I agree with Tom Welch and suggest focusing concern on desecration of the aina (“Telescopes not a threat to Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 5).
Hawaii, a relatively minuscule land mass in the middle of the Pacific, is not only sacred but ecologically vulnerable.
Safeguarding this sacredness and land begins in our backyard: home, city, towns and beaches.
As individuals and in groups, we must protest and take action against such things as unsightly trash, illegal dumpings, toxic pollutions, unauthorized constructions, unexploded ordnance, destruction of heiau, and invasive species.
This focus would do more with respect to keeping sacred and protecting our aina than building a few telescopes.
Alvin Katekaru
Mililani
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Homeless leave too much litter
I have empathy for our homeless, and understand that it’s very difficult to get out of this situation, especially here in Hawaii where everything is so expensive.
But why do they have so much litter?
Why not at least keep the areas they occupy clean each day and not collect excess junk?
When they leave the areas or are evicted, we see the mess that’s left.
Komo mai, but take care of the aina.
Layne R. Tanaka
Kailua
Time to declare an emergency
Mahalo to Hawaii News Now General Manager Rick Blangiardi and Honolulu Star-Advertiser Publisher Dennis Francis for addressing our homeless crisis here.
Unlike Utah or Singapore, we have no comprehensive remedies to eradicate this problem. Consequently, we suffer the shame of a frustrating, out-of-control situation that continues to blight our neighborhoods.
Our basic rights are affected by lawlessness whereby ordinary citizens feel helpless and unable to confront or deal with these squatters who need to be sheltered.
Police officers are tired of enforcing the sit-lie or property storage laws — it’s a cycle that mocks the laws and shames our society.
Now is our last chance for government to act, to show inspiring leadership, make tough decisions and work to resolve this very solvable problem.
The resources and manpower are there. All we need is the willpower and commitment to resolve this quickly by declaring an emergency.
Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Chinatown
Fix up state’s vacant housing
David Shapiro wrote that the state has some 400-plus vacant housing units that are in need of repair (“On state homeless crisis, governor is late to the table,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Aug. 2).
How about using the funds committed to the homeless to repair and make these units habitable? The basic structures are there and only the interiors require renovation. Furthermore, most of these units are in the city and not far from bus lines, doctors and government agencies.
Sand Island is much too far from everything, and many homeless have no transportation.
Much has been said but little has been done for this unfortunate segment of our society.
Roy M. Chee
Moanaloa Gardens
HECO could be publicly owned
Eric Gleason, president of NextEra Energy Hawaii, touted “Hawaii’s goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2045” as the main reason for NextEra’s entry into Hawaii, and he fluffed this grand picture by stating: “Imagine the progress we can make together” (“NextEra committed to a more affordable, 100% renewable energy future for Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 26).
Imagine, indeed.
State Rep. Chris Lee, on the other hand, set forth several disturbing facts about NextEra: its opposition to a Florida effort to allow residents to generate power from their own solar panels; lobbying in Florida to reduce state renewable-energy standards; lobbying in Florida to replace two public service commissioners who denied a rate increase that would have benefited NextEra; and spending “enormous amounts of money” on lobbying and a public relations campaign in Hawaii.
Lee’s suggestion of converting Hawaiian Electric Co. into a publicly owned utility that would not need to make a profit for its shareholders or pay enormous salaries to its executives certainly deserves consideration.
Jack C. Morse
Kailua
