House Inouye papers in old News Building

A recent letter suggested The Honolulu Advertiser building at South Street and Kapiolani be preserved as a museum instead of losing it. After all, it was the provider of historical events occurring during the formation of the state of Hawaii.

Others have cited the need for a museum of Hawaii’s history.

Coincidentally, at this time the issue regarding a memorial for the deceased Sen. Daniel Inouye, a revered public servant and war hero, apparently has not been resolved.

It would seem fitting to combine these two related entities — a Sen. Daniel Inouye memorial to house his memorabilia and archival material as well as a repository for Hawaii’s historical records.

Being a professional building with the required amenities and building codes, conversion should be less costly than the construction of a new museum. Located in the heart of Honolulu’s civic activities, it is visible and easily accessible.

The Sen. Daniel Inouye Memorial Museum would be most fitting — a dignified historical building to honor a dignified dedicated citizen of Hawaii.

Joan Imes
Kaneohe

More land should be zoned for new homes

A big reason we have people living on our streets with our cost of homes through the roof is our romantic insistence on keeping available housing land zoned "agriculture" while sugar- and pineapple-growing has long gone elsewhere. It seems crazy and self-destructive.

Jim Beaman
Kakaako

Kona project a threat to endangered plant

Only one specimen of the Hawaiian endemic endangered plant Isodendrion pyrifolium, also known as wahine noho kula, exists in the wild today.

The plant is growing on land slated for development in Kona by the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

Necessary preservation of wahine noho kula, combined with the dire need for more housing for Native Hawaiians on Hawaii island could be a win-win for everyone.

In Hawaiian culture, natural resources and cultural resources are viewed as the same. There is no doubt the community will want to malama this plant species, which has lived on this aina since before our kupuna.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii County should build support for preserving this species by talking story with the Lai Opua community, the Kona Hawaiian Civic Club and other Hawaiian organizations about the importance of sustainable development planned around preserving this plant and the other plants recently listed as endangered in the area.

Protecting the aina and the plants and animals that sustain us is inherently Hawaiian.

Hoku Johnson
Kalama Valley

Senator’s bill would ease ACA transition

Unfortunately, the glitches of the initial implementation of the Affordable Care Act have caused anguish for many citizens who have received cancellations of their health care insurance policies.

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s proposal requiring insurers to continue offering their customers coverage under any health plans in effect at the end of 2013 would do much to ease our country’s transition.

I believe many Americans need to put this issue in historical perspective: Obamacare fulfills Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s call for universal health insurance, in his final address to the nation.

The quest for the universal health care envisioned by FDR, one of our greatest presidents, is being actualized by another of our greatest presidents, Barack Obama, father of Obamacare.

Stuart N. Taba
Manoa

Obamacare sold to us under false pretenses

With all I am seeing, reading and hearing, it appears that the Affordable Care Act is not really that affordable, nor is it expected to be.

The president actually lied to the American people when he said that people can keep the health insurance plans they already have, that there will be no new taxes for those earning less than $250,000, and that health care premiums will cost less.

From all that is coming out of the House Energy and Commerce committee in Washington, it appears that none of these statements are true. People are receiving cancellation notices from their current insurance providers. The premiums appear to be higher, not lower, and there are taxes included in the health care law.

The Affordable Care Act violates my right to religious liberty by including plans that provide contraceptives and abortion services without giving guidance to help me avoid choosing a plan that includes abortion or contraceptive provisions.

Barbara Ferraro
Pahoa

Speaking out not fine when it gets vitriolic

Dave Shapiro missed something important in his recent column when he equated these same-sex marriage hearings with the usual "making laws is like making sausage" metaphor ("Session on gay marriage spurs people to get involved," Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Nov. 3).

It ignored the ugly reality: This is about whether the state gets to continue to withhold certain privileges from a minority based on prejudice.

It’s great to get people to speak out — but when they are expressing unfounded fears of sharing privileges with those they don’t feel comfortable with (at best), or their visceral intolerance (at worst), it can also shut down debate and expression.

One can’t just dismiss it when the president of the police union uses the hearing to announce he would rather die than "enforce" a law allowing same-sex marriage, or when legislators browbeat marriage equality supporters.

The anti-equality groups’ extremism has helped push many LGBT folks and allies to speak out and take stands, but their crusading fervor is also causing untold harm.

Steve Dinion
Makiki

Voters delegated power to legislators

Anyone who followed the same-sex-marriage hearings has to agree that local media provided us with more than enough information to draw a few conclusions:

» This may be the most divisive issue in our community.

