some time. Even so, getting started simply requires adoption of a resolution by the City Council. All we need is political will.

Ernest Heen Jr.
Honolulu

License-to-carry law in Hawaii pointless

Why did the state Legislature even pass Hawaii Revised Statute 134-9, License to Carry?

Was it just to appease those of us freedom-loving Americans who want to protect ourselves and our families (since the response time for a Level 1 call in Hawaii is seven minutes), or was it done just because almost every other state in the union has one?

If the residents of Hawaii would just stand up as one and tell their elected employees that this is nonsense, and that they will be exercising their rights that are protected, not granted, by the United States and Hawaii constitutions, we would save this state tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees.

David B. Sweetwood
Waialua

Donkeys get better deal than homeless

We can help ship donkeys back to the mainland but not those people who are homeless and want to get back to their loved ones for a better life.

There are not just donkeys here in Hawaii, but a few jackasses as well.

Robert B. Dunham
Kapolei

Kailua guardians bad for business

The Star-Advertiser thinks the vacation rental bill is a good first step ("Vacation rental bill a good first step," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Aug. 12).

So, step two, quoting now, "reorganize as a posse to run down the violators. …"

Sounds like fun. Run those violators out of business, including the thousands of supporting jobs, hundreds of other businesses and millions in revenue.

Now what?

"Eventually … take up the issue of how to allow transient cottages. …"

Why bother? After the vigilantes are finished, there won’t be any.

Why not try a self-funding approach? Grant permits to all who can prove they are operating today and collect a bunch of funding. Then unleash the Guardians of Kailua to pull the permits on violators (parking, noise, etc.). This would confront the situation as it is, rather than wipe out a vibrant and popular visitor activity.

Ron Dennis
Kailua