Students need cheaper loans

As an access college and federally recognized Native Hawaiian-serving institution, we were gratified to hear the news that Congress has finally moved forward to cut student loan interest rates.

While Hawaii graduates have among the lowest overall debt loads upon graduation in the nation, student loans are critical in bridging the gap between what individuals and families can afford and the cost of a college education.

Without affordable student loans, low-income families and first-generation college students will find higher education degree attainment increasingly difficult. Since a degree has becomes a necessity for obtaining a job, it is also the ticket to higher lifelong earnings for these individuals and collectively contributes to increasing our economy’s competitiveness and overall societal wellness.

Brother Bernard J. Ploeger
President, Chaminade University

Drunkards ruin Aloha Stadium

I would love to go to the University of Hawaii football games, regardless of the team’s record. I would even invest as a season ticket holder.

But I won’t until UH, the Honolulu Police Department and the Stadium Authority find a way to curb the drunkenness and unruly behavior that prevails before, during and after the games.

Just going to the bathroom at halftime makes me sick, smelling the vomit, hearing the swearing, trying to avoid the drunks staggering around bumping into people. For many, football games have become nothing but a reason to get stinking drunk.

There has to be a way to stop the drunks from entering the stadium after the pre-game drinking that occurs for hours in the parking lot.

How about posting a police officer at each gate? At least it may be a deterrent.

Kini Gleason
Kuliouou

Party platforms have a purpose

Why have a Democratic Party, or any political party with a constitution and platform, if both can be ignored by candidates once elected?

Is there not a philosophy of governance, common values and principles that a party represents?

These positions and policies are argued and worked out democratically by party members. When finalized they become the guidelines for the movement of the ship of state as the party sees it.

The American political system has evolved to depend upon the validity of this process. Elected officials have flexible parameters on their conduct and voting position, but to ignore and/or contradict the party platform and constitution is reason for disciplinary action by the party and certainly by the voters come the next election.

If the party position is of no consequence, hollow words that serve only to garner votes, why bother with parties at all? We in Hawaii have come dangerously close to the chaos that follows party-less discipline of elected officials. Transparency and accountability are the keys to keeping our political house in order.

Moanikeala Akaka and Tomas Belsky
Hilo

Enforce rules on turn signals

I agree with Kedric Dean ("Drivers lax about using turn signals," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 1).If the police gave a ticket to every violator, the fines would be enough to balance the city’s budget.

Walter Jinbo
Wahiawa

Lack of evidence cuts both ways

Protecting the health of children is not an overreaction.

In the editorial, "Don’t overreact to farm fears" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, Aug. 2), it said, "in the absence of hard evidence" — which is the underlying problem with the pro-GMO (genetically modified organism) and pesticide-use argument. We do not know the long-term effects of GMO and pesticide use, yet we allow the widespread exposure of the population.

Why do the rights of big agriculture to experiment on Kauai supersede the health of the people on the island?

The big agricultural companies must definitively prove and publish the studies indicating no harmful side effects or cease exposing us.

I would argue that we must err on the side of caution when the health of children is at stake.

Lucia You
Kailua

Junket to Israel will be a waste

As a 50-year Middle East observer, I read the story regarding the Hanabusa-Gabbard trip to Israel with cynicism ("Hanabusa, Gabbard join U.S. House trip to Middle East," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 3). Why?

» The trip is "sponsored" by the American Israel Education Foundation. No "education" about the decades-long torment of the native people of Palestine, which is illegally occupied.Hanabusa’s 10-minute photo-op with Mahmoud Abbas doesn’t count toward learning "what the people endure … firsthand."

» U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, an Israel-first zealot, has organized dozens of trips for decades.I recall Ed Case in 2003, when he recited right from the Zionist playbook. Remember his feckless statement that Iran "scares the beJesus out of Israel"?

» Our country has lost trillions of dollars in business opportunities in the Middle East and earned vast diplomatic disrespect for our one-side-benefits "entangling alliance" with Israel.

» The Palestinians need justice and peace.I guarantee that the Hanabusa-Gabbard-Hoyer boondoggle will do nothing to alleviate that need.

Robert H. Stiver
Pearl City

Ultimate judge may not agree

Regarding the article, "Pope’s remarks please LGBT group," (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 3), it would be very helpful to look at the context or question that the pope was answering regarding gays.

The pope was answering a question that had to do with celibate, homosexual priests. And yes, the pope admits that he is not the ultimate judge, saying, "who am I to judge?" The LGBT group may not be pleased with who is the ultimate judge, but I’m not sure the pope mentioned that.

Tim Miller
Hawaii Kai

Rail should go directly to UH

I read your story, "Appeals court will not consider judge’s letter on rail" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2).

I believe the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will stop the construction of our rail system completely if our Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation doesn’t consider the tunnel under Beretania Street as a better route to the University of Hawaii than the current elevated structure route through our beautiful waterfront to Ala Moana Center.

Let us build it right, with rail transit going to UH, as was the original purpose of the system. Build a viable rail transit system that we can be proud of. Choosing the alternative route is the right decision for HART to make now.

Tit K. Chun
Pacific Heights