Pleas to keep Army in Hawaii insulting

It is insulting to insinuate that the value of my military service was for the good of the economy.

Recent tactics by local officials to pander to public cheerleading for unneeded military in Hawaii epitomizes the military-industrial, congressional and media complex of which President Dwight Eisenhower forewarned.

Chickenhawks exploit the military for political agendas, using wars to enrich a survival-of-the-richest system resembling fascist corporatism, threatening democracy.

The Soviet Union abandoned goals of global domination, but the United States hasn’t abandoned its global empire of bases.

Military reduction is a step toward transcending our systematic collusion of commerce and militarism paid for by taxpayers, blowback and blood.

Our home is literally surrounded by armed forces in every direction, yet we are begged to lobby for a permanent war economy?

Rather than provided genuine life security, I must now worry about my daughter’s brain development due to my military neighbor’s toxic spills.

Will fear of losing money and power trump love for our children?

Pete Shimazaki Doktor
Moanalua

Build fewer stations to save on rail costs

Bids for the first nine rail stations were $110 million over budget, so the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation proposed breaking the package into smaller, three-station packages.

This proposal will not result in major cost reductions in bid resubmittals.

Present design includes 21 stationsalong the 20-mile railway (average one station per mile). Since trains accelerate gradually anddecelerate gradually before stopping, a train may average about 15 mph over a one-mile distance.

To build a more efficient and cost-effective rail system, construct sixor seven essential stations only. Commuter time would be reduced, but mainly there would be multimillion-dollar savings, and the rail project maybe could be completed within the $5.26 billion budget.

Ken Mukai
Moanalua Gardens

Front page ignored holiday for King

Many of us awoke Jan. 19 astounded that the front page of the major daily newspaper in Hawaii had no reference to or acknowledgement of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This state has a significant multicultural population. Each of us has been impacted by the work and sacrifices of King in making us aware that this was not, "one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all" — a goal to which we still aspire.

King taught us how to act peacefully together to further the cause of individual rights. We need to keep his example before us in 2015.

Pam McCoy
Kaneohe

Tickets won’t help crosswalk safety

I agree with letter writers Robert Gould and Toby Allen that flashing lights on the road could save lives at crosswalks.

I have seen this on the Schofield Barracks Army base, right here on our island.

Using the police to give tickets is not the solution.

Marilee Y. Lyons
Haleiwa

Honolulu Zoo has outlived usefulness

A recent article about dolphin trainer Ric O’Barry’s desire to see these wonderful mammals free of captivity made me think about all animals in captivity — specifically, zoos — and the Honolulu Zoo in particular.

Advances in camera and film technology enable anyone with a TV or computer to view stunning images and video of animals in their natural habitats.

Zoos were created in another time, for another people.

Zoos serve a purpose to restore endangered species, but not for educational purposes — that can be done without caging them. Let animals live free.

I wish the new director of the Honolulu Zoo well, but the seemingly endless problems there and the consistent lack of competent leadership are good arguments for doing away with the zoo entirely. Zookeepers could be placed in jobs in the community to use their expertise.

Kevin Roddy
St. Louis Heights

Help homeless with hygiene centers

When you think of the homeless, you feel sorry for them.

Something tells you they shouldn’t be where they are.

But where should they be? Not in public places? They are the public.

It becomes a problem when people don’t want to be close to them, so the homeless are avoided and where they congregatebecomes almost off-limits to others.

Most people have access to money and they own or rent personal space to take care of themselves.The homeless can’t afford to rent or own, so it’s difficult to practice personal hygiene, even if they want to.

There should be designated areas where homeless can take care of themselves. That’s the best answer.

Gabrielle L. Makuakane
McCully

Do more to help victims of lava flow

I’ve had this recurring dream. In it, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, along with the new governor, David Ige, and Civil Defense Chief Darryl Olivera are meeting with Harry Kim and the people below the lava flow, trying to figure out how to exist with Pele.

In it, they used the special powers given them by Act 111 to create a lava insurance fund to assist businesses who want to provide services, and to residents who want insurance, in Lava Zones 1 and 2.

And, even better, they started allowing people to see the lava and the tourists came by the busload.

Sara Steiner
Pahoa, Hawaii island