No tall grass grows in ‘Lani-Kailua’ area

In Kailua the grass gets cut on the medians, unlike other areas of Honolulu.

This is because the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle and the Women’s Community Correctional Center have a joint project to maintain the roadways.

You can see the effects of their maintenance work on Kailua Road starting across from the Lutheran church and continuing into Kailua. The women from WCCC also maintain Kaha Park, Alala Point and the Pohakupu fountain area.

Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle provides the equipment and lunches for these dedicated WCCC women who do the work of cutting the grass and taking care of the plants.

In addition, the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle has landscaped and now professionally maintains both the Kalapawai and Pali Palms Triangles at each end of Kalaheo Avenue.

No tall grass growing in Kailua. LKOC’s motto is “Keep Kailua Clean, Green and Beautiful.”

Claudia L. Webster
Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle

Not letting someone die is a problem, too

Regarding Tim Miller’s letter (“Right-to-die laws have problems,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 23): Wouldn’t denying a patient of his or her wish to die cause more of a problem?

Tetsuji Ono
Hilo

Constitution didn’t exclude religion

Pope Francis’ visit prods us to revisit the U.S. Constitution.

A separation of the church from the state was never meant by our forefathers to exclude religion. Yet, White House politicians attempt to exclude good from the service of humans in the activity of politics. The Vatican leader advocates a return to the eternal values of truth and justice.

A true leader is an exemplar of the virtues he espouses. Our nation is mired in problematic plagues. It’s ironic to think a country built by immigrants should wrestle over immigration. Isn’t it moronic to have a non-native speaker of English reiterate the American way?

I am not a Catholic, but a Mormon striving to be a Latter-day Saint. Truth, by any name, is involved in the universal need to live in order to unify all people toward “peace on earth.” Religion is meant to extend goodwill to all men.

Trust the faith of the framers of a divinely instituted Constitution. In God, we trust.

Vernetta A. Hall
Laie

City about to make a mess of housing

Only a government with no heart or soul would spend billions on a crumb of a railway when so many people are homeless.

Oh, but now we are going to build little houses for a few families on several shores. The exact numbers on either side of this equation are not known to me but I do know that it is not enough and most likely will not work. Public or low-cost housing is plagued by unmanageable problems.

The neat little design house our mayor was touting looked OK. Now imagine the paint peeling, stacks of junk leaned against the unit, a few busted exterior lights and the usual weathering in the tropics mixed with the inevitable excess of tenants in a small dwelling.

Now mix that with a state that cannot mow its public lawns because we had a little extra rain.

So as the crazed rail construction continues to put small business owners out of business, they contemplate making another mess of “housing.”

Barbara Williams
Haleiwa

Put high-rise condos behind ex-governor

Why is there a debate on what will be behind ex-Gov. Neil Abercrombie in his upcoming portrait to be displayed at the Capitol?

I think I know the perfect, most factual, and on-the-money background for the upcoming portrait by a local artist (“Maui artist selected to paint portrait of former Gov. Abercrombie,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22).

The portrait should portray a proud, smiling Abercrombie with a bevy of high-rise condos, some not built within code, towering above the ex-governor.

In between one of the buildings there should be a small window where one can still glimpse the blue ocean, although not quite as blue as it was before the high-rises were built.

Lastly, the taxpayer-supported fund to pay for the portrait should allow $50,000 for the $45,000 project, as there are sure to be some unforeseen change orders.

Pat Kelly
Kaimuki

Legalese can’t hide Hee’s malfeasance

Sandwich Isles Communications CEO Janeen-Ann Olds addressed the Hawaiian Homes Commission in true lawyerly fashion (“Sandwich Isles to oust convicted owner Hee,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 24).

What she said had no substance and was masked with a bunch of legalese and spin.

Supposedly, the company made no profit for 12 years, but was able to funnel $2.75 million to Albert Hee to buy real estate, pay his children’s college educations and salaries for doing nothing and support his lavish lifestyle.

It’s unbelievable a contribution of a mere 0.5 percent of profits could not be achieved for the benefit of Hawaiian people. Declaring a small profit of $100,000 would amount to just a paltry $500 donation.

Surprising, too, is that senior management at Waimana and SIC are Kamehameha Schools alumni who you would think would want to help their fellow Hawaiians in any way they can.

It also didn’t seem to make any difference that a Kamehameha Schools trustee served on their executive team.

Steve Chang
Chinatown