Again Kawaiahao Street has become a major bypass road with Kapiolani Boulevard shut down because of a suspicious package (“Police reopen Kapiolani Blvd. after suspicious package found,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 11). Hundreds of motorists barreled down our unmaintained street full of potholes, making our situation far worse.

What happened to the “aloha spirit” that our government officials brag about?

Why can’t our government show some appreciation for those who live and work on Kawaiahao Street and fix the potholes caused, in part, by motorists from all over the island who use Kawaiahao on a daily basis or as a traffic reliever from the chaos on Kapiolani?

I was attempting to maintain the road in front of my shop but was stopped by the traffic.

Frank Young

Hawaii Kai

Hawaii could join Mega Millions

Why does Hawaii not participate in the Powerball or Mega Millions programs? Has our Legislature looked into this recently? And if not, why not?

Wink Loo

Makiki

City must enforce vacation rental law

Lee Cataluna calls it anarchy (“Orgy of outlawed fireworks flaunts our island anarchy,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 6). Laws should be obeyed or changed. This is the foundation of our society. Our lawmakers pass laws without enforcement tools.

A perfect example is illegal vacation rentals that change the character of our neighborhoods. They add to our homeless population, increase the cost of housing and increase the taxes and the rent we pay. There is no enforcement here. Why?

The city Department of Planning and Permitting is tasked with enforcing this law. It endorsed a bill to aid in enforcement. Councilman Ikaika Anderson has held that bill in his zoning committee for more than nine months. He apparently does not want enforcement. Who is he representing?

Enforcement is complaint- driven. We all need to start complaining with letters, calls and emails. Start being heard. Be louder than the fireworks.

If there are no consequences to breaking laws, there is no law. I call it anarchy.

Vern Hinsvark

Kailua

Get serious about climate change plan

I did a double take when I read a headline from The Washington Post online: “Freak storm pushes North Pole 50 degrees above normal to melting point.”

Did that say the North Pole temperature was 50 degrees above normal? Yes, the temperature at the North Pole really did reach 32 degrees F., when it is normally -20 F. Excuse me, but isn’t this front-page news?

Why are we still debating whether climate change is real? When will we demand real, concerted action to mitigate the changes that are already occurring? We can start in Hawaii by ensuring we choose an electric utility that moves us to 100 percent renewable energy ASAP — no ifs, ands or buts.

Jan Pappas

Aiea

Kaneohe’s feral cat community growing

I was under the impression that the feral cat protection program was established to maintain and protect feral cat communities, not grow them.

Those who manage the communities come by our neighborhood daily and spread large amounts of cat food, attracting other cats in the neighborhood. The result is that the feral cat community in the area is growing, not being maintained.

It is a big problem for the elementary school in our neighborhood, as the cats live under the portable classrooms and leave feces in areas where the children play. It is a health and safety concern.

If the managers stop feeding the cats, the community will taper off through the spay/neuter and release program as originally planned.

Sandy Wong

Kaneohe

Sugar worker lived long, despite smoke

A newspaper obituary on Sunday listed a 93-year-old man who retired from the Wailuku Sugar company as an irrigation worker. His job would have been to be in the field every day.

During his workday, fields of sugar cane is harvested during the regular harvest season and he likely spent much of his natural life in the fields sucking up the smoke, living to be 93 years old.

People come here from elsewhere for a few months and complain about the hazards of smoke inhalation. Well, they don’t have to cry any more, because the plantation is closing down (“The end of sugar in Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 7). They will have to find something else to cry about.

Henry Kahula Jr.

Paia, Maui

Keeping Maui land in ag a good thing

Another Hawaiian legacy food crop is disappearing in the islands — sugar. It served its purpose for its time, but is no longer profitable.

I want to say mahalo to Alexander & Baldwin and Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. for doing the right thing and not going the route of selling off the aina for development of homes or commercial property.

They have chosen to focus the redeveloped land for renewable energy and food security for a growing population in Hawaii. I respect their business model.

Chris Jansen

Mililani