The result of your Big Q vote was so depressing ("Should the city help certain homeless people (those whose only issue is affording rent) with rent subsidies for up to a year?" Star-Advertiser, Big Q, June 17).

The fact that only 50 percent of those who answered the poll wanted to help solve the homeless problem in a realistic, workable way was unbelieveable.

So much for the word "aloha."

Perhaps if the homeless could afford to hire some lobbyists to take Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City Council Chairman Ernie Martin and other Council members out for lunches and golf games, and give them money for their political campaigns, something good might happen for them.

Pat Meyers
Kailua

Sex education policy should be ‘opt in’

Sex education cannot be mandated by an institution ("School board makes sex education mandatory," Star-Advertiser, June 17).

Rather, such a sensitive subject would best be discussed within the parameters most attuned to holding and promoting the best interests of the child, the family.

Instead of the "opt out" provision for the greatest number of people, the policy should offer a choice to "opt in."

The intended lofty mission of the new policy to aid students in making "healthy decisions about sexuality and relationships" robs the parents of the responsibility and erases the environment needed to germinate the goal, the home.

A child’s sexuality awareness begins in his first relationship to his parents.As such, it should be allowed to foster in the family.

While recognition is given to alternative lifestyles, we cannot dictate such a crucial issue as sex education. It is a choice for parents to make in the best interest of their child. Others may opt in.

Vernetta A. Hall
Laie

Kahuku wind farm will account for birds

A Kahuku wind farm developer touts low electric bills, and unnamed Kahuku residents are said to be concerned about risks to birds and the Hawaiian hoary bat ("Kahuku wind farm developer touts low electric bills," Star-Advertiser, June 18).

In fact, the take of endangered species by wind turbines is a tiny fraction of endangered species killed by predators, mainly rats and cats. Many are also killed by flying into glass windows, buildings and cars.

The public should know the populations of endangered species will experience an overall increase as a result of the habitat conservation plan for the Na Pua Makani project.

Following the plan, which has been reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, we will fund measures that will enhance and protect the nesting areas of these species.

We also will curtail operations at times when the risk to bats is greatest.

Michael Cutbirth
Manager, Champlin Hawaii Wind Holdings, LLC
Santa Barbara, Calif.

Kudos for delaying Natatorium decision

It is good news that the City and County of Honolulu will consider alternatives to save the Natatorium.

Demolishing Hawaii’s official World War I memorial would be an unprecedented act.

In its plea to the mayor last year, the World War I Centennial Commission wrote that it is not aware of any U.S. state that has done the same, echoing the sentiments of more than 1,400 letters submitted on the city’s scoping notice for the environmental impact statement.

The letters represented overwhelming public concern about the consequences of demolition.

The additional time will allow the city to study a cost-conscious site design and a reasonable compromise to continue the legacy of this "living memorial."

Rather than undertake a costly and unpredictable demolition project, the city can seize on this opportunity to convene experts in engineering and design and put forward a solution that will leave a lasting legacy to those who served our country.

Brian Roberts Turner
Senior field officer and attorney, National Trust for Historic Preservation

City Council should review rail project

The authors of "Rail line linking West Oahu to downtown will provide transit equity and efficiency" (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 14) have come up with a new way to define insanity — make a bad idea worse.Rather than address the constantly escalating costs for operations and maintenance, now forecast at $130 million for rail’s first full year, they envision extensions for this obsolete steel-wheels technology that would triple its currently planned length of 20 miles.

Gov. David Ige not only should veto a rail tax extension, but also request a full examination by the City Council of a rail project tainted by unscrupulous actions leading to its inception and questionable financial management during its development.

Rail is essential to future transportation alternatives on Oahu, but needs a new assessment dealing with technology and alignment changes that can produce a more publicly acceptable, operationally efficient and cost-effective system.

Frank Genadio
Kapolei

BACK IN THE DAY

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Survivor grateful for city lifeguards,” Star-Advertiser, June 15:

>> Congratulations to all the rescuers. Kudos to Tsilya Murshteyn for her acknowledgement of appreciation and desire to meet her rescuers. Like lifeguard Christopher Kam related, “It keeps the fire burning in us.”

>> Hawaii’s lifeguards and the U.S. Coast Guard are just awesome. The Fire Department too. The police, meh …

———

“The homeless need money, advocates say,” Star-Advertiser, June 15:

>> Government money does not come from a magical fairy. It is taken from hard-working taxpayers who are struggling to pay their own bills.

>> No, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s not taxpayer money, it’s “shallow subsidies.” You and your type will never understand the superiority of progressive thought. Shame on you.

>> Those in need must do some work to earn the money. Next, the money goes not to them, but directly to the housing needs. This prevents misuse of public money, does what it is intended to do.

>> That is called Section 8 housing; this is not new.

>> The problem would be to find honest people to allocate the subsidies properly. Who will determine who gets what — and how much of the subsidies will go to the paychecks of those in charge? 

———

“Tearing down of the Natatorium stalled by city over state’s concerns,” Star-Advertiser,

June 16:

>> This has been going on for decades and now they want to do another study. Good grief.

>> The unstated plan seems to be to stall until the people with first-hand memories of the Natatorium in its heyday are all gone. Then raze, without objections, whatever crumbs remain.

———

“Waiting for your tax refund? Many isle taxpayers are facing delays,” Star-Advertiser, June 16:

>> Why can’t they get the refund out faster while also checking for fraud? Trust me, it can be done. There’s just no incentive to getting it done fast for the state. Do it faster, lose the interest income. Do it slow, earn the interest and blame the fraudsters — win-win for the state. I think the people complaining are just frustrated because in almost any non-government job, the expectations are much higher.

>> Interesting. They put the crooks ahead of legitimate taxpayers.

———

“Bill reignites debate on fireworks,” Star-Advertiser, June 17:

>> Hurry up and pass it already. I miss all the smoke and noise.

>> Please leave the current law alone or ban fireworks completely.

———

“Bids come lower than expected for 3 rail stations,” Star-Advertiser, June 17:

>> “Lower” is a relative term. It’s still higher than originally budgeted.

>> Wait until the change-orders come in. The unions and HART (the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation) think they are smarter than the taxpayers.

>> They’re all under a microscope. What else would you expect?

———

“Firms can cut traffic, official says,” Star-Advertiser, June 18:

>> A resolution that simply reminds commuters and businesses of existing options already well known? Who elected this guy?

>> Really? We have already heard of these plans before. Next!

>> How about taking subsidized parking away from city employees and giving them free bus passes? That should get a lot of cars off the road.

———

“Residents’ frustration with Maunawili Falls hikers has grown,” Star-Advertiser, June 18:

>> Wow, 714 hikers in two days. Last time I did that trail, in 1996, I didn’t see anyone.

>> Darn overpopulation is ruining everything, even hiking.

>> I can’t believe people are so disrespectful to throw trash on the trail or in the street by people’s homes.

———

“Kapalama offices to move from City Square,” Star-Advertiser, June 18:

>> Why would the city want to add to the already-congested traffic situation in that area? Costco, Home Depot, Honolulu Community College and Best Buy traffic. Not to mention the line trying to enter into the one and only entrance to buy gas at Costco.  

>> And wait until the rail construction gets into that area.