Isle politicians silent on drones

The very last sentence of this positive-sounding article says, "If/when (drone) weapon systems are fully developed and approved … (the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 3) would conduct air-to-ground ordnance delivery operations at locations where munitions training is authorized …" ("More drones in our skies," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 5).

In simpler English: "If and when the military decides, these drones will carry bombs all over the 50th state."

Nothing is mentioned about how people around the world who resent being bombed by drones based and funneled to their target country through Hawaii and guided by technicians trained in Hawaii might find some means to retaliate.

Japan rejected having this drone squadron based on Japanese soil, but the people of the 50th state were given no such choice. Our elected officials seem to have no voiced opinion, one way or another, about Hawaii becoming a major drone center overnight.

David Yasuo Henna
McCully

City neglecting parks upkeep

Honolulu City Council member Kymberly Pine admits that the city isn’t doing its job in maintaining our parks ("Proposed bill looks to transform Adopt-a-Park program," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 6).

Rather than use good management principles, she wants to go around the city Parks Department and have community volunteers do the work the city isn’t doing.

Exactly who is going to coordinate the volunteers and organize the donations from businesses and unions that she envisions? If the park is not kept up, can we call her to complain?

Park upkeep and maintenance are part of the city’s core services and what we pay our property taxes to have done.

What’s next, volunteer police, firemen and garbage collection?

Garry P. Smith
Ewa Beach

Maui initiative is clear, sensible

Maui’s initiative for a moratorium on GMO products is a step toward preserving our natural heritage.

Contrary to Allan Parachini’s commentary ("Anti-GMO initiative on Maui is imprecise and alarming," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 2), it is a rational call to stop GMO farming now rampant in Maui until a review of the environmental safety can be completed.

If passed, anyone knowingly growing GMO products after the ban would be guilty civilly and criminally, facing maximum fines and imprisonment. Crops already planted when the ban applies (mid-growth) would be exempt. Crops planted after the ban would violate the law. It’s clear, sensible and responsible.

Parachini suggest there is lack of clarity in the ban and therefore the ban should be defeated. This is pure obfuscation, and it’s just as bad to suggest it is a ban against all farming on Maui.

Congratulations to the people of Maui who have taken the public trust doctrine seriously and are willing to face the onslaught of GMO corporations.

Hooipo DeCambra
Waianae

Anti-GMO fears not scientific

The National Geographic’s October issue should be required reading by Hawaii’s anti-GMOers.

An article in it notes that products from GMO crops have been eaten almost 20 years without any evidence of negative effects.

The magazine notes that pesticide use has been dramatically reduced as a result. There was a 90 percent reduction of pesticide use on America’s 90 million acres of GMO corn.

In 2013, more than 400 million acres worldwide were in GMO crops. They are grown in 28 countries, involving more than 20 crops.

The magazine explains that the extraordinary types of gene transfer by molecular-markers and transgenes represent a new "Green Revolution," and that because major food crops like rice, wheat, and cassava are not keeping up with world population growth, GMO versions offer hope.

Anti-GMO fears must not be allowed to curb Hawaii’s contribution to this revolution.

James L. Brewbaker
Kailua

Preschools idea begs questions

Voters have not been given enough detail about the constitutional amendment proposing to finance preschool with public funds to know what they are voting for ("Public funds for private preschools?" Star-Advertiser, Insight, Oct. 5).

Will each participating private preschool be required to enroll children on a first-come-first-served basis, or will they be able to select the children they want to enroll? The latter would be discriminatory and contrary to the concept of public education.

Will those private preschools be able to receive supplemental payments from parents? That would be discriminatory as well. Children from well-to-do families would be able to attend more expensive preschools, which are presumably of higher quality.

Will the constitutional amendment result in universal preschool, which has been estimated to cost $125 million, or will it not?

Critical questions have not been answered. Without sufficient detail, voters should reject the constitutional amendment.

John Kawamoto
Kaimuki

Call beaches by Hawaiian names

Plans to rename an Oahu beach for the president of the United States have been dropped, in part because of concerns raised by those opposing the change.

So now let’s see if folks start calling the beach by its real name: Wawamalu or Awawamalu. And part of that beach by its real name, ‘Ōku‘u. Or will they continue to call it by the haole name, Sandy’s?

Use the real name, please. There are hundreds of non-Hawaiian names that probably should be changed. Let’s start with this one.

Keith Haugen
Nuuanu

Say’s residency unclear for years

Regarding "House is asked to determine Say’s eligibility" (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 7): Calvin Say, the former Speaker of the House, wouldn’t speak to us about getting an animal-cruelty bill passed. We went to his office in the1980s and 1990s and were turned away by his secretaries.

I was living at 1414 10th Avenue, and walked up to his parents’ house and spoke to his dad. Calvin wasn’t living there, his dad said. He would see that his boy got my message.

Barbara Ikeda
Mililani

All adults should pay same for bus

We should implement a bus fare that is consistent and favorable toward every single rider who shares TheBus.

Charge the same amount that a regular monthly adult rider pays for a monthly bus pass. Let this be the fare for the elderly and the disabled, because it’s not going to get better with our government mishandling tax revenues paid by all of us.

We all pay taxes. Everyone pays the same based on what they earn. The adult bus fare should be straight across the board for all disabled, college and elderly adult fares.

Daniel Constancio
Kalihi