It was nice to hear Ige honor his wife

It was refreshing to hear such a strong appreciation by Gov. David Ige of his wife Dawn, whom he acknowledged had stood by him in the worst of times, believing and having faith in him. It’s a partnership of mutual support between two people that will do Hawaii well.

Strong partners involved in each other’s work and mission will ensure a smoother administrative success. Many of us in Hawaii were proud to hear and see this in his first address at the inauguration.

The rest of his inauguration speech set a modest tone, calling on us to cooperate and work together with all those who are willing to be engaged in making Hawaii a better place we call home and to promote our aloha spirit.

Government, unions and people should be on one team, working to make all of our lives better and our children’s lives better.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Chinatown

It’s time to get real about public toilets

I fully agree with Beppie J. Shapiro ("Put public toilets in commercial areas," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 1).

It’s time to get real with the needs of the homeless, near-homeless and others who are out and about and need to use facilities when on our streets.

This is a very unfriendly city when it comes to allowing individuals to take care of their physical needs while in town.

Cathy Cook
Hawaii Kai

Bike lane causing driver confusion

While driving in the left lane on King Street, I noticed the empty designated car parking areas in the adjacent bike lane and wondered how businesses on King Street would fare without them.

At one point, a car in front of me didn’t move. I couldn’t pass it because of heavy traffic. Perhaps it had stalled or was broken down. Or perhaps the driver was otherwise preoccupied. I couldn’t tell because the rear windshield was filmy.

Soon, a woman repeatedly knocked on my car window. She said that the car in front of me was legitimately parked, so I had better try to maneuver around it. Ah ha! Now cars can park next to the concrete barrier separating the old left lane — now reserved for bike riding — and the new left lane.

The woman could have ignored me. Instead, she took the time to help me get on my way.

Stan Satz
Waikiki

State balance sheet looks precarious

Did anyone else notice that Hawaii is the state with the highest percentage of debt, pension and health care liability in relation to gross domestic product (42.3 percent), according to studies by Eaton Vance ("Most states are good credit risks," Star-Advertiser, Nov. 30)?

Should we have second thoughts about Hawaii bonds?Is this something for Gov. David Ige to work on?

Jonathan Carr
Kuliouou

Anti-GMO efforts too little, too late?

Perhaps the most important issue in the past election for many of the people of our state was the vote on the moratorium on genetically modified organisms.

I was so proud of the people of Maui standing up to the big corporations Monsanto and Dow Chemical.

It was disappointing to read the story, "Judge blocks GMO law’s start" (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 15), but this is standard operating procedure for Monsanto.

Recently I watched a documentary entitled, "GMO OMG." Evidently, what Monsanto is doing in Hawaii it has already done in the heartland of America to the detriment of our food supply. It may already be too little, too late.

Gloria Kaneshiro
Nuuanu

Bring back spirit of Tahitian Lanai

My suggestion to the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs is to bring back the nostalgic Tahitian Lanai restaurant at the Fisherman’s Wharf location in Kakaako.

After 40 years as hostess to those from near and far, it closed under protest. The Tahitian Lanai was frequented by the who’s who from Hawaii and the mainland, as well as everyday people like me. It offered a welcoming charm all its own, and has yet to be replicated. Locals and visitors are looking for old Hawaii.

This tropical oasis would counteract the elevated rail and glass towers — both extreme misfits. Salute other restaurants that have closed — Canlis, M’s Ranch House, Kelley’s, the Roundhouse, Flamingos, South Seas — by serving their signature dishes. Fried taro medallions (in lieu of hash browns) and banana muffins were Tahitian Lanai’s best. Bring her back in her tropical grandeur (pavilion style, tiki torches, palms and thatched umbrellas) for us who savor the memories of this iconic gathering place.

Her spirit is still here looking for a home. It will flourish!

Lani Wagner
Aiea

Anti-Zionism not about hating Jews

It’s simply wrong that Giveon Cornfield links "Jew-hatred" with hatred of Zionism ("Hatred of Jews is oldest hatred," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 28).

Yes, there is a difference, whether Zionism is a cloak for Jewish, Christian or secular extremists of the Europe-birthed colonialist ideology.

Any sane human mourns the dead resulting from the recent Jerusalem synagogue attack. An intellectual would recognize that the matter has context.

Of nearly equal recentness (August), the 2,135 mostly civilian people of Gaza butchered by Zionist forces, with many more thousands injured and their infrastructure shattered, should give all of us pause for mourning. That’s context.

In 1994, Baruch Goldstein, physician and Zionist terrorist rabbi, massacred 29 Palestinian worshippers and wounded 125 others in a West Bank mosque. Goldstein is a hero to Zionists. That’s context.

For additional context, Google Stephen R. Shalom’s "Background to the Israel-Palestine Crisis." Shalom is Jewish but not Zionist.

Robert H. Stiver
Pearl City