There are ways to aid homeless

Colin Kippen accurately notes that state and federal constitutions provide for the rights of citizens, and therefore the proposed houseless bill of rights is unnecessary ("‘Bill of rights’ measure for homeless advances," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 1).

What is necessary:

» An amendment to the public policy of the 1960s that provided rights to mental health patients, who by clinical definition and diagnosis are incapable of caring for themselves. The issue of homelessness is fundamentally tied to how we treat (or fail to treat) mental health patients, who constitute 26 percent of the homeless population.

» Financial support for facilities to incarcerate criminals and treat substance-abuse problems. The issue of homelessness is fundamentally tied to how we treat (or fail to treat) illegal drug users, who constitute 35 percent of the homeless population.

» Housing support for those truly houseless families and individuals due to their inability to navigate the economic challenges of our county.

Community members and lawmakers alike need to put down the microscope and instead look through an inverted funnel to see the big-picture solutions.

Pamela Witty-Oakland
Makakilo

Put legalization of pot on ballot

Tracy Ryan, chair of the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, points out that our state should put the legalization of marijuana issue to the process of referendum, submitting a legislative measure to the voters for approval or rejection ("It’s time to legalize marijuana and reap its many benefits," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Jan. 29).

Our Legislature is too spineless to address this issue at hand, so voters of Hawaii must themselves decide by establishing an initiative, putting this question to the democratic test.

Stuart N. Taba
Manoa

Stop rail line at Aloha Stadium

The rail project is absolutely ludicrous. Oahu residents have been sold a bill of goods.

Remember $5.2 billion? It will soon will be over $8 billion and then to $10 billion.

Consider the desecration of our aina. All Oahuans should take a drive to Ewa-Kapolei and view the monstrosity of 100-plus concrete columns with tracks 30 feet in the air.At Ala Moana, it’ll be 60 feet in the air.Don’t go Ewa at rush hour unless you’re a masochist. Imagine this monster scarring our beautiful island.

Stop the rail at Aloha Stadium where there’s parking. Have an efficient express-bus network from the stadium, as needed, to job locations eastward. Salvage what’s in place. Extend it westward, at grade, to Makaha and build the maintenance facility there where jobs are needed, and where Leeward folks could easily board the rail and leave their cars at home.

Bob Schieve
Haleiwa

Hawaiian-only voting is illegal

Whywould the state of Hawaii and the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs hold a vote under Kanaoluwalu for Hawaiian self-determination that includes only those of Native Hawaiian descent?

Weall know this kind of vote was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in Rice v. Cayetano because of itsracial bias.

I respectfully ask that the newly elected governor, the state attorney general and the OHA trustees stop any and all unlawful actions and allow and fund the right of true self-determination to all descendants of subjectsof the Hawaiian monarchy at the time of the overthrow.

It is a right Hawaiians have in accordance with international law, and a right that has been denied them for more than 120 years.

Reidar H. Smith
Kamehameha Schools, Class of 1953
Carnation, Wash.

Educate visitors about dangers

I fully support the Star-Advertiser’s call for more safety education for visitors in its Jan. 21 editorial, "Warn tourists about beaches."

Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific encounters approximately 80 spinal-cord injuries a year, with one-third of the injuries occurring during ocean- related activities. Unfortunately, many of these injuries involve visitors to Hawaii.

A spinal cord injury (SCI) can be a catastrophic and life-changing event. Besides the loss of motor function and sensation, individuals may experience changes in bowel and bladder function, and difficulty in regulating both blood pressure and body temperature.

While there have been many advances in the science and technology of treating SCI, patients face a great challenge getting back to their normal life.

Hawaii is fortunate to have a top-performing medical rehabilitation hospital with an outstanding SCI program. But with increased visitor education, we may be able to lessen the unexpected need to visit the hospital.

Devin Otagaki
Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific

Londons visited Shipman House

Thanks for the thoughtful piece about the Shipman House restoration by Barbara Andersen, a sensitive caretaker and great B&B hostess ("Iconic Shipman house restored to glory," Star-Advertiser, Keep Hawaii Hawaii, Feb. 1). It’s my favorite place to stay in Hilo.

The article left out one important part of the house’s iconic history. Jack and Charmian London stayed there for six weeks while their legendary sailing ship, the Snark, was being repaired in Hilo Bay before its 1907 transpacific crossing to the Marquesas and beyond.

London finished writing "Martin Eden" in his rooms on the lower left side of the mansion, and sent it off to publishers before he left for the South Pacific.

I alway stay in that room when I visit Hilo, enjoying both the comforts of a beautiful garden and home and a sense of literary history.

Peter Van Name Esser
McCully-Moiliili

DLNR nominee is a good choice

I am amazed, or maybe I shouldn’t be, by the swift opposition regarding the nomination by Gov. David Ige of Carleton Ching to be the next director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

In Ching, the governor has selected an intelligent, educated, caring kamaaina who will be a great steward of our lands.

That is the type of person we need to encourage to join state government.

The attack on him because he works for Castle & Cooke is absolutely out of bounds.

Castle & Cooke has been around since the kingdom, and has moved from an agricultural company to a land developer that developed, among other projects, Mililani — an All-American award-winning city that is an asset to Oahu and the state.

I have known Ching for almost 20 years and find him to be intelligent, thoughtful, insightful and prepared.

Hawaii could use more like him.

Francis "Scotty" Anderson
Waialae Nui