Listeners should contribute to HPR

That was an excellent article about KHPR and the challenges faced by CEO Michael Titterton ("Michael Titterton," Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, Oct. 24).

I’ve had the privilege of working there, both on and off air, and know very well how difficult fund-raising can be.

One factor was missing in the article — the number of listeners and how many of them actually contribute to the station. The figure mentioned on air is that less than 10 percent, and perhaps as low as 7 percent, of the listening audience contribute monetarily to Hawaii Public Radio. That means a lot of listeners are getting a free listen.

If more of those who tune in to KHPR but do not contribute would do so, it would strengthen the donor base and make the semiannual fund-raisers a lot less stressful for Michael, the staff and the many volunteers.

Robert S. Sandla
Hawaii Kai

HPR doesn’t mean community radio

Now that Hawaii Public Radio has secured funding for another six months, it’s time for a conversation about what thestation is and is not, what it can and should be.

Frank Haas’s plea that "Hawaii Public Radio deserves community’s support" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Oct. 15) isnot persuasive.

Why should the community support radio that is not community radio?

When we tune in, do we hear the accents and inflections of Hawaii, and the concerns they express?

Would a local radio host ascribe the origins of the Pacific War to Japan’s Bushido Code?

Would a local station spend so much time crowing about itself? (Our governor, known for his bombast, was handilydefeated by his less-flamboyant Democratic opponent.)

Would a locally oriented station air "The Splendid Table" but no program about local-kine grinds? Or air two Latin-musicprograms while ignoring Asian music?

Should we cede our mental environment to a non-local mindset?

Warren Iwasa
Kaimuki

Homeless could get meals, help in jail

What a wonderful idea to make it illegal to sit/lie (for a homeless person).

I’ve been living at OCCC (Oahu Community Correctional Center) for the last six months, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of my brothers and sisters also get some relief in the form of housing, food, medical care and hopefully, some social work assistance at OCCC.

I only wished the law existed sooner so I didn’t need to ask a teller at a bank for some money because I was facing homelessness. I strongly urge any homeless people who might be covering themselves with this newspaper, and happen to notice this letter, to lie down in front of the Waikiki police station ASAP.

See you in jail!

Edmund Lisowski
Oahu Community Correctional Center

Bible holds key to world’s problems

Deane Gonzalez expressed the view that too many people is the major problem, as opposed to environmental problems in our world ("Too many people is major problem," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 18). He said, "If you can’t feed them, don’t breed them."

True, but that could lead one to agree with abortion. One of our politician’s ad proudly proclaims he is for the right of a woman to choose.Why doesn’t he say:I believe murdering babies is all right.

If we really are interested in what the real problem is in our world, I suggest we go back to Adam and Eve and what the Bible says.Of course it is not politically correct to mention the "S" word: Sin.How far our world has strayed from God’s original intent. And how few will go back to read and see for themselves that the answer to all the world’s problems has been provided through Jesus.

Joyce Lyon
Kailua

No excuse for a man to strike a woman

Any man who hits a woman is no man at all and deserves no respect or support from anyone — let alone the police chief, fellow officers or the public, especially a repeat offender.

Police officers deserve respect for the job they have to do and they have my support and respect. But not Darren Cachola.

Andy Kachiroubas
Moiliili

Incumbents avoid accountability

Candidates David Ige and Mark Takai tout a combined 49 years inthe state Legislature. Why then, afteryearsof leadership roles, is Hawaii’s middle class in financial purgatory, young people hasten to the mainland, kupuna support is lacking andquality of life is lost?

The issues are overwhelming:affordable housing, cost of living, taxes,infrastructure, anti-business regulations,traffic, University of Hawaii, failure of Hawaii’s Health Connector, pastraids ontheEmployee Retirement System, homelessness.A public-union leadertellstaxpayers "—- you" and it goes unnoticed.

Recent problems include uncertainty about UH tuition, poor inspections of dams, neglect of trails and prison visit cancellations due to abuse of work rules.

It’sa mysteryno one, especially these candidates, is everheld accountable.

Jim McDiarmid
Mililani