Let’s show aloha to the homeless
Dealing with the hardcore homeless population is very difficult and we are fortunate that our mayor and members of the City Council are addressing the issue. It is one of those “not in my backyard” issues, but this is where it needs to begin.
Yes, some of the homeless have difficult problems, but we can’t ignore them. They are there, for us and visitors to see and decide whether to help or not.
In the true aloha spirit, everyone needs to sacrifice and help. Help by accepting their presence in our neighborhood. Extend some tolerance as they adjust back into a society that they abandoned or were abandoned by.
Their trip back will be difficult, but with aloha we can save someone.
Very few of us have not received help from our relatives, friends, coaches, teachers, supervisors, police, business associates, elected officials and others who just wanted to be our brother’s keeper.
Verna K. Mikaru
Waipahu
Housing chief doing great job
Kudos to Housing Authority Executive Director Hakim Ouansafi, who has done wonders since he took over. Here is a bureaucrat who is able to think creatively outside of the box and accomplish tasks that actually benefit housing residents.
No longer is it “business as usual.” May he have a long reign. We need more like him.
Maybe he could take over the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands?
Annette Spinaio
Kailua
Rainbows good for UH brand
The Rainbow Warriors nickname is now the same for all men’s athletic teams.
The compromise decision by athletic director Ben Jay respects the traditions of the University of Hawaii, the community, fans, supporters, athletes and alumni. This is Hawaii, and rainbows have a way of coming out after a storm.
Inclusion is always a good thing. Everybody feels better.
Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu
Mall should not let bookstore go
Sue Cowing expressed the frustration and anger so many East Honolulu residents feel about the decision to replace the Kahala Mall Barnes & Noble with a Ross store (“Bookstore’s closure is blow to Honolulu,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 12).
Our bookstore is an important resource for people of all ages and a wonderful neighborhood gathering place. It plays a crucial role in the intellectual and literary life of our community, particularly our keiki.
Employees have told us that Barnes & Noble would like to stay but the mall management will not renew its lease. It is a shortsighted decision, indicating that Kahala Mall is not interested in being a good community citizen but only in the bottom line.
I hope its management realizes that the Ross store will be boycotted by the many people who will feel this loss acutely. It is a step in the wrong direction, and we urge them to reconsider.
Judy Lind
Waialae Iki
Price of water not the problem
We don’t use much water. We’re condo dwellers, and my recent bill for water was $6.70.
Not bad? Ha!
Add the billing charge and the sewer charge and the total is $84.49. Not much compared to most other customers, but the water is only 8 percent of the bill. The water is cheap.
They tell us we can save water by taking shorter showers. Great. Maybe I can get the water bill down to $6. I might be wrong, but remember when the city raided the sewer maintenance and replacement fund?
So here we are, facing huge repair and replacement costs with no funds and short showers.
Phil Shimmin
Kalani Valley
Amount going to fund is tiny
We taxpayers are happy that the Legislature has addressed a major problem in Hawaii by passing House Bill 546 to address the unfunded liabilities in the Employer Union Health Benefits Trust Fund for retired state employees.
The unfunded liabilities in this trust fund are roughly $16 billion, and the Legislature has opted to fund it this year with $100 million. We can compare this to owing $16,000 on our credit card account and paying $100 per year or $8.33 per month towards the balance.
I wonder how many credit card companies, auto companies, mortgage companies, etc. would accept this amount of payment on this liability? I suspect none.
Gary R. Johnson
Kaneohe
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