Kahle, Huber lawsuit a waste

The litigation brought by Mitch Kahle and Holly Huber against five faith-based organizations on Oahu is both deplorable and saddening ("Churches cheat schools, suit says," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 16).

All five of these organizations have actively addressed community challenges that have affected our islands. They have worked to feed, house and clothe the homeless, as well as provide resources to individuals challenged by substance abuse.

Instead of wasting the court’s time and the taxpayers’ money, Kahle and Huber should focus their efforts on real issues, instead of self-serving causes that are divisive and destructive to our community.

William S. Hartford
Aiea

Don’t rush into special session

Ten years ago, Hawaii voters rejected same-sex marriage. Plus, it’s unclear if the Legislature has the power to enact same-sex marriage; rather, it may only have the power under Hawaii’s Constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

Calling the Legislature back into session to consider this issue will cost tax dollars that Hawaii doesn’t have, especially in light of all the unfunded liabilities our state faces in the coming years.

The proper way to legalize gay marriage in Hawaii is to jump through the hoops in regular legislative session and in accordance with the Hawaii Constitution.

The wrong way is to spend tax dollars to hurry an issue that ought to await authoritative legal opinions, the input of Hawaii’s citizens and a regular session of the Hawaii Legislature.

Michael P. Rethman
Kaneohe

Traffic culture here dangerous

I live in a condo in Moiliili and enjoy my morning coffee on my lanai. I have a good view of what’s happening on the streets below.

Bicyclists are riding down the yellow center line (using it like a slalom course) along with the skateboarders.Bicyclists are also riding all over the streets and on the sidewalks, nearly hitting the pedestrians.

Pedestrians are crossing in an "X" pattern at intersections.Drivers make Hollywood stops at the stop signs or don’t stop at all. Speed limit of 25 mph? What’s that?

At some time during the day, we are all either a pedestrian or a driver of some sort of vehicle. We need to be more focused on our surroundings and people.It’s obvious we’re amiss when we keep seeing an increase in pedestrian deaths or serious injuries.

My morning view has made me more aware of this situation.Maybe people need to sit quietly for 10 minutes and observe their own neighborhoods’ traffic cultures.

Linda Iverson
Moiliili

Congress puts itself above us

The president exempts Congress from Obamacare and requires taxpayers to pay 75 percent of our representatives’ health care premiums.

This despite the law that denies subsidies for the wealthy.Fixed-income kupuna and the struggling middle class are forced to pay premiums for six-figure-income politicians who can and should pay their own way.

The absence of concern from the Star-Advertiser and voters is perplexing. For many of us, the Ala Wai isn’t the only thing that smells bad here.

Jim McDiarmid
Mililani

Autism affects more than keiki

Our Civil Defense system warns us of tsunami and reminds us to prepare.

I wish we had something similar to let our Hawaii ohana know that a wave of vulnerable autistic adults is on the way.

My wife and I have homeschooled our autistic 16-year-old for 12 years. We have learned that if you have an autistic child in your family, your whole family has autism.

In the same way, because of the high percentage of our keiki who have autism now (an amazing 1 in 54 of our boys, and somewhat less of our girls), we in Hawaii are all going to have the condition.

We must prepare. Our leaders should look into how smart resource allocation for therapies and job training today could raise the functionality of these citizens, and in doing so actually save our state tons of money tomorrow.

Arthur Craig Sauer
Waikoloa, Hawaii island

Reroute traffic to fix congestion

Laniakea Beach is a unique Hawaiian treasure.

Nowhere else can you consistently see turtles grazing on seaweed near shore with an occasional honu resting on the sand. This is what attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the beach annually, despite the lack of safe parking. The attraction causes traffic congestion by people crossing Kamehameha Highway.

The state Department of Transportation’s solution is to put concrete barriers to stop cars from parking across the beach. Barriers won’t work with determined people. It will only force the sightseers to park further along the highway in each direction, blocking driveways and spreading the congestion.

A better solution is for the state to acquire the parcel across the beach and rerouteKamehameha Highway inland, like Haleiwa’s bypass road. Then the land adjacent to the beach could be developed like Hanauma Bay, with lots of paid parking, educational facilities and concessions. The improvement would pay for itself and the beach could be safely enjoyed by all.

Sid Tsubata
Kaneohe

Help stop China’s organ harvesting

U.S. Reps. Colleen Hanabusa and Tulsi Gabbard deserve thanks for co-sponsoring House Resolu- tion 281 early this month.

The resolution condemns China’s state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience, including large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners. It is an important step to help put an end to this atrocity.

For the past 14 years, China’s ruling Communist Party has harshly suppressed tens of millions of Chinese people who practice Falun Gong, a traditional mind-body discipline now spread to more than 100 countries. The Chinese regime has abducted, tortured and killed an untold number of Falun Gong practitioners, who constitute the largest group of prisoners of conscience in China.

While this is too dreadful to believe, credible sources report that thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been killed for their organs, which have been sold to transplant patients everywhere, including the U.S.

Mark Cnudde
Mililani

‘Decoupling’ just ensures a profit

I sure hope the state Public Utilities Commission comes up with an alternative to decoupling (the "RBA" line on your electric bill) or abandons it altogether.

Contrary to what Hawaiian Electric Co. says, it is a way to guarantee profits — HECO’s "target revenue" — no matter how much the demand for electricity goes down.So while homeowners are getting photovoltaics, the rest of us are left holding the bag.

Regina E. Gregory
Makiki