Honouliuli memorial will serve the future

Thank you to the Star-Advertiser for supporting the preservation of Honouliuli Internment Camp and its inclusion into the national park system.

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii has worked to preserve the stories of Hawaii’s Japanese-American internees and research sites such as Honouliuli for the past decade. During this time, our partnership with Honouliuli landowner, Monsanto, and the National Park Service has been based upon a shared commitment to preserve the historic site, create public access and share the lessons and legacy of the Japanese-American internment to future generations.

We’ve co-sponsored educational tours for students, remembrance programs for the community and produced the documentary film, "The Untold Story: Internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaiʻi."

Monsanto’s donation of 160 acres of Honouliuli to the public and the National Park’s willingness to accept Honouliuli into the national park system are major steps toward ensuring the preservation of Hawaii’s largest World War II internment camp site and preventing another Honouliuli in the future.

Carole Hayashino
President, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii

We all have to help solve homelessness

Just complaining about homelessness is not going to solve the problem.

Services for the mentally ill and chronically homeless are woefully underfunded and it doesn’t help that the City Council just cut $8 million from the paltry amount the mayor allocated for housing for chronically homeless.

There is almost no affordable housing in Hawaii. Period.People want to make money on the properties they rent.

We all have to be part of the solution. Call the City Council; get the hotels to put some real money into the problem; make a donation to one of the underfunded organizations that work to end homelessness.

Janet Montgomery
Kailua

Why so hard to ban homeless from parks?

Yes, it is sadly true that there is a rapidly growing homeless population in Kapiolani Park and elsewhere throughout Waikiki ("Homeless just move elsewhere," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 16).

But, have you noticed that you never see the homeless in the attractive Kuroda Field and anywhere else at Waikiki’s Fort DeRussy?

What does the federal government seem to know about what to do about this distressing, disgusting and detrimental homeless situation that the state and city governments cannot seem to figure out?

They should likewise ban the homeless from Waikiki as other cities in America and other countries do in their tourist destinations before Hawaii kills the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Mark Webster
Waialae-Kahala

Free beach better than restored Natatorium

David Brown, executive vice president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, says, "The Natatorium is an important war memorial" and "that Hawaii has lost a lot of its history."

He and other proponents of restoration should be reminded that historically the beachfront itself is more significant. The Natatorium area was part of the Waikiki beach where the warriors of both Kahekili (1780s) and Kamehameha (1790s) landed to conquer Oahu.

The costs to be paid by us taxpayers would include rebuilding the pool, bleachers and facilities; maintenance, both daily and long term; and insurance. We would also have to pay to attend shows and games.

Let’s get a free public beach for us all to enjoy.

Mandy Bowers
Manoa

Let’s fix, not ‘fight’ over, health programs

I have been listening to the commercials of several congressional candidates talk about "fighting" for Medicare and Social Security.

As a senior participating in these programs, I’m dismayed that these candidates underrate our intelligence. We know these programs will not survive in the present forms.

First they should tell us how they are going to fix these programs so that they will be here for our future generations. We seniors care as much or more for our kids and grandkids than we do for ourselves.

Second, "fighting" means taking sides or voting the party line. What about offering suggestions for strengthening the programs that would have both sides of the aisle understanding the benefits?

Last, who would be "fighting"? Do any of our seniors believe any of our delegation would win a "fight" in Congress? Let’s get real.

Chuck Reindollar
Makiki

Amendment proposal not about vouchers

I read the article, "Hanabusa, Schatz differ on changing Constitution" (Star-Advertiser, May 11), and there seems to be an inaccurate assumption that the early childhood education constitutional amendment on the upcoming November ballot has to do with vouchers.

My understanding is voting "yes" would actually get rid of vouchers, not create them.Vouchers happen when state money or any public taxpayer money goes to people and they decide where to spend it.

The constitutional amendment would actually make programs accountable to state standards if they want to receive public funds. This has my vote.

Darlene Sousa
Kailua

Dog owners ignoring leash law at beach

Kahala Beach is overrun by dogs.

Too many people bring their unleashed dogs to the beach, allowing them to run free and interfere with other people’s right to a peaceful stroll on the sand.

On a recent Sunday morning, I counted no fewer than 20 dogs. Though a few owners do abide by the leash law, most allow their dogs to run and play, and interact with strangers.

One dog ran up to me growling and snapped at me, grabbing my swim trunks with its teeth. To her credit, the owner expressed the appropriate level of embarrassment and dismay, and apologized profusely, saying the dog is "overprotective."

It is distressing to see people ignore basic common sense and a clearly defined leash law.

If there is a solution to this, I would like to hear it.

Paul A. LaPage
Kahala

Oahu SPCA needs to make some changes

Leila Fujimori’s article "Aloha Petroleum extends lease for animal shelter at Campbell" (May 22, Star-Advertiser) is a welcome start to a much-needed conversation about the Oahu Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

I would offer the following observation: The Oahu SPCA president and board want to characterize the alternatives as being either to keep the current directors and president or put the animals out on the street.

This is a false dilemma. The choice is between the current poor leadership and weak governance or putting in place a new board and president who will:

» Operate in an open, transparent way in accordance with IRS guidelines for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (such as the Hawaiian Humane Society).

» Respect volunteers and donors as partners and stakeholders.

» Operate in compliance with city, state and federal laws and regulations.

» Seek partnerships with other animal welfare organizations in Hawaii.

Garnett Howard
Ewa Beach