Ige has to do better with DLNR choice

Residents of Hawaii have a right to expect that the head of Department of Land and Natural Resources will constantly monitor and protect our fragile land and ocean environment, and not need to be constantly monitored by the public to do this job.

We have a right to expect and have confidence that this critical agency is led by someone with a proper background in environmental issues.

The governor selected a person with no background in environmental issues.

As well-intentioned as it might have been, the governor’s choice of Carleton Ching was definitely the wrong one, and the public had a duty to object to it. The stakes were too high not to.

Diane Harding
Kailua

Ala Moana park should be left alone

Even though we have 300 parks statewide, Ala Moana Beach Park has always been the people’s park, just like Central Park isfor New York City.

I don’t think we should have a restaurant on Magic Island or elsewhere on that 100-plus acres of prime beach land.Nor do we need to connect it to Waikiki for the tourists to find it.

It should be left alone and not developed any further than the two snack bars that run independent of the city.We just want Mayor Kirk Caldwell to act like he was born and raised here, and not sell us out to all the Asian and mainland interests who are descending on us.

Cassandra Aoki
Kaneohe

Murderer should have been executed

Although I completely disagree with Judge Glenn Kim’s 1-year sentenceof William Plourde, for sexual assault, his sentencing of Toby Stangel was right on track.

Why should Stangel have any hope forfreedom some day? Do the10 children of Tammy Nguyen have any hope of seeing their murdered mother again? This was of no concern to Stangel, whowas quite obviously on a "killing spree." And in case one has forgotten, he tried to kill five others that day.

The state appeals court made a ridiculous decision by directing a retrial forthis natural killer ("Court overturns sentence terms for road shooter," Star-Advertiser, March 13). In reality, he should havereceived the death sentence, just like the death sentence he passed out for obviously no reason at all.

James Robinson
Aiea

Keep the memory of Eddie Aikau alive

I have always remembered and honored March 16 since 1978, the day the Hokulea and its crew sat helplessly driftingupside down under full sail.

No phone call was expected for 30 days upon arriving in Tahiti. No one knew the Hokule‘a was in grave danger, hence no rescue effort whatsoever.

Huge 12-15 foot surf; gale-force, cold northerly winds; horizontal rains and the ehukai (sea spray); the crew; a surfboard; and Eddie Aikau.

"Eddie would go." Eddie went, Eddie had to go.

Thirty-seven years ago, weeks and months of hope and endless searching, sadly to no avail.

Growing up in Wahiawa and spending the mid-70s at Waimea Bay, I had the pleasure of meeting Eddie and his brother Clyde. I was surprised and a little disappointedto find no story on Eddie or the Hokule‘a.

Help pass on the historyof Eddie Aikau and the Hokule‘a.

Dickie Chang
Puhi, Kauai

Let’s try Elvis’ idea of ‘return to sender’

I’m certain that many residents and tourists are completely disgusted with the apparent failure by our state and city officials (possibly from finger-pointing) to accomplish just one lasting iota of relief of the homeless blight.

Daily, I see more encampments built along our streets, with dozens of mini-low-rise "condo dwellings" filled with homeless families. They are everywhere: Nimitz, Kalakaua, King, Queen, Beretania, Kuhio, you name it.

Many of these wayward folks are air-shipped from across the country, by jurisdictions sending their frustrations to the warm and sunny land of aloha and our natural compassion. Their relief is now our growing problem.

Trailer shelters in the boondocks are not a viable remedy. Let’s employ some of Elvis’ aloha spirit and simply "Return to Sender."

Jon von Kessel
Waikiki

Ala Moana REIT avoided state tax

The sale of a 25 percent interest in Ala Moana Center should have resulted in a $28 million capital gain tax payment to the state of Hawaii, but for the fact that the seller is a REIT (real estate investment trust) and essentially exempt from Hawaii state income tax.

Why do we let these mainland REITs avoid income tax when the rest of us have to pay?

Mike Fergus
Diamond Head

Despite changes, Oahu still enjoyable

We just returned to northern Virginia from three and a half weeks on Oahu.

Since 1988, we have visited Hawaii every two years, during which we have seen many changes.

In the past, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser seemed to cover mostly local news. This year it was a pleasant surprise to find the paper had a much wider coverage of national and international subjects, which we very much enjoyed.

The second thing we found, again to our pleasure, was Hawaii Public Radio and PBS, with great music and television coverage.

Despite the growth and expansion, Waikiki still looks good; we did, of course, miss the International Market Place.

Lucky you live Hawaii!

Patricia and John Cox
McLean, Va.