U.S. should back 2-state solution

I find it outrageous that when someone criticizes the oppressive, international-law-breaking government of Israel they are labeled as anti-Semitic.

The government of Israel violates international law every minute of every day by illegally building settlements on Palestinian land, stealing land from Palestinians, razing olive groves and imprisoning people without due process.

An independent team of investigators is conducting research into war crimes committed by Israel. If found guilty, Israel should be hit with harsh penalties. Although the Gaza conflict is out of the headlines, Israel continues its oppression and deplorable actions against the Palestinians.

U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz supports a two-state solution and the end to further settlements on Palestinian lands. Let’s hold him and all members of Congress to that.

Timothy Dow
Waikiki

Clean restrooms easy to ensure

We see letter after letter to the editor about the deplorable condition of public restrooms in Waikiki and elsewhere on the island. Yet, Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell and his predecessors have done nothing to correct the situation.

One wonders why such a seemingly simple and logical solution to a real problem has not been imple- mented. If the city administration were to assign employees full-time to each public restroom to keep them clean, the problem would quickly resolve itself.

To say the city can’t afford it is complete shibai. If the city can afford $5billion for that idiotic rail project, it can afford to pay the labor to keep the restrooms clean.

Tokyo and Singapore both have abundant public restrooms that are kept clean and sanitary. If they can do it, so can we.

Kent W. Comstock
Kailua

Some restrooms actually unsafe

Reading the New Zealand visitor’s letter about the awful state of restrooms in Waikiki, sadly, I must concur ("Waikiki restrooms world-class awful," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 30).

While I’ve not been to Waikiki lately, I frequent Kailua Beach Park and that restroom’s condition is deplorable. I’m always embarrassed for tourists and residents as it’s filthy.

In Kailua, it’s not just that the restrooms are unclean and poorly supplied. The building is deteriorating and could harm someone if concrete collapses.

Aside from health requirements to maintain clean and well supplied restrooms, isn’t it the government’s responsibility to ensure facilities are safe?

Besides, what of the surplus that our governor proclaimed?Don’t we as the "aloha" state owe it to ourselves, and the generous visitors who enable us to share Hawaii, to have clean, well-maintained and supplied restroom facilities? If we can’t, who could blame them for going elsewhere?

Randy Iona
Mililani

Award to Sakai hard to believe

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read that Ted Sakai was named the nation’s Outstanding Director of Corrections ("Sakai wins award, announces health program for guards," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1).

With all due respect, the Association of State Correctional Administrators must not be paying attention. It seems that its members are unaware of all the problems Sakai has had as public safety director. Talk about lack of knowledge regarding the operation of Hawaii’s correctional facilities. How about all the trouble with personnel, including prisoners escaping and some guards bringing in illegal substances?

I’m at a loss to understand how Sakai was chosen for this lofty award.

Frederick Connolly
Ala Moana

Super PACs back candidate

Buying a Maui Council seat shouldn’t be so easy.

One candidate for Maui Council, Ka’ala Buenconsejo,is supported by two Super PACs, Forward ProgressandMaui Timeshare Ohana.

Before I started receiving expensive mailers about Buenconsejo from these Super PACs,I had never heard of him. So far I have received eight brochures for Buenconsejo.

Forward Progress meansJohn White of Oahu, who also runs Pacific Resource Partnership. Ben Cayetano sued PRP for activities in the 2012 campaign.

Maui Timeshare Ohana means Grant Gillham, a Reno attorney and former lobbyist for tobacco andchemical companies. In 2005, he established a fake citizens group that successfully lobbied for the use of a fire retardant that caused cancer in firefighters.

BetweenJuly 17 and Aug. 9 the two PACs spent about $200,000 on ads for Buenconsejo. He has achieved name recognition.

Sally Raisbeck
Wailuku, Maui