Biological control better than before

Hawaii is overrun with invasive species that cause economic and environmental harm, reducing agricultural profitability, sustainability and diversification.

Invasive pests also impact endemic flora and fauna, threatening native ecosystems.

In many cases, biological control is the most cost-effective and safe way to control these invasives. It enhances food sustainability, reduces pesticide use and helps conservation efforts.

There is a need for caution when importing natural enemies. The Environmental Assessment by the University of Hawaii for a new medfly parasitoid is a good example of the precautionary approach. Six years of study (published, peer-reviewed) confirmed host-specificity of the new natural enemy. Independent evaluations by federal and state authorities, including multiple committees, all concurred on project safety.

For some, biocontrol has gained a bad reputation due to mistakes made decades ago, when projects were conducted without proper oversight. Today, especially in Hawaii, carefully conducted biological control is an essential tool for environmentally safe control of invasive species.

Russell H. Messing
Professor and entomologist, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Homeless in Hawaii need access to toilets

The World Bank committed to ending "open defecation and urination" in the Third World. Honolulu meets that Third World criteria.

The city addresses homelessness by offering toilets, showers and safe sheltering, butthe other advocates say this treats the homeless like slaves, or puts them in concentration camps.

There are two kinds of homeless advocates: those who would leave the homeless alone, or those who would improve safety and sanitation.

Before solutions, we should quantify the number of homeless who are newcomers to Hawaii, drug or alcohol addicts, those who prefer this lifestyle, or can’t afford rent because of low pay — and weed out those gaming the system.

Defecating and urinating on sidewalks and parks puts us at risk for flies and vermin-carrying diseases.

Let’s upgrade to Second World status by providing convenient chemical toilets exclusively for the homeless, or get help from the World Bank.

Caroll Han
Punchbowl

Laws in Hawaii seem made to be broken

In our fair state we have a university president who unilaterally fires a chancellor who made the only attempt in years to balance the budget.

His own momentous answer to the problem: Ask the taxpayer for more money.

We have a police chief who refuses to follow state law and his own in-house rules and is miffed when anyone questions him regarding one of his officers videotaped beating his girlfriend.

We are blessed with a union boss who would jeopardize the health care of tens of thousands of our citizens and uses foul language to protect outdated labor rules and regulations for the sake of his entrenched members.

We elect a Legislature that passes laws that are not subject to judicial oversight and allow old buddies to stay in power even though they do not live in the district they represent. Where is the accountability?

Why should I have to obey the laws or rules and regulations when these people in power disregard it?

Gary R. Johnson

Kaneohe

Encourage TV stations to let Davis in debates

There are four candidates running for governor on this year’s ballot.

So far, the only major television station to include all four candidates has been Hawaii Public Television. I’ll remember this during its fund drive.

The other Hawaii networks have shut out Libertarian candidate Jeff Davis.

I’m not a Libertarian, but as an American patriot, I find this undemocratic exclusion outrageous and unconscionable. KITV aired its biased debate Sept. 30, barring Davis, while I joined others outside in the rain protesting this injustice. The other networks have plans to do the same.

So, it’s up to all of us to put the pressure on KGMB, KHNL, KHON and the other three candidates (who should boycott debates that won’t include all four candidates). Urge them to hold fair and honest debates with all the candidates. Defend democracy.

Vanessa Ott

Moiliili

Lawsuits over rail were predictable

Patrick Williams blames lawsuits for pushing up rail costs, claiming "short-sighted actions of a few people cost us all" ("Rail lawsuits pushed up costs," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 1).

This overlooks the fact that we live in a country ostensibly governed by the rule of law.

The right to challenge the rail project in court exists only because our legislators enacted state and federal environmental laws authorizing filing lawsuits. These laws have existed for many years. Consequently, project managers overseeing major infrastructure projects typically anticipate these delays, knowing that virtually every major project proposed anywhere in the U.S. during the past 40 years has been challenged in court.

If Williams is unhappy that lawsuits have delayed the rail project, he should consider asking the Legislature whether the laws currently on the books actually serve the public interest. In addition, he might ask the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation why it didn’t anticipate lawsuits challenging such a controversial project as this one.

David L. Mulliken

Diamond Head

Making Honolulu age-friendly is crucial

Thank you for your editorial about the "silver wave" and seniors’ health care ("’Silver wave’ about to hit shore," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 1).

You called attention to many important issues, including the rapidly changing ratio of caregivers to those needing care and the desire of most elders to age in place.

