Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
‘Celebrity’ bill is wasted effort
I am patently opposed to the "celebrity privacy" bill ("Top stars back anti-paparazzi bill," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 9).
The wisdom and energy of the state Senate should be focused on improving the health and well-being of Hawaiians who have given far more to the islands than Hollywood celebrities. Are not all families equal? How does a law that in reality focuses on a privileged class help the farmer in Hana, the merchant in Haiku or the auntie in Keanae needing to repair her home?
Earlier in the week I happened to see Steven Tyler eating at a natural food store on Hana Highway in Maui.He seemed to be dining in exquisite privacy with absolutely no need for yet another law.
Energy needs to be focused on finding opportunities for our young people, ensuring coastal protection and enhancing equality, rather than focusing on the needs of those who have found fame a bit too public for their tastes.
Kurt Wollenhaupt
Haiku, Maui
OHA surprised by marina deal
In 2012, the state fulfilled its constitutional obligations to Native Hawai- ians by providing the Office of Hawaiian Affairs with fee simple title to lands in Kakaako makai.
However, to our surprise, the Hawaii Community Development Author- ity had agreed to lease the harbor in Kakaako for 50 years to a California-based marina operator and increase the boats slips to 243.
Now OHA is feeling heavy pressure from both entities to accept the harbor improvements, which include two "finger" piers that will extend from OHA’s Fisherman’s Wharf site. OHA was not aware of the HCDA’s commitment to the finger piers prior to our signing the settlement agreement with the state.
OHA needs its oceanfront unobstructed to be able to master plan our area as a whole. Cruise ships docked in front of our property would violate our promise to the Kakaako community.
Rowena M. Akana
Trustee-at-large Office of Hawaiian Affairs
Soda price will be a third tax
Here we go again. Our governor and our legislators are after our hard-earned money under the guise of stopping obesity.
The proposed 1 cent-per-ounce on soft drinks is a huge tax.
Take the 12-ounce can of soda that’s about 38 cents on sale. Add the current 5-cent recycle tax and the proposed 12-cent obesity tax and you’re at 55 cents.
Then add the 4.712 percent excise tax. The can is now 58 cents, with taxes being 34.5 percent of the total cost.
That’s tax insanity.
Sid Tsubata
Kaneohe
Other products have sugar, too
I fail to understand why high fructos corn syrup and sugary drinks are being singled out for an obesity tax while candies, cookies, pastries and ice cream are not.
We are told these drinks provide no essential nutrients. Uh, water is essential to the human body.
Am I to assume candies, cookies, pastries and ice cream are excluded because they provide some essential nutrients? Do they not also contribute to obesity?
So, if the soft drink industry adds some vitamins and minerals to the soft drinks, would they then be excluded from the obesity tax?
I point out to our legislators that dried ramen has from 1 to 3-plus grams of sodium per package. But that would just give them an excuse to pass a heart and stroke tax.
Peter Chisteckoff
Mililani Mauka
Kudos to state soccer champs
Congratulations to the Kalani Falcons for their first state championship trophy in soccer following a pulsating, skillful and somewhat physical game against a strongPunahou team.
All four regulation-time goals in the game were gems.
Our thoughts are with Kalani striker Leo Klink and family following news that his mother was taken ill during the game.
Paul Perretta
Lower Manoa
Patient advocate a money saver
What happened to Patty Rohlfing also happened to my mother in 2002 ("Call for ER patient advocate is personal to ex-lawmaker," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 10).
I took her to the emergency room because she was incoherent and very weak. At the ER, she could not say the date. She, too, had a CT scan.
I was told to take her home because the CT didn’t show anything. I told a nurse she had become incontinent and was weaker than when she came in. I was told she was fine and could go home.
Three days later she had the stroke that killed her.
State Health Director Loretta Fuddy said the intent of the patient advocate measure was good but too expensive. My mother did not die immediately. She spent weeks in the hospital and two months dying in a nursing home. A patient advocate salary would have been less than the nursing home bill. An ER advocate might have saved other lives, too.
Jessie Weinberger
Ewa Beach
Name airport after Inouye
There has been much discussion since the passing of U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye about how to honor him, and several suggestions have been publicized about naming various facilities for him.
I believe naming the Honolulu International Airport "The Daniel K. Inouye International Airport" seems most appropriate.
Thousands of visitors pass through the airport when they arrive in Hawaii. I feel that every one of them would immediately recognize his name and be made to realize how important he was in his role as senior senator in the U.S. Congress.
I was a classmate of Sen. Inouye and I know that he was a modest man in his manner and approach to people. Dan would certainly feel honored with having his name associated with the entrance to these enchanted islands by so many thousands of visitors, mostly newcomers to Hawaii.
Edward F. Furukawa
Manoa
Waikiki hotels ignoring locals
This is the best of times for Waikiki hotel owners and the worst of times for kamaaina attempting to secure accommodations in Waikiki. The average nightly hotel room rate for kamaaina is now well above $250.
It is often said that it is the worst of times that reveal the strength of a relationship. This is only half the truth. It is also the best of times that brings to light the depth of a relationship. Have hotel executives forgotten that it was kamaaina who kept the stream of revenue flowing and jobs secure in their hotels when visitor arrivals were slow?
Hotel profits and greed should never take precedence over the dignity of local people in this land of aloha.
Carlino Giampolo
Kakaako
How to write us
The Star-Advertiser welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (~150 words). The Star-Advertiser reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.
Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@staradvertiser.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813
|