The Honolulu Star-Advertiser recently praised the chairs of the House Finance and Senate Ways and Means committees for exerting greater fiscal discipline and reining in the creation of special funds. 

By appeasing special interest groups, we are essentially creating bad policy.

At the City and County of Honolulu level, the Honolulu City Council is moving in the opposite direction from the state and creating special funds for two of the city’s park facilities. 

This opens the door for unnecessary special funds for other legacy parks such as Haleiwa Beach Park, Sunset Beach Park, Ehukai Beach Park, Waimanalo Beach Park, Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana Beach Park. 

It is never-ending as almost every city park deserves more attention. 

This effort does not generate more revenue. It just creates more expense and bureaucracy and is a much less efficient use of funds.

Nelson H. Koyanagi Jr.
Director, Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services

Much fodder for ‘Aloha’ critics

It is interesting that there is opposition, including from the Hawaii state film commissioner, to the movie “Aloha.”

Supposedly the film misrepresents the meaning of “aloha” in the Hawaiian culture. In the phone book, there are four pages of companies doing business in Hawaii that have the title “aloha” in their business names — companies such as Aloha Drainage, Aloha Termite & Pest Control and Aloha Lomilomi.

Do these and the other names on those four pages really meet the cultural representation of what “aloha” means, or should questions be raised about these names as well?

Rudy L. Sina
Lihue

‘Aloha’ tempest is a distraction

As a nearly 20-year resident of Honolulu who recently relocated to Arizona for family reasons, I found the reaction of some of the perpetually discontent in the isles to the film “Aloha” to be predictable.

Emma Stone’s face or physique may not seem Asian or Native Hawaiian, but there are plenty of hapas in Hawaii who fit that mold.

Pseudo-controversies such as this, as well as other race- or ethnicity-based whining, distract from the truly important issues in Hawaii, such as why so many young people are leaving for good and why state and county governments can’t fix the roads or stop throwing money away on them-selves and their buddies.

Michael P. Rethman
Prescott, Ariz.

Lantern event was uplifting

Why would someone be critical of the Memorial Day lantern floating ceremony at Ala Moana Beach Park (“Lantern ceremony this year not special,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 2).

Drones and mermaids in the water?

I was there. I never saw a drone. If I did, it didn’t bother me.

The mermaids?

Perhaps they had a difficult time letting go of their lanterns. Who am I to judge?

Here’s the beauty of this ceremony: There are 42,000 people and we share a common bond. We lost someone dear to us.

We are here to remember, honor and to grieve.

We also are respectful of one another. No one “acts up.” No one gets rowdy. Everyone knows why we are here.

I floated a lantern in memory of my parents. It was uplifting and heart-wrenching.

Stop dwelling on the negative. Accentuate the positive.

Be grateful and thankful that Shinnyo-en puts on this beautiful ceremony every Memorial Day.

I know I am.

Robert K. Soberano
Moiliili

Jenner is now Wonder Woman

Bruce Jenner was an Olympic gold medalist and a role model to all youngsters, yes, like Superman.

And now he changed to an attractive and versatile Wonder Woman. 

Caitlyn Jenner is a winner.

Edgar A. Hamasu
St. Louis Heights

Reusable bags are easy to use

I have been using reusable cloth shopping bags for many years. I have yet to see another shopper doing the same. Given all the hassles with plastic shopping bags, I think everybody should do so.

It’s not that hard to do. Reusable cloth shopping bags are easy to buy and can be kept in one’s car trunk.

People should make it a habit to use them until it becomes second nature. Our society would thereby be bettered.

Stuart N. Taba
Manoa