Council encouraging the ruin of Honolulu

The current members of the Honolulu City Council continue to ruin Honolulu.

The Council has given approval for a zoning change that will worsen the traffic in the Aiea, Pearlridge, Pearl City and Waimalu area for years to come ("City Council OKs Aiea towers plan," Star-Advertiser, April 17).

Obviously no one on the Council goes shopping at Pearlridge during Christmas, so they’ve never tried to get into and out of the shopping center at the worst time of the year.

Nor have they, obviously, ever tried to get to the H-1 via Kamehameha Highway, Hoolaulea Street or Moanalua Road in the morning rush hour and inched along with thousands of other drivers trying to accomplish that task, too.

Will elected officials ever stop listening to their campaign contributors developers, union executives, architects long enough to listen to the people and common sense and stop killing Honolulu?

Robert Gillchrest
Kapaa, Kauai

Give incentives for people to vote

In answer to your editorial, "Hawaii voting rate must be improved" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 10), I offer two solutions.

» Allow those who have proof that they voted a deduction on their state income tax.

It is sad to have to offer an incentive for this, but if the state loses a few dollars and gets more voters to the polls, it might be worth a try.

After all, taxpayers are asked for voluntary donations for political campaigns on state tax forms so why not this?

» Only workers who have proof that they voted should be allowed the day off.

That a state with one of the lowest turnouts in the country has Election Day as a holiday so workers can vote is truly shameful.

Kevin Roddy
St. Louis Heights

Autistic children need more services

I wouldn’t be quick to judge the employees at Kipapa Elementary School, who recently lost a lawsuit by the parents alleging "cruel and unusual punishment" and abuse.

As a social worker of an autistic child, I know that some children need to be restrained to prevent them from hurting themselves or others. I can recall one autistic child, while in a treatment center, stabbing another child in the eye with a scissors, during one of his emotional outbursts.

Even under adult supervision, this type of situation can be unpredictable, even when proper disciplinary methods are utilized. Abundant child-abuse articles in the media unfairly sway public opinion against parents and caretakers. I think that many times the caretakers are acting in the best way they were trained to do.

More supportive services are needed for both disadvantaged children and their caretakers.

Charles Balcher
Waikiki

Donated cord blood can be the difference

Compassion and generosity are hallmarks of motherhood. As we look forward to this Mother’s Day, there is a singularly meaningful way that expectant mothers can show compassion and give hope to people in need: by donating umbilical cord blood.

Cord blood, normally disposed of after birth, can at times be the only potentially life-saving treatment option for thousands of patients suffering from truly devastating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.

The donation process is simple and can be arranged in advance. It doesn’t affect labor or delivery, and is safe for moms and babies.

When you donate your baby’s cord blood to a public cord blood bank, such as Hawaii Cord Blood Bank, you pay nothing. Your baby’s cord blood will be listed on the national Be The Match Registry, where it is made available to anyone in need of a transplant.

Randal Wada, M.D.
Hawaii Cord Blood Bank medical director

OHA just trying to get true value of its land

I would like to respond to April 6 Star-Advertiser articles regarding the Office of Hawaiian Affairs seeking to amend a 2006 law prohibiting residential development in Kakaako Makai (“OHA land deal shows why politicians must be watched,” On Politics; “OHA’s Kakaako plan won’t right historical wrongs,” Island Voices).

I find it interesting that legislation was passed in 2006 to ban residential development in the Kakaako Makai district due to overwhelming concerns about too much development near shorelines. 

For years, commercial and residential development along the shorelines in Hawaii have restricted or limited access by the general public. Most of the landowners and developers responsible for this are non-Hawaiians. 

Now, OHA is acting on good faith to gain revenue from a land deal with the state that is supposed to be valued at $200 million. I support this effort to generate revenue to fund programs for Hawaiians and create opportunities for more of them to own commercial and residential properties near shorelines.

Matthew K. Gumapac
Kaneohe

Why block OHA from development spree?

I think the Office of Hawaiian Affairs should be allowed to proceed with its Kakaako plans. 

The Hawaii Community Development Authority is letting every other developer do what it wants without regard to the building restrictions in the area, so why should OHA not be allowed to build what it wants?

Bob Gould
Kaneohe

OHA efforts benefit Hawaiian community

I must offer a big mahalo to the Star-Advertiser for fairly representing both sides of the issue about the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ land plan in Kakaako. 

I think the point being missed by some is that OHA is not your typical developer. OHA is the constitutionally established state agency responsible for protecting and promoting the rights of Native Hawaiians. OHA does this by providing resources and advocating for Native Hawaiians. It is contributing to the health and prosperity of Hawaii. This distinguishes OHA from other developers who only have their personal profits in mind.

