Civil unions will enrich families

Thank you so much for the wonderful front-page report on the first couples to be joined in civil unions on New Year’s Day in Hawaii ("Joyously joined," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 2).

Reading of this wonderful occasion brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart. It was truly a joyous and momentous story. Civil unions will enrich all of our families!

Jo Chang
Kuliouou

Civil unions assault liberty

I applaud Bishop Carl Harris and Pastor Joe Hunkin for their attempt to bring to light what civil unions will do, and that is to assault our religious liberties, our traditional family and traditional marriage as we know it.

Homosexual activists will not rest until they destroy these foundations that made our society strong.

I encourage more pastors and churches to speak out.

Pastor Ramon Kauhi Garza
Kekaha, Kauai

Fireworks ban didn’t work out

The fireworks ban is a joke. This year’s New Year’s Eve was the worst ever. Now, since they can’t buy fireworks anymore, they make their own. In Makakilo it started at 5 p.m. and lasted until after 1 a.m. Not fireworks, but bombs. Very creative, indeed — there is always a way around the law. It was so loud the house was actually shaking. Let them buy the regular ones and restore some sanity here.

Jim Taylor
Kapolei

Give tax breaks to consumers

John LeRoux asks why a tax break is not given to the "job producer" instead of the employee ("Give employers a break on taxes, too," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 27).

Jobs are not created because corporations have more money. That money will go to the stockholders, the chief executive officer or into reserves, especially in a recession.

Jobs are produced by consumer demand for goods and services. If employers are unable to keep up with demand for current products or services, then they will hire more employees. If corporations believe there will be a demand for a new good or service they have created, they will hire employees to make it.

Giving consumers a tax break puts more money in their pockets to save or spend. As long as they choose to spend the extra money, demand will increase, and corporations will hire more employees.

Vern Lentz
Honolulu

Cayetano right about rail plan

I have never voted for Ben Cayetano for any office. I would not vote for him if he ran for U.S. Senate this year. However, I will vote for Ben Cayetano if he runs for mayor ("Cayetano considers Honolulu mayoral challenge," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 1).

He and his group are right about the rail system, and it’s time we inject common sense into this subject. Oahu cannot afford this system for financial, aesthetic or ridership convenience reasons.

Joanne Fong
Ewa Beach

Obama should loosen pot laws

The Hawaii branch of Americans for Safe Access, an advocacy organization for medical cannabis patients, and drug policy reformists respectfully request that President Barack Obama make the following New Year’s resolutions:

» Use his executive powers to move cannabis to a Schedule 2 drug so that doctors can prescribe it. It is beneficial for numerous conditions and diseases. Compassion and logic prompt this order.

» Decriminalize small amounts of cannabis in order to cut the deficit and put an end to making criminals of otherwise law-abiding citizens.

» Order that the Rev. Roger Christie now being unconstitutionally denied bond in the Honolulu Federal Detention Center be offered bail so that he may return to his beloved Big Island ohana and prepare for his trial.

A recent Gallup poll showed the American majority supports cannabis legalization. Implementing these resolutions would not harm his re-election campaign. Plus it would be the right thing to do.

Andrea Tischler Matt Rifkin
Hawaii Americans for Safe Access, Hilo

Makapuu hike was beautiful

What was expected to draw 60 or so hikers attracted more than 500 people to welcome the first sunrise of 2012.

The New Year’s Day hike on the Makapuu lighthouse trail in the Ka Iwi State Scenic Wilderness Park was epic. It started at 5:30 a.m. with the night sky on cue illuminating the path just enough for the hikers to find solitude and prepare for the dawn of a new day and year.

Once on the summit of Makapuu Ridge, a Hawaiian ohana began to chant, followed by a kahu offering a traditional Hawaiian oli and a random hiker providing an additional Hawaiian chant. As the sun rose and we looked back, we saw hundreds of beautiful, peaceful smiles. What a magical moment and magnificent way to ring in 2012.

Mahalo to the state Division of State Parks for bringing us all together.

Rodger and Elizabeth Reilly
Hawaii Kai

Nonresident fees are repugnant

We visited Akaka Falls State Park on Dec. 30 and were greeted by a sign and an attendant telling us we had to pay $5 to park or $1 each to enter because we were outsiders — not Hawaii residents.

That same day the media reported that in 2011, tourism brought $11.3 billion to Hawaii. Tourists, not residents, pay a combined transient accommodations tax and general excise tax of 13.25 percent. To rent a car, tourists pay taxes and fees of $7.50 per day, plus the GET, plus vehicle registration fees, plus airport concession fees of 11.11 percent, if the vehicle is rented at the airport.

So, is it really necessary to remind tourists that we are not part of the Hawaiian ohana by charging nonresident fees to enter the places for which we have come so far?

The nonresident fee is repugnant.

Henry T. and Judith M. Bernard
Eatonville, Wash.

Keillor show was wonderful

How pleasant to finally have something nice to say about a recent Honolulu event. Garrison Keillor and his talented cast came to town and performed two "Prairie Home Companion" radio shows for wonderfully appreciative audiences.

Keillor’s creative IQ is simply off the charts. To perform seamlessly with four Hawaiian musical virtuosos, write three new songs and two new skits and deliver an extemporaneous moral maxim that perfectly captures what we love and value most about our great state is a true mark of his genius. Heck, he even pronounced the name of our last monarch, Liliuokalani, correctly.

Mahalo nui, Mr. Keillor. Come back soon, please.

Shelly R. Brown
Honolulu