Credit card theft is bigger issue

A reader suggested that the new digital parking meters are dishonest, as the automatic reset means the city may potentially get paid for the same period of time twice ("New parking meters basically fraudulent," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 24).

I am not sure this is an issue, as we pay for our use of the space, and it would be unfair for the next person parking in a spot to get free time.

The bigger issue is credit card security. I have not heard how the meters will be monitored to ensure that no one places a card reader in them (as has happened at some of ATMs in Honolulu).This is a potential windfall for those who want to steal credit card information. I wonder if the city has considered the consequences.

There are always a few folks out there who are not willing to live pono. Why tempt them?

Rue Burch
Moiliili

Cholesterol in food usually safe

I was surprised to see the letter from dietitian Joseph Gonzalez expressing greater concern about the cholesterol in shellfish than the toxic pollutants that are sometimes found ("Shellfish are loaded with cholesterol," Star-Advertiser, May 22).

It has been known for decades that dietary cholesterol has a very minor effect on blood cholesterol in most humans. Based on solid science, the health guidelines from Canada, Australia, Europe, Korea, India and New Zealand do not even include an upper limit for dietary cholesterol.

Gonzalez also incorrectly identified shellfish, including crab and shrimp, as being high in saturated fat.

A 3-ounce serving of these foods contains less than a gram of fat and less than two-tenths of a gram of saturated fat.

Most dietitians would tell you that this is almost no fat and encourage a focus on overall diet rather than fearing individual foods.

C. Alan Titchenal
Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa

East-West Center is vital to peace

As a former student, staffer and member of the Board of Governors of the East-West Center, and now as a legislator, I have seen the East-West Center from just about every angle possible.

I am quite certain that the suggestion by Joel Fischer ("East-West Center’s mission changes from peace to nationalistic militarism," Star Advertiser, May 13) to close the East-West Center is ill-conceived by a severe case of myopia.

What the professor fails to see is that the East-West Center is an arsenal of "soft power" that relies on relationships, diplomacy and networking of the world’s communities.

When I was at the center, Bangladesh broke away from Pakistan and India and Pakistan were bitter enemies, but on the East-West Center campus there was constant and friendly dialogue between these groups.

Prime ministers, university scholars and successful business persons from throughout the world are East-West Center alumni, and probably more wars have been prevented on that little piece of real estate in Manoa than we can imagine.

We should all be proud of the East-West Center; it is a microcosm of the role Hawaii can play in an increasingly dangerous world.

Rep. Gene Ward
Minority leader, state House of Representatives

East-West Center has lost its way

I share professor Joel Fischer’s view regarding the change or transformation of the East-West Center’s founding ideals and goals.

The president who succeeded Everett Kleinjans worried too much about seeking yearly budget support without caring for the center’s real and noble founding goals, which are deeply rooted inside us and still are alive even today in favor of the United States.

The center was genuinely a place for fostering mutual understanding over cultural barriers. We experienced it during our stay in 1969-1971. We believe in it. We are sincerely thankful to the U.S.

The East-West Center’s ideals and ideas were right, but the administration went wrong, very unfortunately.

A fundamental review is required.

Kazuyuki Matsumoto
Tokyo, Japan