Estate should fix Haleiwa school

Auwe to Kamehameha Schools for closing its Haleiwa preschool ("Building problems to close Kamehameha’s Haleiwa preschool," Star-Advertiser, March 16).

This is so against what Kamehameha Schools is supposed to stand for; the princess would be so upset.We are so isolated out on the North Shore and our choices for these children are far and few.

Kamehameha Schools is currently building a multimillion-dollar shopping center in Haleiwa and has plans all over the North Shore.But it cannot repair this school?

Don’t cause any interruption for these children. Build a new school for these children for the future, but repair the school so they can continue in the meantime. Is Kamehameha Schools not in the business of education rather than development? Keiki o ka aina!

Marilee Y. Lyons
Haleiwa

GMOs are tied to pesticide use

Peter Davies attacked the view of residents at a North Shore meeting that GMO crops are a "pesticide-centered technology," calling it a "totally false statement." ("GMO crops reduce use of pesticides," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, March 9).

It is Davies who is incorrect.

The majority of GM crops are designed to be sprayed directly with weed-killers. These herbicide-resistant crops have increased U.S. herbicide use by 527 million poundsfrom 1996 to 2012. Overall pesticide use increased less (404 million pounds) thanks to a small offsetting decline in insecticide use with GM insect- resistant crops.

Perhaps Davies doesn’t understand that herbicides are pesticides. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently projected a 200 per- cent to nearly 600 percent increase in use of the toxic herbicide 2,4-D (part of Agent Orange used in Vietnam) if Dow Chemical’s new 2,4-D-resistant corn and soybeans are introduced.

Most new GM crops awaiting approval are herbicide-resistant. North Shore residents are right: Biotechnology = pesticides + seed.

Bill Freese
Science policy analyst, Center for Food Safety

Climate change predates humans

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz proclaimed that "climate change is real, it is caused by humans and it is solvable" (Star-Advertiser, March 12).

However, geological evidence disputes that.

There has historically been much more carbon dioxide in our atmosphere than exists today. Concentrations during the Paleozoic Era, for example, were as much as 7,000 ppm — about 18 times higher than today, without human involvement. In the Late Ordovician Period of the Paleozoic Era, there was even an Ice Age at the same time that carbon dioxide concentrations were more than 10 times higher than now — 4,400 ppm. Go to http://geocraft.com/WVFossils/Carboniferous_climate.html for but one scientific reference.

Clearly, other factors besides atmospheric carbon influence Earth’s temperatures.

So the question becomes: Who stands to benefit from ginning up social and political hysteria to solve a problem like this that doesn’t really exist?

Jim Wolery
Kaneohe

Videos can help catch burglars

I have a couple of suggestions for those like myself who have been the victims of home burglary and theft.

One way to remain alert to crimes in your area is to sign up for crimemap-ping.com, a freeservice that sends an email or iPhone alert to inform of real-time reported crimes in the neighborhood you designate. This lets you know when your neighbors were victims.

Second,get a video camera system from one of the big-box stores.You can get an eight-camera system for less than $500 and it is as easy to install as running the cables to the cameras.The system canbe monitored with any remote computer and smart phone.

With video you have evidence for the police. Protect yourself and help the police catch the thief.

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Locals embrace gay marriages

Recently, wedding bells were ringing in Waikiki.

A couple from Seattle walked to Queen’s Beach, when a woman said, "Congratulations!" The men were wearing cream shirts with maile leis and looked every bit the part of grooms in Hawaii.

Next, a local male and a young child, who were toweling off after a swim shouted, "Good for you! Congratulations!" Of course, the men smiled.

Later, a woman came up to them and shook their hands, saying, "Congratulations!"

The couple has no way of knowing the ugliness from some churches in Hawaii, now that full marriage rights exist.This experience counters all the negativity these churches spew. They are on the wrong side of history and justice for all.

It seems to me that Hawaii is rather happy with full marriage rights for all. I’m glad I live Hawaii.

Carolyn Golojuch
Kapolei

TV ad distorts Kakaako future

Pacific Resource Partnership is currently running a TV ad pushing more construction in Kakaako.

Has anyone else noticed that the commercial doesn’t show any high-rises?

If wall-to-wall high-rises are such a good idea, why don’t they show them?

It reminds me of their pro-rail ads, which showed an attractive potted plant in the foreground and a cute little train way off in the distance.

Kay Kibby
Makiki

Report on crime much sooner

A recent article about a suspect being sought in a sex assault at an elementary school in Maili ("Police seeking help in sex assault case at Maili Elementary," Star-Advertiser, March 13) really bothered me, because the actual date of the incident was a week earlier, on March 5.

Why was this information not brought to the attention of Waianae residents sooner? We should have known immediately.

This incident occurred in the close proximity to a community park, a recreation center and a housing development that is heavily populated with families and children.

Something needs to be done.

Datton Ugaitafa
Maili

Aloha spirit was appreciated

On behalf of Disney’s "The Lion King" and WestCoast Entertainment, I want to say mahalo to the entire state of Hawaii andspecifically to the Oahu ohana.

During our eight-week performance schedule, everyone continually showed us the aloha spirit and why it was so important for us to present the return engagement of "The Lion King" to the islands.

I want to thank everyone for all their help and support, especially Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Mayor Kirk Caldwell, the Blaisdell staff, Henry Ford, Al Olmo, Local 665, Local 667 and the entire community.

We look forward to the day we can return and once again experience the aloha spirit.

Jack G. Lucas
President, WestCoast Entertainment