Hanohano must account for slurs

I was angered, saddened and sickened to read of the racial slurs expressed by our elected official, state Rep. Faye Hanohano. She is sworn to uphold our state’s Constitution. The code of ethics found in Article 14 of our Constitution states, "The people of Hawaii believe that public officers and employees must exhibit the highest standard of ethical conduct and that these standards come from the personal integrity of each individual in government."

Racial slurs demonstrate the lowest of ethical conduct and integrity. The responsibility of her office is to represent the people of Hawaii, including the ethnic groups she insulted. Our words reflect our thoughts, beliefs and emotions. How can she equally represent the needs of all people of Hawaii if she does not believe in their worth?

Hanohano must be held accountable, not only for her words but her demonstrated beliefs toward the very people she was elected to represent.

Paul Kuehn
Mililani

DeOccupy folks not being fair

I would like to thank the City Council for Bill 7.

What I do not understand is how deOccupy Honolulu can favor one group (the homeless) over another group (the working, taxpaying citizens).

Does the group not stand for equal rights?

Both the homeless and the homeowners have rights, and both must abide by laws.

Homeowners pay school and real estate taxes, must keep their homes up to code, probably have a job and are responsible for themselves and their families. They are the ones who pay for the sidewalks so they can walk their children to school. They also pay for government to help those who cannot take care of themselves.

Re-setting up tents costs the government money that could better be spent elsewhere. I ask deOccupy Honolulu to get its priorities in order. Help come up with a working solution for those who choose to live on the streets and use their money for drugs and alcohol rather than housing. There are viable programs for the others.

Cynthia Lebowitz
Waikiki

Caldwell should restore B route

Every time I ride the No. 2 bus to and from Waikiki, it is jam-packed with kupuna, with canes and walkers, having to stand because there are no seats.

This is unforgivable, and it wasn’t this bad before the B route was discontinued.

When I heard that the 2L was replacing the B, I thought that was great. Then I saw on the schedule that the last run on the 2L from the Kalihi station was at 7:19 a.m. Whose brilliant idea was that?

Mayor Caldwell needs to do the right thing and restore the B route now.He said he would improve the bus system if he were elected.He could start by bringing back the B route, and the others that were discontinued.

It should be done for the kupuna and others who have to stand on the bus, including the many visitors who come here.

Robert Kruse
Kakaako

Government must aid needy

In response to Cal Thomas’ column regarding Florida’s Gov. Rick Scott, I was shocked to read Thomas say, "No, governor, charities and religious bodies are obligated to help the weak and poor.State and federal governments have no such obligation." ("Florida’s tea party governor about-faces on Obamacare," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 26).

Thomas may be legally accurate, but his perspective is downright immoral.

I’m saddened each and every day by the growing number of homeless individuals, most of whom are homeless through no fault of their own. We must not forget that every time the needs of the weak and poor are ignored, that there but for fortune may go you and I.

Paul Singer
Honolulu

Mail-in voting makes sense

I can’t understand why the Legislature cannot agree to an all mail-in ballot system.

Half the voters already use absentee ballots and a large percentage use early walk-in voting, leaving a small percentage who actually go to the polls on election day.

All four counties are due for a complete overhaul of their procedures, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

I don’t see how it would be too costly when one realizes how much money could be saved by not having the costs of polling places, staffing and other costs.The biggest saving would come from eliminating a paid state holiday — and the children would even get an extra day of education thrown in.

Dennis Morioka
Kalihi