Don’t lose sight of animal welfare

Leila Fujimori did a great job with a tough story on the Oahu Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ("Aloha Petroleum extends lease for animal shelter at Campbell," Star-Advertiser, May 22).

The story appears more about the result of conflicting information — and some sour feelings — about whichnonprofits get what money under the guise of "lack of transparency."

Asidebar to this story might beabout whatadministrators of local petgroupshave known for years: thatthe criticism of competitors, even when it involves dogs, cats, birds or other pets, is characteristic of the trade. Jealousyover successes, publicity, grants or donations becomes more credible as a news story when presented as questionable money transactions or failure to comply with requirements.

I take no sides in this issue andcommend Fujimori, whose story was responsibly crafted.

Maybe all of us in the pet community need to remember the reason why we got involved in the first place — which was to educate, rescue, shelter and foster — and put a little less attention on the poop.

Cinde Fisher
President, Aloha Hawaiian Parrot Association
Makiki

Hawaii ideal to host conservationists

The Nature Conservancy is pleased that Hawaii will host the 2016 World Conservation Congress ("State to host international meeting," Star-Advertiser, May 22).

Healthy natural resources create jobs, encourage tourism, produce food and support the people, plants and animals that depend on these resources for survival. From the native forests that supply our fresh water to the ocean and coral reefs that attract visitors, support fisheries and protect our shorelines, the environment is the economy.

Hawaii is a showcase of America’s diversity in nature, culture, conservation and sustainability. The synthesis of modern knowledge and traditional wisdom practiced here is a model for communities around the globe.We believe it will be an excellent site for world leaders from the government and the private sector to seek solutions to our planet’s environment and development issues.

Suzanne Case
Executive director, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii

The homeless are human beings, too

I take offense at the articles and comments written about the homeless issue. It’s as though we are proposing to just sweep "these people" under a rug. They are human beings like the rest of us.

Those in million-dollar condos seem to have a problem with people who cannot afford million-dollar condos or anything else below that price range.

Concocting some 9-to-5 park rules is not a solution; it is a very old, loose Band-Aid that will detach the second you stand up.

We need real solutions: restroom facilities, clean and safer shelters, job recruitment committees and more.

Living in Hawaii is not getting any cheaper, which inevitably means the birth of new homeless families at our parks and beaches.

I propose that people start thinking about how we can create a healthy, safe, discrimination-free community for years to come.

Aneesah Silvels
Kalihi

VA in Hawaii serves its ‘customers’ well

As a "customer" of the Hawaii Veterans Affairs’ services for more than 10 years, I would like to state that the care I have received during this period has been exemplary.

The medical personnel whom I have interacted with have been, without exception, professional, helpful and caring.

Through the VA, I have also had anumber of surgeries performed at Tripler Army Medical Center and have found the care and treatment to be outstanding.

There are serious problems with the VA on the mainland, but here in Hawaii, the medical side of the VA is doing excellent work.

As a postscript, there have been news reports about bonuses being paid to VA employees. Government employees receiving bonuses at taxpayer expense on top of salaries and very generous benefits is dead wrong and should be stopped.

Kent W. Comstock
Kailua

VA problems are portent of future

If you are shocked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ hospital mess, realize that it is single-payer, government-provided health care at its best.

The future for all of us.

Kent Davenport, M.D.
Kahala

Evaluations eating into teaching time

The politicization and subsequent implementation of the Educator Effectiveness System for teachers is a great disappointment.

The public has been misled to believe that teachers do not want to be evaluated — that we are some group of renegade state employees hiding behind our union.

For some odd reason, the Hawaii State Teachers Association decided to work with the state on the EES without letting people know that there already was a teacher evaluation system in place for many years called PEP-T, or Professional Evaluation Program for Teachers.

This program allowed administrators to work with, discipline or remove teachers deemed to be marginal.Assessment was done on a regular cycle.

The new EES is overkill. It takes valuable time away from educators.It means teachers have less time to do what they need to do.

It means that administrators are not doing everything they could be doing to make schools successful.

Doug Lung
Punchbowl