Indeed, how will rail be funded?

It’s so hard to believe that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation and Mayor Kirk Caldwell have no idea where the money will come from to pay for the operation and maintenance of the rail system ("Detailed operations plan could be two years away," Star-Advertiser, April 19).

It seems that when money is needed to support core city services — maintain our parks, buy new garbage trucks to make condo garbage pickup, fix the Natatorium, remove asbestos at Hono-lulu Hale or any number of things the city is supposed to do — it claims it cannot afford it.But when it comes to spending $80 million a year for maintenanceand operation of the rail system, city officials have more money; they just need to find it.

But, they can’t tell us where the money will come from until after the mayoral election in 2016.

Pam Smith
Ewa Beach

Turkey should admit genocide

I am an 83-year-old retired teacher, a naturalized citizen and the only living member of a big family, of whom only one survived the Armenian genocide.

As one of many grateful Armenian-Americans who live in this powerful, democratic country, I hope President Barack Obama will urge Turkey to acknowledge the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians and take responsibility for the atrocities that were committed. After all, why can’t Turkey follow in the footsteps of Germany, which acknowledged the Holocaust and progressed?

On the 100th anniversary of the 20th century’s first genocide, I hope Obama and the U.S. will join other leaders like Pope Francis in calling on Turkey to acknowledge the crimes against humanity that occurred in what was then the Ottoman Empire.

I was thrilled when Obama was elected because I saw his integrity; it is time to attest to the truth of the Armenian genocide.

Arpine Filian Martirosian
Waikiki

Bigger copters needed for fires

During the recent fire on the hillside above the University of Hawaii-Manoa, our firefighters had to make dozens of perilous water drops to finally bring the blaze under control.

It was obvious that the their small helicopters were unable to carry enough water to do the job quickly and efficiently.

Our Honolulu firefighters deserve to get a few larger aircraft, capable of carrying heavier water loads. Perhaps the city can acquire and recondition military surplus aircraft for added speed and safety.

Ed Schneider
Waikiki

Taxing medicine hurts health care

Should medical marijuana dispensaries, once they’re set up, be taxed 25 percent on sales?

Should abortions, birth control and other medical care be taxed 25 percent?

Interesting questions. Most states do not tax health care since it is a regressive tax that has a greater and perhaps devastating impact on the poor. Public health requires the three "A’s" — availability, accessibility and affordability — of health care, whereas law enforcement’s goal is to eliminate availability, accessibility and affordability of medical marijuana health care.

Harming availability, accessibility and affordability of health care is unconstitutional under both federal and state constitutions.

Myron Berney
Kaimuki

Visitor industry has side effects

All of the people involved in tourism are concerned with one thing: how many more tourists and tourist dollars we had last month compared to last year.

The numbers make them look good or bad; they are numbers-driven.

There is no concern for the losses and damage done to our islands (especially to the Hawaiian people) from excessive tourism. So many places and things have been turned over to the tourists. Yes, tourism does provide lots of money and jobs, but we need to take a serious look at the whole picture.

At the rate that the local people are being forced out of the islands, at what point will Hawaiian culture become unsustainable? The people moving in care nothing about our history, culture and priorities.

Fred Metcalf
Kalihi-Palama

Don’t fast track new trade treaty

A recent letter writer spoke of the Trans-Pacific Partnership treaty having an impact on our individual communities in that our rights as local citizens could be taken away by global corporations ("Open discussion needed on TPP treaty," April 12, Star- Advertiser).

Why would we choose to give up our freedom to have clean air, clean water, clean food and shelter, when these are our basic rights?

Secret negotiations with Wall Street and multinational corporations on this agreement — combined with passing TPP by fasttracking through Congress without discussion, only a "yes" or "no" vote — have a negative impact on future community self-sufficiency.

I urge U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono to vote "no" on a fast track, to allow further discussion without interference from global corporations.

Milly Ring
Kaimuki

Critique of OHA was uninformed

You need to do your homework before making blanket statements about the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ "lack of leadership" about Mauna Kea ("Find way to let TMT project be completed," Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 11).

Six years ago, the majority of OHA’s board of trust-ees accepted Mauna Kea as the site for the Thirty Meter Telescope. However, OHA also weighed in on a contested case hearing, asking the University of Hawaii and the Mauna Kea Management planners to conduct an environmental impact statement and ensure the site was culturally protected for future generations.

OHA lost that lawsuit and, when approached again last year, the board took no action for many reasons, including the fact that we no longer had standing to sue. We had lost the first case and beneficiaries on the Big Island testified that they needed the jobs the telescope construction would provide.

The real problem: The state has been a poor custodian of our ceded lands, leasing it for only a $1 yearly and allowing UH to sublease it for millions.

The state needs to audit UH to see if it is really going for science.

Rowena M. Akana
Trustee at large, Office of Hawaiian Affairs

TMT protests just an excuse?

Are the Mauna Kea protesters really against the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope, or are they just using it as an excuse to air grievances about the fall of the Kingdom of Hawaii and so forth?

The planning or construction of the TMT has been ongoing for years now — Mauna Kea was selected as the site back in 2009.

I believe it is shameful that the protesters are holding the TMT hostage at the expense of the advancement of knowledge and the prestige of Hawaii.

James A. S. Ogawa
Mililani