Lum Sai Ho Tong not fine with project

I was disturbed that Joe Young, the honorary mayor of Chinatown, wrote that Lum Sai Ho Tong is pleased with the proposed Halewai‘olu senior housing project on River Street, which the mayor and the developer announced recently (“Proposed senior housing project would help Chinatown move forward,” Island Voices, May 31).

Respectfully, Lum Sai Ho Tong (LSHT) is not pleased. Rather, we feel compelled to disagree with the assertions that we do.

I was twice quoted in the Star-Advertiser that LSHT is concerned about the height, density and open space, among many factors (“City plans affordable housing for seniors,” May 26).

LSHT seeks a rational senior housing project that aligns with our cultural and spiritual nature, and complies with current building and safety requirements.

I encourage Joe to move the city and Michaels Development Co. to actively partner with the United Chinese Society, the Chinatown Community Center Association and the Neighborhood Board 13, as dictated by Resolutions 13-167 and 14-34.

Howard Lum
President, Lum Sai Ho Tong
Downtown Honolulu

HEI/NextEra deal a vital public issue

The front-page story about offshore windmills for Oahu (“Wind in Oahu’s waves,” Star-Advertiser, June 2) was informative.

I am gratified that the editors see that public understanding and participation in determining Hawaii’s energy futures is important.

Negotiations between Hawaiian Electric Industries, NextEra and a few others concerning the future of electricity generation and distribution in Hawaii are ongoing. This is not a simple business-as-usual transaction. It is a vital public issue.

A decision about a takeover should not be made until policies that will guide actions influencing the long-range futures of Hawaii and its energy systems have been discussed and implemented. A rush to judgment would be an act of stunning irresponsibility.

At the same time, to do nothing and to continue to drift toward a certain energy abyss would be equally irresponsible. Broad participation in quickly and fairly determining Hawaii’s long-range energy futures is essential.

Jim Dator
Waikiki

Obamacare headed for choppy waters?

The prime feature of President Barack Obama’s plan to expand health insurance coverage was his pledge that insurance could be purchased regardless of pre-existing conditions.

In other words, the insurance companies could not reject your application even if you were seriously ill.

The idea was the cost of such coverage would be met by requiring everybody to buy insurance, especially the young and healthy who might not want to.

Now we in Hawaii are seeing how that is working out. Hawaii Medical Service Association is requesting a stunning 49.1 percent increase in premiums for 20,935 persons on Obamacare to cover “much higher than expected medical costs” (“HMSA asks 49% hike on Care Act plans,” Star-Advertiser, June 3).

In other words, the anticipated increase in signups by healthier persons hasn’t materialized and HMSA has to cover its costs by raising rates dramatically.

This is very bad news for this program. It raises a serious question about its viability, particularly because many of the current members can’t afford such an increase.

Carl H. Zimmerman
Salt Lake

Homeless people need restrooms, too

Like our mayor and City Council, some letter writers do not equate homeless people with people.

According to the March National Geographic, Turkey has established camps for Syrian refugees complete with toilets, showers, trash pickup and TV hookups, whereas Honolulu will not even provide toilets for easy access to mothers, children or the elderly downtown, or in Chinatown — never mind trash pickup or portable toilets for the homeless.

It is easy for the mayor and City Council to complain about the homeless going to the toilet on walls and doorsteps, because neither they nor their children need to walk several miles to access an operating toilet, or to wash their hands. 

Rico Leffanta
Kakaako

Duke Kahanamoku believed in ‘aloha’

Much has been said lately about the word “aloha,” some logical and meaningful, some nonsense. I would like to offer something to add a little perspective to all this murky mess. 

The great, legendary Duke Kahanamoku, world-famous for his supreme waterman talents, for many years served graciously and effectively as Hawaii’s “Aloha Ambassador.”

He once said, and I quote:

“In Hawaii we greet friends, loved ones or strangers with ‘Aloha’ which means ‘with love.’  Aloha is the key word to the universal spirit of real hospitality, which makes Hawaii renowned as the world’s center for understanding and fellowship. Try meeting or leaving people with ‘Aloha.’ You’ll be surprised at their reaction. I believe it, and it is my creed. Aloha to you.”

Clint Basler
Nuuanu

Plastic bag ban will have reverse effect

I wonder if the plastiphobes realize that the ban they pushed through on plastic shopping bags will cause more plastic bags to be produced and used?

Single-use bags at that.

When I bring a biodegradable, tissue-thin bag home from the grocery, I will use it again, perhaps more than twice. I will use it to carry things, and I’ll use it to pick up doggie poo.

Now I will have to buy plastic bags for one-use poop pickup, and for the other things I use disposable plastic bags for, such as trash can liners. More bags will need to be produced to be sold as one-use wonders.  

Not too smart, those guys.

Faith Burns
Hawaii Kai