Convoy of Hope does good deeds

I appreciated your coverage of the Convoy of Hope event, which focused on providing hope and joy to the poor and disadvantaged of Oahu ("Helping Hands," Star-Advertiser, July 28).

The small Christian group I belong to has played a relatively minor role during the past two years as volunteers, but it is so wonderful to participate in an event that brings people of various backgrounds, faiths, skills and talents together.

In this day and age of severe partisanship and bickering, it is refreshing that Convoy of Hope finds a way for all people of good will — various churches, businesses, government and social organizations — to work hard together for the good of others.Working together, we were able to accomplish something good and meaningful for our island neighbors who have fallen on hard times.

Tom Duddy
Kaneohe

On-call guards could cut costs

The answer to the long-term abuse of sick leave at the Department of Public Safety is not managing who calls in sick on holidays and Super Bowl Sunday ("Sick leave cuts staff at Oahu prison during big sports events," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 9).

The primary concern is the immense amount of overtime on the department’s budget every month.The records indicate a long-term pattern of excessive overtime.

The answer is training and hiring private sector on-call corrections officers. That way, when a corrections employee calls in sick, the employee can be replaced by the private sector on-call officer at half the expense of union overtime rates.

Philip Thorp
Nuuanu

Thieves plague cars of hikers

"Go take a hike" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 10): truly a wonderful suggestion.

Oahu’s trails afford hikers the opportunity to see both spectacular ocean, mountain and valley views and unique, beautiful flora and fauna.

However, beware of leaving your vehicle parked at a trailhead. I have hiked virtually every trail on Oahu, some many times, and I have had my vehicle vandalized eight times — twice at Sacred Falls (now closed), once at Pu‘u Manamana, twice at Kahana Valley, and three times at Mount Olomana.

My advice: Have someone drop you off at the trailhead and pick you up after the hike.

Not only do you eliminate the concern of vehicle theft or vandalism, but also ensure additional safety, since someone knows where you went and when you should return. This could be invaluable information.

Dale F. Leslie
Waikiki

Shopping carts should be seized

I applaud the Honolulu City Council and Mayor Kirk Caldwell for their efforts in passing Bill 7.

The nuisance law is a good effort in controlling the scattered homeless population invading our sidewalks and parks, but consideration must also be given to minimizing and restricting the use of shopping carts as these people’s "vehicle" for their belongings.When the city clears areas, shopping carts that are unlawfully possessed should be confiscated. Stores must take responsibility and have tighter security over their carts.

Support from the Institute for Human Services is instrumental in offering food, shelter and moving these people forward to a better life and restoring Honolulu to a clean and beautiful city.

Michael Springhetti
Waikiki

Flight-home idea just a Band-Aid

The only people benefiting from this Greyhound Therapy project for the homeless ("Advocates fear abuse of ‘fly home’ program," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 6) would be Johnson & Johnson, because that’s all this return-to-home program is: a Band-Aid.

Richard Ornellas
Liliha

Planners ignore basic guidelines

The state Land Use Commission, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and the city Department of Planning and Permitting are either ignorant about urban and regional planning or are in the pockets of developers and just don’t care.

The most basic guidelines for sound development are willfully and continually ignored.

Rule No. 1 in land use is to protect agricultural land. It is a finite and irreplaceable asset. Building on ag land, if absolutely necessary, must be on marginal acreage, not on the best, most productive land.

Rule No. 2, regarding transportation planning, is to go from where people live to where they need to go. The rail should go from Ewa to the University of Hawaii, and should provide enough parking at stations to attract riders.

Rule No. 3 is to plan development to preserve view planes and corridors.

There is not a single one of these guiding principles that has not been willfully and completely ignored in allowing the development Ho‘opili, Koa Ridge, Symphony and rail from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center.

Jack Arnest
Maunalani Heights

GMO label isn’t too much to ask

Joni Kamiya is hardly an unbiased observer in her attacks on people who have concerns about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) ("GMO debate bringing out the worst in folks," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 11): Her father is one of the biggest producers of GMO papayas in the state.

Kamiya and Monsanto, and the other GMO companies, want us to blindly accept that our government and the scientists know best, and there’s no reason to worry our pretty little heads about GMOs.

Kamiya is more than happy to slap a GMO label on the papayas exported to Japan. But we, the people of Hawaii, are second-class citizens and have no right to know if we are eating GMO.

As far as I’ve seen, both U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and state Sen. Mike Gabbard are advocating only the labeling of these foods, not complete bans.

Kamiya should get the facts straight before lashing out against others who are not convinced that she knows best when it comes to our food supply.

Sheila Tanaka
Mililani

New high-rises could go under

It seems that developers on Oahu are being given nearly carte blanche just when we should be proceeding with caution.

I attended an impressive presentation by a University of Hawaii class about ideas for Hawaii to follow with the coming rise in ocean height. Of course, not building in affected areas was first and foremost. Other suggestions included providing incentives to encourage those on the shore to move to higher ground.

I fear that most of the buildings proposed lately are in the danger zone. Most along Ala Moana Boulevard, including in Waikiki, qualify. Let us take another look, especially those who have the power to control these projects. And buyers beware.

Gretchen Gould
Kaneohe