Animal issues are people issues

Dogs are defenders of America’s freedoms in times of war, valuable in police and rescue work and intherapy and assistancefor humans and are loyal and beloved family members.

Senate Bill 2026 would have explicitly prohibited the slaughter or trafficking of dogs or cats for consumption. The bill was initiated after a loophole in our animal cruelty law was discovered, making prosecution of such cases nearly impossible.

Why was the bill held from final passage, despite receiving no opposition and overwhelming public support, including testimony from residents who witnessed dog slaughters in Moiliili, Kalihi and Waianae, and two unsolved dog decapitation cases last year?

The community should be outraged, as we were in the 2007 case involving Caddy, a beloved pet who was admittedly stolen, then butchered.

Progressive leaders understand that animal issues are people issues, and that anti-cruelty legislation creates safer communities for all.

Jane Shiraki
Liliha

Visitors view Hawaii as second home

Your article about repeat visitors prompted me to share our experience ("Heart of tourism industry lies in hana hou visitors," Star-Advertiser, April 28).

We first came here in 1996 for our 25th wedding anniversary. We’ve missed coming back each year since only twice. Many of our friends back home in Wales say this is our second home. The friends we’ve made here over the years call us ohana.

This year is our 43rd anniversary. We look forward — health permitting — to many more visits. With 17 in 19 years, we truly are at home.

Sue and Gra Horton
Wales, United Kingdom

Education is better to stop bag littering

I abhor the injury or damage to marine life or others who may be hurt by the stupid ways some people dispose of plastic bags.At the same time, I am sick and tired of being punished for the careless actions of these people.

I conscientiously abide by common-sense rules.I recycle bags, either by returning them to a store that accepts them, gifting them to in-laws who use them for pooper scoopers, or in some other way.Plastic bags are unsurpassed in the variety of convenient uses for them, including the original purpose of bringing groceries or other goods home from a store. They are also about the cheapest such product around.

Considering all the above, my vote is to eliminate the ban being considered at this time.Catching those irresponsible people improperly disposing of plastic bags is nearly impossible, but greater efforts at education might help.

Jim Pollock
Kaneohe

Is Solomon family actually ranching?

About the Solomon family’s Hawaiian Homes property in Waimea, I want to know how many cattle are raised on this "ranch" ("Senator’s family receives pass on land, critics say," Star-Advertiser, May 5).

This is definitely a case of different rules for different folks.

Kaualani Kempa
Makiki

Hire attendants to oversee restrooms

After reading another complaint about the misuse of public restrooms, I have an idea to share.

I have traveled extensively in Europe and found that the majority of the public and often private restrooms had an attendant in charge of towels and would hand you one when needed and expected a small tip. Of course, the attendant also kept the place clean and discouraged any negative behavior and could call for help if needed.

Perhaps having an attendant present in each of our public restrooms would discourage damage and cut down on their misuse, and the restrooms could be available to all.

Part of the salary for the attendants could be generated by saving money not having to replace damaged items. Perhaps each Waikiki business could contribute .01 percent of their profit for the year to pay the attendants — or some other plan. All of them depend on tourists and the present restroom situation turns many visitors off.

Joyce Wiese
Mililani

Bus ads nothing compared to noise

I find it ironic that we are debating the possibility of visual pollution by having ads on the side of the buses, which I consider extremely minor, and we do not consider the infinitely more serious auditory pollution of the groups of motorcyclists that parade up and down Ala Moana and Kalakaua Avenue, especially on weekends, revving their engines every chance they get in an attempt to draw attention.

We have double-pane windows and even with them closed the noise is simply unbearable.

Why are these people allowed to constantly assault our ears in such an offensive manner with utter impunity? Aren’t there any laws prohibiting this horrible noise pollution?

At least with the ads on the side of the buses, TheBus would generate some revenues that would benefit all of us.

George Vozikis
Waikiki

Schools not only place to learn

Thank you to Ruth Silberstein ("School activities teach lessons for life," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 4), who spoke on behalf of the need to address the whole child and not just about attending school.

Educating our youth is not only the teachers’ responsibility but everyone’s.We, as parents, friends, neighbors, relatives, adults, peers, companies and governments, should all set the example and live the talk.

Learning does not come only from books and taking tests. Yes, there must be guidelines for all activities in our schools.But it’s easy to say that something shouldn’t be done instead of offering ideas of how it can be done.

Gail Hedani
Makiki