E-cigarettes misrepresented

The director of the state Department of Health, Linda Rosen, said that e-cigarettes are not healthier than regular cigarettes for users or those surrounding them ("E-cigarettes banned in 49 state buildings," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 14).

There is no scientific support for this claim, and it is disturbing that state health policies should be made in contradiction to scientific evidence.

E-cigarettes have been found to have trace amounts of toxins associated with tobacco cigarettes, about the same as in nicotine gum. There is no apparent health risk. Public health officials from The New England Journal of Medicine endorse the use of e-cigarettes as a strategy of harm reduction. E-cigarette use has been found to motivate quitting regular cigarette use.

Banning e-cigarettes is likely to have the unintended consequence of discouraging quitting from the real danger posed by tobacco use.

Tracy Trevorrow
Professor of psychology, Chaminade University of Honolulu

Buildings could have dual uses

I am surprised that there seems not to have been consideration of dual-use space to house the homeless, at least overnight.

By dual use, I mean commercial or government space that is occupied during the day but vacant at night.There probably are many thousands of square feet of such space.

One example comes to mind: the many square feet of aisles in the state Capitol where, I am sure, a few dozen homeless could sleep safely and out of the rain. Of course, there would have to be some staff to keep order and clean up, but that would be cheap considering the alternatives.

An added benefit would be that legislators and their staffs would be reminded every morning on coming to work of the problem that needs to be solved.

Alvin Murphy
Manoa Valley

Bleached coral is a warning

An increase in the Earth’s ocean temperature and acidity, predicted by many reputable scientists over the last 25 years, is now killing (bleaching) our corals.

Reputable earth science predicts that this early sign is the canary in our aquatic coal mine.Coral bleaching is just the beginning of a longand steady decline in our global reef system that will inevitably affect all life in our coastal and offshore environments.Humans cannot stop the climate change that we have caused; we can only adapt.

In Hawaii, we need to encourage renewable energy by providing higher tax credits and reinstating rebates; preserve fresh water by increasing residential and commercial fees; provide tax credits for local agriculture; discourage immigration by increasing landing fees and tourist taxes; spend more on education and not on construction at the University of Hawaii; and simply do what is best for our island home.

Miners who failed to heed the dead canary usually did not live to see another day.

Sam Monet
Waikiki

A draft would discourage war

Since we replaced the military draft with an all-volunteer force in 1973, our nation has been making decisions about wars without worry over who fights them.

I sincerely believe that reinstating the draft would compel the American public to have a stake in the wars we fight as a nation.

Currently, the burden of defending our nation is carried by less than 1 percent of the American population. The law should require all men and women between ages 18 and 62 to give two years of service in any capacity that promotes our national defense.

Yes, 62 and even older on a voluntary basis. Older people can help, too. Then the chicken hawks who are always calling for armed intervention will finally be all they can be.

Gary Pardy
Haleiwa

Vote to support keiki, teachers

Children entering kindergarten ready to begin are crucial to Hawaii’s future.

Kindergarten teachers want children able to tackle the work required. Sadly, almost half of our keiki are not ready. Ask any kindergarten teacher — they want ready kids.

Why would the Hawaii State Teachers Association not want to support their teachers?

Other states do serve preschool children with public funds in a variety of sites, including contracted private preschools. Hawaii has a precedent: Special-needs preschool children were first served by private programs through state contracts.

Contracting with private programs that follow strict state guidelines makes sense. It is half as expensive, serves more children, employs qualified teachers who dedicate their careers to early learning, and utilizes environments meant for young children.

Local and national research supports a public-private preschool plan. Plans are ready; children are waiting. Let’s step up. People should vote "yes" to show they care about Hawaii’s keiki.

Liz Chun
Kaimuki

Respect for HPD hits a new low

My, oh my, has the Honolulu Police Department dropped to a new low in the respect and responsibility department by not firing Sgt. Darren Cachola.

That is some kind of horseplay, with the slamming of his girlfriend into walls and tables, plus the punches he pounded on her.Even if it was horseplay, where is the common sense an officer of the law should show at all times when in the public eye — heck, at all times?

Cachola should be fired because he cannot control his anger or actions, and if it all was supposed to be a big joke, that alone is enough for dismissal.

Yes, TV and reporters can make a mountain out of a molehill, but in this case it should be goodbye to Sgt. Cachola.

Gail Elliott
Waianae

High-rise areas still have cars

I have heard that many of the new condos planned for Kakaako are saving money by getting waivers for the required number of parking stalls in their buildings.

They are advertising that everything will be close to home and within walking or biking distance.

But this doesn’t mean everyone who buys an apartment will get rid of their second car and start walking or biking.

On the contrary, a retired friend from the Police Department says from past experience that there will likely be many cars competing for street parking, which is what it’s like in Salt Lake.

When there’s not enough parking to go around, people park illegally, which causes tensions. The police get frequent complaints and the neighborhoods are not as nice as they envisioned. Also, if second cars were parked in protected stalls, there would be less likelihood of vandalism in the area.

Certainly the police have much more important things to do than deal with parked vehicle problems.

Joan Navales
Aiea