Use Natatorium for beach volleyball

Beach volleyball is fast becoming a popular spectator sport with the University of Hawaii recently enjoying great success.

What better place to showcase their events but at the Waikiki Natatorium on the beach at Waikiki with its glorious vista of Oahu’s south shore?

Fill up that dilapidated saltwater pool with sand and the concrete bleachers with fans who would pay a minimal entrance fee.

The proceeds would go toward the upkeep and further restoration of the facility. Over a period of time, it could pay for itself.

The area presently being used is too tight and restricted and should be returned to the public, as open beach space is a premium now.

The "Ol Nat" would give beach volleyball a world-class look.

That way we can use it, and not lose it.

Chris Brown
Kahaluu

Sovereignty should not be about race

I disagree with Richard Borreca’s arrogant dismissal of Office of Hawaiian Affairs candidate Kelii Akina ("Why Inouye steered clear of Hawaiian sovereignty," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, June 1).

Borreca’s writing reflects the Hawaii colonialists’ belief in "noblesse oblige" — people of higher social rank or wealth should care for those of lesser status or wealth.

But that was invented to justify the days of monarchies, when bloodline segregated those born the generous royalty from those born needy commoners.

So colonialists need to divide Hawaii’s people by race.

For a local resident and American, Hawaii’s people are one people united by our common values, not segregated by bloodline.

Call it aloha or neighborliness, it’s earned by a commitment to common courtesy, mutual respect, and mutual tolerance for each other — as equals, not the birthright of a single bloodline.

So I prefer Gov. George Ariyoshi, who saw Hawaii as America’s finest example of the melting pot, the Rev. Martin Luther King, who shamed those who judge people by their skin color instead of character, and Akina, who sees OHA’s beneficiaries as fellow Americans, just like him, me and Borreca.

George L. Berish
Kakaako

Stop building until homelessness solved

No. No more. All pau. No more new high-rise buildings. No more so-called "affordable housing." Not until the Kakaako area and Waikiki are clear of homeless street campers.

"All Pau" is my name for a total moratorium on all new construction in Kakaako and Waikiki unless and until the homeless problem is totally resolved.

Threaten capitalist livelihoods and Kakaako plans of special interests like the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and we’ll see how fast they and government move.

I give Mayor Kirk Caldwell credit for his efforts in dealing with the realities of the problem, but its magnitude and health consequences require much more radical action.

We are holding an election shortly. Who has the guts to make such a comprehensive construction moratorium their No. 1 platform issue?

Downtown voters can lead by electing new Republican faces to the Legislature and City Council. We have tried the Democrats for years and the situation only worsens. Let’s give Republicans a chance.

Clean up our streets first.

Fred Rohlfing
Downtown Honolulu

Jail is not solution for homelessness

In his letter "Homeless camps ruining our city," (Star-Advertiser, May 31), Les Howard seems to suggest that the solution to the complex social ill of homelessness is quite simple — harsh laws, strictly enforced.

Unless you count jail time as one of the fixes, prosecution and penalties will not put a roof over anyone’s head.

I suspect what Howard is really interested in is eliminating his having to confront the homeless citizens of Honolulu.

Homelessness has many causes and there are no simple solutions, but laws, prosecutions and attempts to "move the problem somewhere else" do nothing to address this issue.

Randy Braa
Kihei, Maui

Ige seems confused about kindergarten

Sen. David Ige says he would restart junior kindergarten, but Act 178 (2012), which he co-sponsored, eliminated the program.

On which side of the fence is he operating? What a shame it is for him to make needed opportunities for our children a political issue based on union support.

Apparently, he does not have a clear understanding of how junior kindergarten really works. Most of the time, younger children were just grouped with older children with no difference in curriculum, then they all moved up to first grade with the junior kindergarten group left unprepared.

This may have done more harm than good, since, if the children weren’t ready, they probably fell further behind as time went by.

Jacqueline M. Maero
Kailua