Why let people destroy the reef?

At Waikiki on New Year’s Day, there were scores of people all over the reef in a frenzy evocative of Black Friday, seemingly intent on depleting the reef of all living sea creatures.

Why is this allowed?

It seems to me that being able to observe our beautiful reefs and its inhabitants for tourists and locals alike is far more important than satisfying the local tradition allowing this one-day fish annihilation.

E. Jefferson Finney
Diamond Head

Ala Moana Center becoming too ritzy

Honolulu needs more luxury condos like we need more holes in our heads.

These units aren’t for local people. They are for people who have two, three, four, five other homes elsewhere and need another temporary residence to drop their millions. Arrogance and greed are squeezing out the people who make this place a pleasant place to live.

Ala Moana Center used to be a great place to shop and meet friends. Now most of the stores are high-end with sky-high prices. With the new ultra-luxury condos coming in, may I suggest that you just put a fence around the center and call it a gated community?

Even more money could be made by charging an admission fee for those tourists who wish to shop at these stores for their labels, prestige and the bragging rights of getting in to this exclusive area.

And this is Hawaii?

Alice Vinton
Makiki

Obamas are good family role model

President Barack Obama is always welcome in his hometown.

I’m so proud of the way he treats his family by taking them on vacations together. He’s a great role model for families.

We need more role models for families to love and enjoy themselves together wherever they are.

Happy New Year to all!

Carolyn Martinez Golojuch
Kapolei

President should pardon Snowden

Please urge President Barack Obama to develop political strength and pardon Edward Snowden.

Considering the value of Snowden’s leaks and the National Security Agency abuses he has exposed, he should be offered full free return.

After all, with an IQ of 145 and being highly gifted, he can do us much more good here than living in Russia, where they probably exploit his intelligence.

Gerhard C. Hamm
Waialae Iki

Don’t let politicians divert ad revenues

If we allow advertising on the sides of buses, that would raise some cash. Sounds good.

But we need to ask: Where would cash go? To TheBus, right? Maybe.

You know that if the money sits there, greedy and grabby hands will find a way to get it.

If the money goes to increase salaries, the bus system will be helped very little.

If politicians see that there is extra cash at TheBus, they may want to spend it on other things, such as trains. Or they may spend it to reward their contractor friends and their campaign contributors.

We need absolute guarantees — which we won’t get — that the money would go to improve the bus system, not just to increase salaries. Until we get such guarantees, don’t advertise on the sides of buses. And don’t build a pile of cash to be grabbed.

Mark Terry
Wahiawa

Child car seats need to be installed right

Thank you for reprinting The article ("Car safety seats for children are usually installed incorrectly," Dec. 12), highlighting car seat safety and how difficult car seats are to install correctly.

We’ve noticed that proper installation of child car seats is a problem in Hawaii, too.

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14.

Research also shows that as children grow older, they are less likely to be in the appropriate child safety seat for their age and weight.

Parents can reduce their child’s risk of injury by participating in regular car seat safety checks as their child grows.

First Insurance Co. of Hawaii introduced to the public free, monthly car seat safety checks in March 2013.

The 30-minute inspections are performed by certified car seat technicians and take place the fourth Friday of every month.

To make an appointment online, go to www.ficoh.com/ carseatsafety.

Marie Weite
Claims supervisor, First Insurance Co. of Hawaii

Killing wild pigs is barbaric practice

A 1971 movie, "Bless the Beasts and the Children," was about socially misfit teenage boys who tried to stop a planned killing of buffalo.

The buffalo were herded in a fenced area and hunters were invited to shoot and kill them. It was chilling.

Is this what is being proposed to pigs here in Hawaii ("Hunters offer to clear pigs from city park — at no cost," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 23)?

And then we have the slaughter of our sea turtles in Makaha. Poachers are pulling turtles out of the water and killing them for meat and shell. This is a felony and is known by officials. Yet, it continues.

Both are uncivilized practices. A society can be judged by how it treats its animals. It speaks to our humanity and morals. Animals have no voice and no choice.

If we are to prosper in this place in good conscience, we need to care about all that live here because karma could be the equalizer.

Lani Wagner
Aiea