Makanaokalani Lewis
Kapolei

OHA incorporated hazard study in plans

It is unfortunate the Star-Advertiser did not do its due diligence on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ plans for Kakaako Makai (“Don’t let OHA build condos on Kakaako land,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 5). 

OHA contracted with University of Hawaii climate scientist Chip Fletcher, who produced a hazard-assessment for Kakaako Makai in 2012. 

The report states, in part: “The seaward portion of the Kakaako Makai sits at higher elevation than the cross streets and mainstreets that lay mauka of the peninsula. … Modeled hazards are event-based and their impact will be temporary … development can be designed to withstand these events and thereby extend useful lifetimes potential for several decades.”

And in contrast to current development taking place in Kakaako, OHA would incorporate climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in its plans and encourage a broad section of the community to assist in the development of Kakaako Makai for many generations to come.

Benton Pang
Kakaako

FROM THE FORUM

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.

“Abercrombie casts doubt on Inouye’s ‘dying wish’,” Star-Advertiser, April14 :

>> Mr. Inouye was not a king. I find it very appalling that someone would think they could influence the selection of their successor by writing a letter to the person who would appoint that successor. This smells of old boy politics and should have never been made public.

>> No, Inouye was not a king, but he did more for the state of Hawaii than anyone.

>> Could it possibly be that Brian Schatz is falling behind and Abercrombie needed to prop up his choice?

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“Diverse interests join up to oppose Kauai dairy plan,” Star-Advertiser, April 14:

>> What is wrong with some of the people of Kauai? They didn’t want the Superferry and now they don’t want the cows.

>> Agriculture in Hawaii is on the way out. Nobody seems to care about supporting agriculture and the end result is going to be housing tracts instead of pasture.

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“State to eradicate Waimanalo little fire ants,” Star-Advertiser, April 15:

>> Sadly, this will be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars. The money would be better spent toward a genetic engineering project similar to what the University of Hawaii did to manage the Mediterranean fruit fly. They are foolish to believe that these things are only in Waimanalo.

>> It’s hard to believe that the fire ants could be confined to that one area. Because of their tiny size, they’re probably under the radar in other parts of Oahu right now. Do we really have a handle on this?

>> One month to begin eradication? Why so long? Just make sure that the ants stay on their side of the barrier tape!

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“Abercrombie apologizes to Inouye’s widow for ‘hurtful’ talk,” Star-Advertiser, April 15:

>> I am no fan of Gov. Neil Abercrombie but to say “do the right thing” by appointing Colleen Hanabusa is ridiculous. There is no law that says you must follow an entrenched elected official’s recommendation, whether they are dying or not. And to say his widow is “hurt” is also an exaggeration and, at best, an inappropriate feeling. 

>> I suspect the ugliness hasn’t even really started yet. This may end up splitting the Democratic Party, allowing a Republican to get in. 

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“Gore praises Hawaii’s environmental efforts,” Star-Advertiser, April 16:

>> Al Gore needs to chill. The temperature of planet Earth has fluctuated wildly throughout its history, and has been warmer, much warmer, than it is today. Earth survived.

>> Yeah, Earth survived during those major climate changes, but a lot of the plants and animals didn’t. That could include us in the not too distant future, if we don’t do something about it pretty soon.

>> The issue is not whether the planet is warming, although even that is debated by some as being part of a natural cycle, but rather what impact can we have on it. Yes, we should move forward to manage our resources and maintain a healthy planet, but the issue is what to do about it. I support private industry solutions. I do not support more Solyndras and crony capitalism associated with “climate change.” More government isn’t the answer to climate change. Redistribution of wealth through the government is not the best way to address the issue. 

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“UH sports seeks OK to operate retail sites,” Star-Advertiser, April 17:

>> I like the plan and aggressiveness. I just wonder if Ward Centre is the best location, since it might be difficult with limited parking. But I suppose it depends on the target markets.

>> Bad idea. Bad location. The University of Hawaii is not a powerhouse in either of the two sports that sell T-shirts, football and basketball. And it probably won’t be for a long time. It has a good season, occasionally, but no consistency.

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“City Council OKs Aiea towers plan,” Star-Advertiser, April 17:

>> Breene Harimoto calls the development plans a “model for the future.” Apparently he has not been paying attention to Hawaii history, because this is the model that’s been in place for more than 60 years: A large, well-connected landowner/developer gets what it wants via a vague and very flexible “agreement” that won’t be adhered to anyway.

>> What good is having height limits if you’re always going to allow variances, in this case up to almost six times as high? Why was the limit set at 60 feet in the area in the first place?