Gaming deserves more consideration

During this past legislative session, the public heard repeatedly how the state is broke, and then watched as our money was spent on user fee bills to raise what will be needed to meet our budget.

At the beginning of the session, all so-called "revenue enhancement" legislation was to be on the table, yet gaming bills were never given full consideration. Regardless of the reasons, all options, including gaming, should have been given full consideration, as promised.

Research into the setup of Utah’s racing legislation shows that limited legalization is not defined as total legalization of all forms of gambling. Rather than stating what is illegal, legislators should draft our laws focusing on what is legal. If our state lawmakers do not want to entertain legalized gaming of any sort, then they should at least allow the counties to enact gaming if they choose to do so.

Legalized gaming is a superior option to raising taxes for the purpose of "revenue enhancement."

Whitney T. Anderson
Waimanalo

Native species have a special status

Sydney Ross Singer’s commentary once again reveals his bizarre point of view ("‘Native’ vs. ‘non-native’ dogma misguides conservation," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 1).

Observations in the late 1800s and Hawaiian oral history tell us that the caterpillars of koa looper moths have had occasional population booms when they eat a lot of koa leaves. It seems to be a natural occurrence between these two native species, but one that has resource managers concerned enough to closely monitor the situation.

As for Singer questioning the protection of native species and control of invasive non-native species, maybe it does come down to values. As a Native Hawaiian, I believe that we must protect native species that arrived on wind, wings and water, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth.

When people move plants and animals out of their native environment and into a new one, it is removed from its natural checks and balances. It is our responsibility to try to understand natural processes and minimize our impacts.

Trisha Kehaulani Watson
Kaimuki

Role of women not fully accounted for

Warren Buffett describes traditional women’s work as relegated to thesidelines.By viewing the private business world as the "game," we lose sight of the contributions caregivers make to society — a broader view that includes community and family. We need look only at the exorbitant cost of providing state-funded preschool to illustrate this contribution.

Raising children and maintaining a home do not benefit from economies of scale.Children benefit from individual attention. As a mom, I am able to provide for the individual needs of my children in an efficient manner. These services are costly to replace in the business world. We need to celebrate women’s roles — old and new — and recognize their broad contribution to the economy and society.

Jill Tsuchitori
Manoa

Goings-on at DHHL suggest corruption

The state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands sent a staffer to the Kumu Camp site because of multiple concerns raised by area residents, particularly during excavation and construction work there, as well as concerns about the failure to submit plans for approval before building permanent structures ("‘Pick and choose,’" Star-Advertiser, May 6).

However, no staffer visited for years nor was any investigation initiated or any oversightdone on Stuart Hanchett’s revocable lease when he illegally built a permanent home that he continues to occupy to this day.

And multi-million-dollar homes are approved to use a sliver of beach access while a nonprofit Hawaiian camp built for our keiki has been denied?

Certainly this is corrupt, to say the least, and these situations cannot continue and must be rectified now without further delay.

Janet Dagan
Punchbowl

GMO foods driving U.S. obesity rates

When debating Hawaii’s role in the GMO (genetically modified organism) seed industry, we should take into account that the corn and soy grown from GMO are used predominantly in processed foods sold cheaply and consumed in abundance.

These food products are the prime drivers of American obesity rates, which have steadily increased during the same time GMO crops have become widely planted. GMO crops are at the core of an industrial food system that is fattening Americans and therefore adversely impacting our heath care system.

Robert Bates
Makiki

Truck bed riders need seatbelts, too

Now we have a new seatbelt law for back-seat passengers.

While this is a good thing for everyone’s safety, when are we going to legislate the more dangerous vehicle ride — in particular, passengers in the back of trucks? Doesn’t this need to be legislated first?

Just recently I saw three big guys in the back of a truck that also was loaded with construction materials and going more than 60 mph on H-1. How more dangerous can this be for the passengers? I also saw teenagers horsing around in the back of the truck, which was speeding at more than 60 mph.

Rosita Sipirok-Siregar
Makakilo