E-cigarettes do not release carcinogens

Lola Irvin of the state Department of Health said that e-cigarettes release carcinogens into the air similar to secondhand smoke ("UH smoking ban on hold for review," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 24).

Research indicates this is simply not true. There are no known carcinogens released into the air from e-cigarettes, or any expected health effect for bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette exhalation.

Cigarette smokers reduce harm to themselves and those around them by switching to e-cigarettes.

The DOH is right to support regulations for e-cigarette use. Such devices should not be used by minors or non-smokers. They only provide a relative health benefit to those wishing to quit cigarettes.

I would hope that the DOH would form policies based on research and use tobacco settlement monies on cigarette smoking cessation. Currently, millions of dollars of settlement money are diverted by state lawmakers for other purposes.

Tracy Trevorrow
Manoa

Open up bathrooms for use by homeless

Readers may be wondering how to help the homeless during this holiday (and perhaps thereafter).

If you have a business or office downtown or wherever there are homeless, consider unlocking your bathroom. It may cost you a little in time, energy or perhaps expense; that is called giving.

Alvin Murphy
Manoa

Brewbaker makes problematic points

James L. Brewbaker is a most distinguished horticulturalist and geneticist at the University of Hawaii in Manoa. However, there are some problematic points in his letter, "GMO products are here to stay" (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 23).

Kauai is not the only place in these islands where there is opposition to GMOs and the associated chemicals, some of which may be hazardous to humans and the ecosystem. Also, there is opposition in other states, Europe and many other countries.

Not every opponent is ignorant of science. Biologist Rachael Carson alerted the world to the dangers of chemical biocides in her famous 1962 book "Silent Spring." Many opponents are informed about that book and subsequent research. Brewbaker completely ignores the biocide association.

Also, he completely ignores the right of citizens to transparency and accountability from the agribusiness industry. If there is no danger in their activities, then agribusinesses have nothing to hide.

Leslie E. Sponsel
Hawaii Kai

Laniakea barrier has really helped traffic

As someone who works and lives on the North Shore, my commute goes past Laniakea Beach twice daily. As such, the ever-increasing traffic caused by the tour buses and growing amounts of turtle seekers has turned the Seven-Mile Miracle into the Seven-Mile Nightmare.

That has changed now, with the parking lot barricades at Laniakea Beach. That alone has cut down my commute time from Haleiwa to Waimea from over a half hour (sometimes longer) to less than five minutes. It’s a wonderful feeling and such a relief. I can actually enjoy driving past there now. Much mahalo to those responsible for taking action and placing the barricades.

Buddy Wilson
Waialua

Barrier at beach has blocked use by public

Many are grateful to the late Don Griffin and others in the city’s Parks Department for establishing the North Shore’s outstanding network of public beach parks, support parks and beach rights-of-way.

Undeniably, the North Shore is a source of enjoyment for visitors and Oahu residents alike. Therefore, many people support infrastructure improvements worthy of its world-class natural and cultural resources.

The state Department of Transportation’s thousand-foot concrete barricade blocking the 3-acre city-owned Laniakea Support Park abandons this principle. Thanks to DOT’s radical and punitive action, the highway is less safe, fewer families and children can enjoy Laniakea, and a large city-owned parking lot is blocked to the public.

Laniakea isn’t the only wildly popular place on the planet. Great places handle the needs of residents and visitors without closing down treasured public assets.

Blake McElheny
Pupukea

What is BlackSand’s vision for Waikiki?

As a close neighbor of the King’s Village Shopping Center, I want to see the artist’s rendering of BlackSand Capital’s planned development.

Perhaps the firm has decided to be considerate to its neighbors and build a low-rise luxury condo building, possibly with a rooftop open market and garden with entertainment and food vendors. Maybe it will maintain its neighboring condo owner’s ocean views and distance from buildings instead of creating windy, narrow walkways and eliminating enjoyable space.

Or maybe BlackSand is just in it for the money and doesn’t care about the people affected by another wall in their face. Who is BlackSand Capital and what is its plan for Waikiki?

With all the development to existing hotels in the same area, this is a knife in the heart of Waikiki.

Marilyn Katzman
Waikiki

FROM THE FORUM @ STARADVERTISER.COM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

"Hunters offer to clear pigs from city park — at no cost," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 23:

» Win-win hunting!

» There are many volunteer activities that are sponsored by government entities. As long as this organization releases the city from any legal liabilities and financial renumerations, let the trapping begin.

———

"New bicycle repair station set up outside city building," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 23:

» Anything not nailed down probably will be targeted by thieves and vandals. I predict that fix-it thing will be functioning for only a week.

» There’s always the option of educating bicyclists to have a small repair kit with them at all times. You know, instead of socializing bike repairs.

———

"Health agency bans e-cigarettes on its premises," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 24:

» Smoking is smoking; not healthy at all.

» Are you trying to suggest that using an e-cigarette is tantamount to "smoking"? If so, you might want to learn the difference between smoke and water vapor.

———

"Lawyers ask rejection of suit against same-sex marriage law," Star-Advertiser, Dec 24:

» What are the attorneys afraid of? They have the law on their side unless …

» What are people afraid of when gays get married? It’s a shame they need big government to run their lives.

———

"UH smoking ban on hold for review," Star-Advertiser, Dec.25:

» It is time to ban smoking from all public buildings. The University of Hawaii is a perfect place to start this. It is in the forefront of education and advancement of healthy living.

» Not that it will matter to the politically correct, but nicotine and caffeine are about equally addictive.

———

"State’s high court rejects Koa Ridge project approval," Star-Advertiser, Dec 25:

» Mahalo to the Sierra Club and to the Hawaii Supreme Court.

» They waste their time and everyone’s money. This project will not be stopped by technicalities.

» Don’t get your hopes up. The article also said the developers were going to proceed with the development anyway, based on a 2012 approval.

———

"City road repairs reach a record," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 26:

» I hope they’re doing a better job than in the past. Quality, long-lasting repaving would be cheaper and avoid a lot of road shutdowns than just doing it over and over again.

» I do notice many repaved roads. Now that the city is doing its part, the state needs to repave many highways under its jurisdiction.

———

"Pharmacy college building tops for governor," Star-Advertiser, Dec.26:

» The pharmacy college should be in Honolulu where there would be a larger demand for the program and where it could be better supported by the pharmaceutical community, doctors and the University of Hawaii medical school.

» How many Big Island students are going to major in pharmacy? I know Hawaii kids going to the mainland rather than Hilo to go to pharmacy school.

» Don’t forget the usual "job creation" mantra for an island desperately needing something to diversify its economy. To suggest that it be moved back to Oahu could create political problems.

———

"Traffic cameras rendered useless by Oahu criminals," Star-Advertiser, Dec 27:

» The reason this keeps happening is because our laws back up the criminals. Forget about punishment.

» If they outlaw any recycling of wire-based copper, then these thieves would have nothing to sell and stop trying. Our lawmakers need to put their heads together if they want to solve this nagging problem once and for all.

» Outlawing recycling of wire-based copper is not the answer. It has to be recycled. However, having the recycling person show a valid state ID, making an electronic record of the recycling, would go a long way to track turn-ins. And having an appropriate penalty for illegal recycling would help, too.