» The citizens of Hawaii are neither complacent nor ignorant.

» Regardless of which side of the argument we support, we already expressed our opinion in this issue by electing our representatives in the House and Senate.

Debra Miyake
Nuuanu

Graffiti, litter on Oahu are out of control

After five years, I recently relocated back to the islands, and have been disgusted by the condition of Honolulu.

The graffiti and litter is out of hand throughout the McCully/Moiliili, Kalihi and Kaimuki areas, and is laced throughout Oahu on most available surfaces.

Where is the sense of pride for our aina? It’s not the tourists trashing our island; it is the locals. Who is teaching our youth about malama for our island?

I used to feel proud to show off the island to visiting family and friends from the mainland. Yes, there were streets I would detour, but now it’s impossible to avoid many parts of Oahu that just look plain ghetto.

As citizens of this beautiful island, we need to teach our children at home and in school to care for it, to respect other’s property, and be an example by doing our part. Trash receptacles are never far away.

Please, bend down and pick it up.

Amy McKenna
Nuuanu

FROM THE FORUM

“Director leaves Punchbowl post,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 4:
>> He was the face of Punchbowl for so many years. We will definitely miss him and hope he doesn’t stray far from the veterans. Thank you, Col. Gene Castagnetti (retired).
>> I salute you, sir, and want to say a big mahalo for all you have done for our country and especially Hawaii.

———

“Buy or get out,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 4:
>> Here is a developer who has done its best to do what’s right, and that wasn’t good enough for some of these people.
>> None of these freeloaders are plantation workers; they are offspring or second generation, just trying to keep the gravy train on the tracks.
>> $650 in rent? I’ve never paid that, even when I was 22 living in my first place.
>> The future of those residents and others in Kahuku waiting to buy their properties, is still very much in question. Right now, a $150,000 offer to buy the land where they live sounds very good.

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“For better or worse, Chow isn’t going anywhere soon,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 5:
>> Former Coach Greg McMackin is looking pretty good right now. As I remember, he delivered more wins — a lot more wins — than Chow. His last season was a winning one, something Chow hasn’t delivered and won’t.
>> Next season is supposed to be Chow’s payoff year. If the Rainbow Warriors don’t make at least a bowl game next season, then it’s time to hang it up for him. Athletic Director Ben Jay needs to make that point clear before next season starts.

———

“City lawyers in row with ethics panel,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 5:
>> What a surprise, lawyers having trouble with ethics.
>> On the one hand, it sounds like the city lawyers are trying to rule the tree house. On the other hand, the Ethics Commission has proven itself to be a rubber stamp for bad behavior when asked to examine real ethical violations.

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“School leaders pledge to bring Hokule‘a voyage to classrooms,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 5:
>> That’s nice. I hope the school leaders plan to bring some reading and arithmetic into those same classrooms.
>> You probably can count on the science of the night sky, ocean currents and power of the wind. Also calculations for speed and distance. This should cover some science and math.

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“Audit trashes HI-5 payment methods,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 6:
>> What a shock. Another government agency found to be incompetent.
>> The entire HI-5 program should be abandoned. The amount of manpower work hours to gather these containers does not make it feasible. We have machines that can scrap up the residual metals after the refuse is burned away at the power plant.
>> Shame on state Health Department Deputy Director Gary Gill for not knowing how other states handle this. And shame on the state for allowing this to go on for so long!

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“Police union leader criticized for saying he won’t honor law,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 6:
>> If passing this law will get people like this guy to retire from law enforcement early, then let’s get it done.
>> If you try and voice your opinion against gay marriage, you get demonized.  I’m tired of turning the other cheek. It’s time to fight for our beliefs and not get bullied by these groups that want to make the rest of us agree that it’s OK to be gay. I don’t condemn, but I refuse to condone.

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“Bruno Mars’ sisters enter spotlight with reality show,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 7:
>> Just what we need! Another so-called “reality” show, starring four prima donnas.
>> Best of luck to the sisters — in life and on the show. Stay true to your roots. You will make your mom proud.

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“Regents order audit of Ching complex,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 7:
>> Bad project management. Even worse contract management. Hawaii seems to embrace excuses.
>> Don’t worry, though; the rail project will be nothing like this, or the tax system modernization project, or the HI-5 program … right?
>> Has the state or the University of Hawaii ever heard of contracts that penalize contractors if they don’t do a job on time?