More homes will tax water supply

Four thousand more homes on the Ewa plain ("Developer plans to build 4,000 homes in Kalaeloa," Star-Advertiser, April 11)?

No mention was made as to the availability of water for at least 8,000 more people.

Interesting that the developer, Hunt Cos., is from Texas. It ruined the water capacity there, so now it is intent on covering our land with concrete.

Where is the sustainability that our government officials speak of?More homes but no more land and water to grow food.

Perhaps the sea level rise will, in time, reach their Kalaeloa doorsteps.

Mandy Bowers
Manoa

Nisei veterans are true heroes

The exhibit of the Congressional Gold Medal for World War II nisei soldiers just ended its five-week run at Bishop Museum, but its lessons live on.

I was so fortunate to be able to meet many of the surviving veterans, ages 88 to 101.

I had heard about the 100th Battalion, the 442nd, and the Military Intelligence Service, but now I have a whole new appreciation for what heroism really is.

These soldiers may have had their families whisked away to an internment camp or been victims of discrimination, but they still served their country and became the most decorated unit in military history for its size.

We are losing them all too quickly.We lost one veteran the day before the exhibit opened. Another, in hospice, arranged a private visit to the exhibit as his last wish.

All of the veterans have shown their loyalty, patriotism, and dedication throughout their lives.

I salute them and have made a personal commitment to continue to share their stories.

Please visit nationalveteransnetwork.com and goforbroke.org.

Mona K. Wood-Sword
Kalihi

Military budget has room for cuts

With President Barack Obama’s budget on the table, with worries about the national debt, with the disastrous toll of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars faced off against threatened cuts in Social Security, we taxpayers are suddenly keenly made aware of where our tax dollars are going. It becomes a "guns or butter" issue.

When they say the Pentagon spending is being cut, they actually mean that they are planning to ask for less increase. But the sensible savings, up to $1 trillion, with no impact on security, isn’t even on the table: Reduce the number of nuclear weapons; cancel outdated and ill-performing weapons research; reduce active-duty troops and wars paid for by national debt.

Bring our money home, to fund education and health, and combat poverty.

Renie Wong Lindley
Haleiwa

Involve parents in early learning

Early childhood education has a socially leveling advantage:The target is all-inclusive developmentally.

Pre-school keiki lack basic learning skills and have not harnessed their abundant curiosity — the "Why?" factor — to the learning process.

More important, parents who did not benefit from this constructive early head start can themselves benefit from linking learning and inquiry if they participate in the process.

As one who volunteers monthly to read to kindergarten students, adults — not just teachers — need to demonstrate the benefit of the learning process at its beginning. Parents who share in the process can more effectively advance it at home.

We need to have parents involved, even it takes something as formal as a jury summons to free them from overworking at multiple jobs.

Robert Tellander
Waikiki