I have been a federally and state licensed rehabber of seabirds for the past nine years. I have raised hundreds of white terns (fairy terns), which are the love of my life.

I had the honor of a bird that I had raised lay an egg in my rehab tree. A chick was hatched 36 days later. Dutifully, the mother and father took time feeding the chick three or four fish several times a day.

I had three weeks of being part of this amazing experience until one morning at 4:20 a.m. (videotaped on my surveillance system), a neighbor’s cat killed this federally protected bird.

Cats are natural predators and will kill regardless of what an irresponsible pet owner thinks.

How can we save our indigenous cherished wildlife when we have irresponsible pet owners letting their animals kill randomly, along with the thousands of feral cats on the island?

Carolyn Blackburn

Kahala

Let competition guide medical pot outlets

There are going to be problems in deciding which applicants get the medical marijuana dispensary licenses.

Let each applicant have one license. Multiple applicants could pick the one island they prefer. We would have approximately 30 on Oahu, 14 on Hawaii island, five on Kauai and 15 on Maui. A cap could be established for future dispensaries based on the applications submitted.

This would promote competition between companies, making quality higher and prices naturally lower. Local employment would increase, and a requirement that half of the employees be Hawaii residents could be added. It also would dramatically increase the amount of tax revenue going back into each county and the state.

Competition is what makes America great. It would still be regulated, and be a win/win for patients, citizens and the state.

How much time and money will be spent choosing, arguing, settling lawsuits?

At how many locations can you purchase alcohol or get prescriptions?

Karl Frisch

Kihei, Maui

Crime victims need stronger legal support

I am writing in respectful disagreement with your editorial (“Do better at helping crime victims,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 19) that a constitutional amendment for victims’ rights is not an appropriate or effective vehicle for change.

A statute has been in place for almost three decades and it is still not working. No amount of tweaking of the statute will bring about the radical shift in practice with government agencies that is needed to truly serve victims.

At the end of the day, victims will once again be revictimized — but this time by the criminal justice process.

Why is there no accountability for the agencies mandated to follow the law to give victims a voice? Why is there only concern for the rights afforded to criminals? It’s because these violent offenders have rights, rights made truly enforceable by our state Constitution.

I hope lawmakers do what is right and pass Marsy’s Law, which would give equal rights to crime victims.

Joan Pan

Kahala

A&B has opportunity to improve Kailua

The upcoming closure of Macy’s in Kailua provides landowner Alexander & Baldwin with a beautiful opportunity for community stewardship.

As they consider tenants, I hope priority will be given to benefitting the neglected heart of the town: local residents.

Perhaps relocate the YMCA to this central, walkable location, with more space for increasing membership and parking and a café/reading room in the glass-walled corner, or a rooftop garden for urban cooling and stunning views. The current Y could become an educational center or a transitional shelter for our homeless population.

A Macy’s employee said there’s talk of an ABC store or Dave & Busters moving in. Kailua residents do not need more traffic and tourism, which is the burdensome legacy of A&B’s predecessor Kaneohe Ranch. We need amenities that enrich and serve our community at all income levels, and we’ll respond with our patronage.

Melody Heidel

Kailua

Elections burdened by too much secrecy

Richard Hasen’s commentary brought into sharp focus the terribly depressing state of our campaign financing laws and procedures (“501(c)(4) status new way to hide campaign funding,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 18).

They already are burdened by two U.S. Supreme Court decisions: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which said that corporations and unions are people and money is speech; and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, which removed all limitations on the amount of money an individual citizen can cumulatively contribute during an election cycle.

Now, under the IRS 501(c)(4) category, an organization operating as a nonprofit — but actually engaged in political activity — can keep the names and amounts of donor contribution secret.

In our elections, transparency and fairness should prevail. If they don’t, what’s left of our democratic system?

Ed Sullam

Aina Haina

FROM THE FORUM

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.

“Squatters are making mess of scenic Kauai valley, officials say” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 22:

>> Who is responsible to protect these resources and why are they not protecting these areas? We always hear about these problems but no permanent solutions.

>> How about looking at the vagrants trashing Makiki Valley, too? That is our own backyard and the crackdowns have pushed the homeless into the Makiki and Tantalus areas. They actually have fires at their campsites. When summertime comes, expect to see urban brush fires in this protected area. I have personally called DLNR multiple times, no action!

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“State survey shows big decline in agricultural land” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 22:

>> There’s no way to win. People complain that the state won’t build more affordable housing, and then they complain that there’s too much development. But what I really wanted to post about was the decline in “pastureland” since 1980 — the article doesn’t mention it, but the early 1980s was when heptachlor was discovered in Hawaii milk, and that’s what led to the demise of Hawaii’s dairy industry. And the heptachlor itself came from the pineapple industry. We can put on rose-colored glasses when talking about Hawaii’s agriculture, but it wasn’t always rosy.

>> The study doesn’t say that the ag land disappeared; it says that it isn’t being used the same way or as intensively as it used to be. Blaming development ignores the fact that there’s plenty of good ag land that isn’t being used simply because it costs too much to farm here.

>> If we want to support local agriculture, we need to support local farmers by purchasing their products, even at a higher price.

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“Lawmakers seek solution to seawall erosion” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 24:

>> All seawalls should come down. If you lose your land to the sea, that’s like losing it to the volcano — it’s the risk you take to live on a tropical island.

>> Giving up an easement and paying what will be a ridiculous amount in liability and indemnification insurance doesn’t sound like a great option. But the homeowners have no choice because no one in their right mind will buy their houses.

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“Chinatown businesses credit HPD for upturn” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 24:

>> Things are getting better and the increased foot patrols make a big difference. But for Chinatown to truly turn the corner, here’s what needs to change: There’s a soup kitchen that feeds three meals a day; there are now mental health outposts on both sides of Chinatown, and there’s a methadone clinic. I’m not saying that these are bad things in and of themselves, but for the neighborhood to thrive, this has to be addressed. You can’t have all of these outreach organizations targeted at serving the homeless or drug addicts in such a small area and expect the streets to be clean.

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“Consumer Advocate weighs in on rejected ‘green’ contracts” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25:

>> Jeff Ono is doing an outstanding job as consumer advocate, one of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s best appointments. It’s apparent from his filings that sustainability and long-term public benefit will not be bypassed in Public Utilities Commission schemes. Gov. David Ige made a wise decision to keep him in the job.

>> Did the chairman of the PUC speak too soon when he publicly chastised the utility for cancelling the projects? It appears they had sound reasons intended to protect ratepayers while making sure other projects are not denied “their place in the sun” by lengthy bankruptcy proceedings.

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“Lawmakers look to alter school AC plan” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 25:

>> I agree with the lawmakers that the funding should not come from the GEMS (Green Energy Market Securitization) fund.

>> Sylvia Luke’s statements speak volumes about the underlying issues. Government often does things just for the sake of meeting deadlines. Many times, it is because someone wants to make sure their agenda items are met. This often results in inefficient use of personnel and monetary resources. What is most encouraging, however, is that Luke is clear about “doing things right.”