Developers not aiming at locals

I really like how all the developers say they are easing the housing shortage on Oahu with their upcoming projects.

The Kakaako projects are a slap in the face of the locals ("‘Ultra luxury’ tower a moneymaker," Star-Advertiser, May 12).

The Waiea project has an average price of $3.5 million; the Vida project ranges from $1 million to $4.5 million; The Anaha ranges from $1.7 million to $3.3 million; and the Gateway Tower ranges from $1.5 million to $5 million.

Don’t forget the Ritz-Carlton, the Waihonua or the Symphony condos.

Obviously, they are not marketing the homes to the locals but to rich mainlanders and foreigners.

Instead of helping us find affordable homes, the developers are lining their pockets with money from the people who can make them a lot richer.

The people who approved these projects should be ashamed of themselves.

Jon Shimamoto
Mililani

Old Waikiki disappearing

I would ask the same questions one Waikiki resident asked: "Is there no end to the greed and madness?" ("Waikiki plan irks residents," Star-Advertiser, April 26).

The city needs to stop disregarding zoning regulations and giving out exemptions. All the changes irk not only residents but also thousands of returning visitors. Waikiki has lost the Hawaiian/Polynesian feel it once had, to be replaced by an experience of eating at mainland restaurants and shopping at high-end stores.

In addition, taken away were the only two grocery stores many residents and visitors in Waikiki depended on, especially for seniors unable to drive — Foodland at Ala Moana and Food Pantry.

Those in power need to wake up and see what they have done, and continue to do, to Waikiki.

Joanne Veitch
Waikiki

‘Residential A’ terribly unfair

The commentary, "Bill 32 would fix ‘Residential A’ flaws" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 10) has good intentions but provides support for the continual need by the city for more taxes.

This year alone the city received a 7 percent increase in revenue by doing nothing but allow assessments to rise.

Unfortunately, we have seen that many of these "millionaires" are just mom-and-pop family investors trying to make some income from a home rental. With home prices rising dramatically, more homes will be added to the Residential A category each year.

The often-used excuse from the City Council and the mayor is that homeowners in Honolulu pay some of the lowest property taxes in the nation.

The fact is, unlike other counties, Honolulu doesn’t pay for public education with property taxes.

The real question should be: Without the burden of paying for public education, what is the city doing with all that money?

Barbara Wilcox
Makiki

Kim’s actions a good thing

Richard Borreca’s column on the 2015 Legislature mentioned that state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim’s Senate colleagues felt that her major fault was inserting herself in committees run by other chairpeople ("Legislature ends session with winners and losers," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, May 8).

The senators may consider that her major fault, but speaking for myself, I consider that her best trait.

Dennis Kohara
Kaimuki-Kahala

Use containers to help homeless

One solution to the unwanted homeless is for businesses to sponsor rebuilt shipping containers, one for each person or family.

They get the container with no restrictions, whether drug-free or not.

It’s been shown that just giving them a home leads to a high percentage of people who stay in these quarters, with very few people leaving or creating a problem.

It could be a win-win for both businesses and the homeless. Businesses could get a tax write-off while clearing the area. Homeless people could be treated with respect.

Jean Kartchner
Kailua

Homeless need food, showers

We are gradually pushing the homeless out of the city.Soon they’ll have nowhere to go except to be together in remote areas where access to food and hygiene facilities will be even scarcer.

I can understand their plight.The homeless want to be near available food, some provided by concerned citizens, since many of them can’t be found cooking for themselves. With few hygiene facilities, their need to bein the city becomes even more necessary.

Wherever they come together, they should have access to essential hygiene facilities to give them a sense of dignity, which I’m sure most of them need.

Many of them probably have no idea where to go except to follow each other.They have that sense of camaraderie, even when slipping into a desperate state of deprivationseems unavoidable.

Gabrielle L. Makuakane
McCully

Jim Schwitters deserves award

Jim Schwitters’ induction into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame is well deserved.

As a coach, he dedicated his life while at the University of Hawaii at Manoa to handling both the men’s and women’s teams for more than 30 years ("Schwitters will enter seventh Hall of Fame," Star-Advertiser, May 12).

Having practiced, played against and partnered with Jim,and officiated at his UH division team matches, I know of no other NCAA Division I coach who is so professionally low-key and yet so well respected. He did his job as well as anyone in the nation.

Hawaii can be so proud to have three coaches who have won more than 1,000 matches. Les Murakami, Dave Shoji and Jim Schwitters all have gained notable and well-deserved recognition. It makes us all proud to seeJim finally get his duerecognition.

Tom Sugita
Pearl City

Sports basically just a business

I take sports way too seriously.Call me a Pollyanna, but the virtues of sportsmanship, and the juxtaposition of stunning ability with humility and deference is, to me, a real reason to experience the contest.The effort, when seen in action, warms the heart.

But this is a simple fantasy.When I heard on a sports radio broadcast that a professional quarterback was himself a $100 million business that deserved protection, I understood at long last. The use of technology to spy on the opponent, cheating with modified equipment and lying are acceptable business practices, especially if the result is a win.

Although I will not boycott the games, I will watch them for what they are: entertainment that leverages talent and sleight of hand, and where the ends justify the means, trampling character and integrity.

A famous professional basketball player once declared: "I am not your kids’ role model."

At long last, I get it.

John Hansen
Waipahu