Politicians fail at protecting us

It angers me to read about farm thieves who continue their foraging with little fear of punishment. The laws that are supposed to protect are the very same that are killing us.

In every instance when a crime is committed, victims are told how they need to protect themselves, while felons are released with lame excuses of "hard to prosecute."

Prevention mode will eventually mean rebar in every window and doorway, as seen in parts of South L.A. It’s ugly and unfriendly and sends the wrong message to visitors.

Elected politicians are supposed to protect society, but they have failed miserably. Why vote?

Lawrence Makishima
Pearl City

Restore B bus and old routes

I did not think it was possible for the bus service to get worse. But on Black Sunday, Aug. 19, it happened again.

There is no longer a bus from Kuhio Avenue to my job on Beretania Street in the morning to get me there on time. The schedule says Bus 2 at 4:36 a.m., but we waited more than an hour two days in a row. From downtown we waited as 22 buses came and went before we could get on one not overpacked.

There is more graffiti each day covering each stop and inside every bus. Riders are more irritable than ever during the long waits, packed buses and ultra slow rides.

The mayor should bring back the B bus and restore all the pre-June 3 routes.

Mark Davis
Downtown

Meet an affront to environment

From Sept. 6 to 15, some 10,000 environmentalists, including 39 from Hawaii, will converge on Jeju Island to attend the World Conservation Congress (WCC) organized by the oldest environmental organization, the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The IUCN’s slogan is that it promotes "a just world that values and conserves nature." If recent actions are any indication, nothing could be further from the truth.

The WCC will take place only a few minutes away from Gangjeong where the construction of a naval base is threatening one of the planet’s most spectacular soft coral forests and other coastal treasures, assaulting numerous endangered species and destroying a 400-year-old sustainable community of local farmers and fishers.

Instead of inviting dialogue, the IUCN conference organizers have suppressed it. In a letter from IUCN leadership — with no explanation — it blocked the villagers from even having a small information booth at the conference.

Benton Pang
Kakaako

Photo of body was offensive

Please, as Oahu’s only remaining daily hard-copy newspaper, don’t become an offensive tabloid with sensational photos.

Was there really a need to print the large photo of the body of the man who’d shot others in New York City ("New York police kill gunman who shot ex-colleague to death, " Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25)?

Please don’t take this path to ugliness.

Becky Hommon
Ewa Beach

Forgiveness needed now

I was shaking my head in disbelief that 20-year-old Tyson Dagley had been facing the possibility of a year in prison. He definitely is not a criminal and the watercraft collision in Keehi Lagoon was a terrible accident that took the life of Kristen Fonseca.

My aloha goes out to Kristen’s family, as well as Tyson and his family. Having to live your life knowing what your actions caused is enough punishment. There has been enough pain for all; forgiveness is what is needed.

Let’s get the real criminals off the streets.

Lynette Cabral
Ewa Beach

Keep Maui site as preservation

Honolua Bay-Lipoa Point is in dire jeopardy after being taken out of "preservation" in August.

It is a place cherished and loved by thousands of people from all walks of life — surfers, boaters, joggers, fishermen and many more. Everyone has a stake in preserving Honolua. Does Maui Land & Pine think the people of Maui would believe this is their only way to fulfill its pension obligation to its employees?

I simply cannot understand how this can be happening. Please pray for these decision-makers within the Maui County offices and MLP offices to take time to consider the complete impact of their decision. Help by visiting savehonolua.org and signing the petition at change.org, search "Honolua."

Greg Smith
Lahaina