We learned that Hawaii’s Congressional delegation is all against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (“The trouble with TPP,” Insight, Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2).

In fact, the agreement is still incomplete, and will go before the Congress for months after it is finished.

Most disturbing is that none of Hawaii’s members saw any connection with President Barack Obama’s “pivot” or “rebalance” to Asia.

Rejection by the Congress of TPP — negotiated with 11 countries for six years — would destroy the very backbone of the “rebalance,” its economic side. Rejection would say to our Asia-Pacific friends and allies that the U.S. is not your partner. Rejection would concede complete economic leadership of Asia to China, and make the “rebalance” solely dependent on American military and naval forces.

And as commanders have repeatedly testified, military forces alone cannot succeed in furthering American interests in Asia. Trade and economic growth are crucial in Asia, and dealing our country out would be tragically short-sighted.

James A. Kelly
Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. (2001-2005)
Waialae-Kahala

TPP would help Hawaii economy

In objecting to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono rightly points out that Hawaii’s economy is “a stool with three legs: Tourism, defense and agriculture” (“The trouble with TPP,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, Aug. 2).

Rather than try to prop up the old three-legged stool, we should instead focus on Hawaii’s unique potential as the “gateway to Asia and the Pacific” to benefit from this deal.

With ratification of TPP, international companies that may once have overlooked Hawaii would now want to have a presence here in order to get in on the action. Should that happen, we no longer would be dependent on the old three legs, but emerge as a real economy able to stand on its own.

Hawaii residents can only benefit because it will mean more jobs here and less reason to move to the mainland in order to make a living.

Edward D. Lasky
Hahaione Valley

Telescopes not a threat to Hawaii

I find it a bit confusing that a segment of the Native Hawaiian community has chosen the telescopes atop Mauna Kea to make a stand.

To get to and from work, they are, probably like most of us, stuck in an ever-worsening traffic jam — a traffic jam caused by poor planning and a disregard for the future residents of our state.

Do they realize that in their children’s lifetimes, coastal roads and highways may be impassable at high tides? Did they read that prime agricultural land is being taken to build more homes in an area that even now has overcrowd- ed schools and constant traffic problems?

Yes, the state we love is in grave danger of being damaged beyond repair, but I do not think the construction of telescopes, whose purpose is to expand our knowledge of the universe and ourselves, is in any way a contributing factor.

I think the protesters would find a much more sympathetic ear if they chose a different front on which to take a stand.

Tom Welch
Hawaii Kai

Rail votes need to be challenged

There are probably a goodly number of us who know that many lawyers have no idea what the law is, and probably an equal number who do not want to know (“Rail votes OK, lawyer says,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 1).

They just make statements that don’t do the public any good but please their employer, in this case the city. That is where their paycheck comes from to pay for the SUV, the mortgage and the iPhone.

Fortunately we have a judicial system that provides for challenging and correcting such expression. We shall pursue a remedy, by all means. There are billions of our hard-earned tax dollars involved.

Gerhard C. Hamm
Waialae Iki

Developers use homeless as ruse

Contrary to the bald assertion in your story that increases in Honolulu rent levels “contribute to the growing homelessness problem on Oahu,” the National Coalition for the Homeless lists addiction, domestic violence, mental illness, job loss and underemployment, foreclosure, post-traumatic stress, “throwaway” teens, broken relationships, grief and despair as 10 causes of homelessness (“Oahu home rents surge,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 2).

The homeless are often waved about as poster children for developers seeking breaks in zoning laws so they can make more money.

Just as we should not be fooled by such tactics, in which construction unions often jam City Council chambers, so we should look elsewhere for ways to treat the root causes of homelessness.

The list above suggests one good place to start is with a broken society that relies on violence to resolve conflict, illegal drugs, racism, and income inequality to hold down the poor.

Walter Wright
Kaneohe

Time for controls on rents, profits

The news media have done an excellent job of reporting the growing housing crisis and the deplorable conditions facing those without shelter.

Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Gov. David Ige are announcing proposals and forming a new task force, but specific plans have been ill-formed (sweeps before housing is available) and the root causes are not being addressed (economic disparity and greed).

Developers continue building mostly for the very rich while refusing to meet the needs of the middle class and minimum-wage earners.

The free enterprise system has the responsibility of incorporating the necessary ethical guidelines into business so the general welfare of the community will be possible.

Obviously, this system has become the cause of the housing crisis while not offering a solution, so something needs to change.

It’s time to talk about rent control and profit ceilings. Tweak the system for an equitable future.

John Heidel
Kailua

Hawaii getting bad reputation

My wife and I are snowbirds, splitting the year between Syracuse, N.Y., and Hawaii Kai. We love Hawaii. We tell all our friends how great it is.

However, for the first time I encountered an argument and disagreement about my positive feelings for our adopted home.

A friend who just returned from Honolulu said that he and his family would never consider returning to the islands.

He said that Honolulu, and Waikiki in particular, were as bad as many Third-World countries he visits. He was accosted by prostitutes and many homeless. He witnessed the encampments and said it reminded him of parts of Costa Rica.

Everyone in Hawaii should be aware of how the mainland is viewing this problem. The economy of Hawaii is dependent on tourism, and without this situation being controlled, everyone will suffer.

Mike Sweeny
Syracuse, N.Y.