All of this is why it is critical to make Honolulu an age-friendly city, which mean addressing all aspects — from outdoor spaces and buildings to transportation, housing, communication and social involvement, civic participation and employment, community and health services.

Know that the Initiative to Make Honolulu an Age-Friendly City, a joint City and County of Honolulu, AARP and World Health Organization endeavor, is well underway. It already involves almost 100 volunteers and city officials addressing the areas listed above.

The goal is a city that is a friendly place for kupuna to keiki and everyone in between.

Tom Dinell

Co-chair, Honolulu Age-Friendly City Initiative steering committee

Anti-GMO crowd also opposed Superferry?

Allan Parachini wrote a fine commentary regarding the anti-GMO crowd on the outer islands ("Anti-GMO initiative on Maui is imprecise and alarming," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 2).

I suspect if one were to do some research to find just who is behind the initiative, one would find that those who make up the extremist fringe are the same wannabe kamaaina who protested the Superferry.

It is unfortunate that the local and Hawaiian populations of those islands let these malahini exercise influence in such a serious way, a place they have invested their lives while the mainland squatters go surfing and protest on the side.

Michael Gilleland

Kailua

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

"Wasp shows promise in fruit fly fight," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 29:

>> Hopefully, all of the proper control experiments have been conducted on potential non-target species; there are too many native species that could be affected.

>> Remember the mongoose.

>> What will they do in a few years when they have to control this wasp?

——

"Connector narrows search for new leader," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 29:

>> No matter how much taxpayer money is wasted, no matter how big a black hole the government creates, they never shut a failure down. Because somebody is making money at our expense.

>> Who in their right mind would want to ruin their resume by having the title of executive director of the Hawaii Health Connector on it? How much money has been wasted here?

>> Tom Matsuda is a good man. He’ll be missed.

>> Baghdad Bob of Hawaii will be missed?

——

"Cachola questions key votes on rail," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 30:

>> Did he just toss the rail under the bus?

>> It didn’t take much money for big rail interests to buy the City of Honolulu into perpetual tax enslavement. This city is … paying for the most absurdly inappropriate rail system that doesn’t even go to UH or Waikiki.

>> I don’t agree with Romy Cachola on many issues, but I agree with him that all the other politicians and government officials who took the same bribes as he did should get the same penalties.

——

"Unstoppable flow," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 30:

>> No one can stop Madame Pele. She will do whatever she wants to do.

>> In 1992, a town in Sicily was saved from lava destruction by efforts to bomb and divert lava. I’m sure the people of Zaferrana are happy that the attitude of "Don’t mess with Pele" was not followed.

——

"Sakai wins award, announces health program for guards," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1:

>> This is a joke right? Isn’t this the same guy who can’t control his own staff during football season? The union appears to have more influence in the prison system than he does.

>> This wellness program is good. There is more to this than what’s on the surface.

>> Is he planning a Super Bowl party at OCCC?

——

"HPD case puts chief in hot seat at Capitol," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1:

>> Because Chief Louis Kealoha was not proactive by tackling the domestic violence issue head on, this issue has become a major distraction for the Honolulu Police Department. At this point, for the benefit of his colleagues in blue, as well as the community at large, Sgt. Darren Cachola should resign.

>> Kealoha should resign already.

>> If the prosecutor didn’t have enough to make a case in this situation, then something is wrong with the laws which HPD has to work within.

>> Everything has context. The chief offered to put the Cachola situation in context with additional video. But the legislators don’t want the public to see it?

——

"Hot. Humid. Rainy. No relief coming," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 2:

>> Well I guess Christmas is not going to feel Christmasy. It will now be summertime all year.

>> No one wants to admit that the environmental elephant remains firmly seated in the room. Say what you want, the weather’s changing.

——

"Testimony endorses Ward plan," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 2:

>> Notice the artist’s rendition of the project shows only open space, not the two massive towers planned. The fix is in and one of the reasons Gov. Neil Abercrombie lost in the primary election was the out-of-control development in Kakaako.

>> It’s funny how people think there is runaway development in Kakaako but since the 1970s when the Hawaii Community Development Authority was formed there wasn’t much done at all until recently.

>> Thank God they’re going to do something there. Ward Warehouse has run its course.

——

"Isles on heightened alert for Ebola despite low risk," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 3:

>> The government here is not even ready for an outbreak of good fortune.

>> C’mon folks, let’s not all panic until it’s absolutely necessary!