Parks are for public, not to make profit

With all the news of imminent skyscrapers in Kakaako, it is hard to believe that the state would consider blocking off one-third of the Kakaako Waterfront Park for the use of a private company that would charge admission to enter a light display ("Firm wants to install light displays at Kakaako Waterfront Park," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 22).

And, in the same edition of the newspaper, it’s revealed that the state did not instantly reject the idea of leasing a piece of land between Kewalo Basin and Ala Moana Park that presently has about 70 parking stalls, a comfort station and mature shade trees, to be replaced by a building for Japanese weddings.

Are you kidding? Instead of leasing out our heritage, we should be enlarging and improving parks, which should be for community leisure, not for companies to make a profit.

Bob Graham
Kahuku

Inouye Center just more pork spending

Somewhere, Daniel K. Inouye is smiling.

The proposed Inouye Center at the University of Hawaii is the last in a long list of Inouye-inspired pork projects.

This is the UH and construction industry paying homage to the man who dutifully supported them for decades. In keeping with Inouye’s career theme, it’s with a project that easily outdistances comparative costs for similar projects.

How about some simpler math? Compare the proposed Inouye Center honoring our late U.S. senator at $1,200-$1,600 per square foot with the new cancer research center, whose purpose is to keep people alive, at $687 per square foot.

How about some simpler questions?What exactly are these papers that need a $25 million building to house them?

As an alumnus who goes to the university weekly, I can tell you UH has far more pressing problems.

The congressional and senatorial delegates of our country treat themselves like royalty at the expense of taxpayers’ hard work.Although it’s not a key reason, it is a contributing factor, both in dollars and ideology, as to why we find our country is such dire financial straits.

Pat Kelly
Wilhelmina Rise

Gays should have equality in rights

Gay marriage is not an issue — except in some pulpits.

If your religion or individual church refuses to let you marry the person you love, the choice is clear — and it’s yours to make.

The issue has never really been whether or not same-sex couples have the right to marry.It has always been whether they have the same rights as other citizens.

The same thing happened to black soldiers returning home with Japanese wives.Some states told them they didn’t have the right to marry outside their race. It took the U.S. Supreme Court about 20 years to decide that was not acceptable where "all men are created equal."

Any government, at any level, that discriminates against some of its citizens is automatically invalid, even though the majority of the population may approve — as happened in Hitler’s Germany.

Tom Luna
McCully

Hear Christians on gay marriage issue

Gov. Neil Abercrombie may, at any moment, call a special session totry to pass same-sex marriage legislation.

It is imperative that those incharge of making and changing laws hear from the people. It is important thatChristians speak up — today. It is up to us to preserve Biblical values inHawaii.

A decision like this, which would change the face of marriage acrossthe islands, is too important to leave to the governor and our legislators.

This is a decision that the people should make.

Barbara J Ferraro
Hawaii state director, Concerned Women for America / Hilo

Board of Education ignores the public

Hawaii is the only state in the nation with one Board of Education to serve the entire state.

Does the BOE serve the people of Hawaii?

I’ve experienced a brick wall at the BOE from the time members were elected, continuing with the governor-appointed board (since 2011).

Community members may not publicly address the board at its meetings unless their concern is on the agenda.

For years I wrote emails asking how to get issues on the agenda. For years I received no response, until I finally got an audience with the chairman in June.

The answer: I can’t — the board does not work for me.

What does this mean for Hawaii?

Research shows that public involvement makes strong schools.

When the top of the Department of Education organizational chart, the BOE, won’t respond to public concerns, there is no trickle-down hope that the administration or the schools will either.

I brought this issue before the governor, and encourage everyone who cares about this to let him know that we want the public to have a voice in public education and policy.

Vanessa Ott
Naalehu, Hawaii island

Subsidies, credits come with a cost

This is not meant as a recommendation either for or against Obamacare.

However, it should be remembered that all other taxpayers must pay for the savings for beneficiaries of the rebates that will help pay for increased insurance premiums resulting from the mandate.

Similarly, those who pay reduced income taxes resulting from deductions for mortgage interest or contributions to religious or other nonprofit organizations increase by a similar amount the tax obligation of all other taxpayers.

Robert Myer
Kailua