Smoking ban could change the norm

Your Off the News item, “How can we stop smoking in cars?” asks, “Will nothing be left to parental responsibility or judgment” (Star-Advertiser, March 18)?

Like seat belts? Or safety seats for children? The premise of your argument is that parents don’t need rules when it comes to protecting kids. But that just isn’t the case.

We have a lot of laws that are difficult to enforce. But they have still been effective at changing behavior. Seat belts are a great example, as people can easily buckle up when pulled over to avoid a fine, but it’s the existence of seatbelt laws and the possibility of getting fined that has changed the norm and saved lives.

We cannot legislate good parenting, but we can work to change the norm. And we should do everything we can through education and legislation to protect as many of our keiki as we possibly can.

Kelsie Calabrese

Mililani

Urge NCAA to drop post-season ban

With such an outstanding and historic University of Hawaii men’s basketball season, we the fans should start a write-in campaign to persuade the NCAA to waive the team’s post-season restriction for next year.

It would be such a shame to penalize the current players for violations for which they had no direct involvement, and it would be so undeserved of them to have to suffer the consequences that resulted from the former coach and staff who were responsible for the violations.

Why should the UH fans and current players be penalized, which would be so unfair given the team’s effort this year — not to mention what would happen to the team next year, if the seniors-to-be leave, as is allowed. This will create such an unfavorable impact to next year’s attendance and revenue for the men’s basketball program.

George Nomura

Kaneohe

Plantation life was a benefit to Hawaii

Congratulations to Lee Cataluna for her sensitive, accurate and beautifully written column on the social and economic benefits of Hawaii’s plantation years (“Sugar plantation life good to those who really lived it,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 26).

I am writing this, having lived and worked on Kohala Plantation on Hawaii island as a physician for 17 years. I found Cataluna’s literary article a true gem of reality.

The plantation life that evolved, particularly in the post-World War II period to the present, is one of the bright spots of the state’s history. It provided millions of tons of food and fuel and, over the years, pride-worthy work, decent housing and outstanding public health advances, as well as a myriad of civic leaders, professionals and otherwise productive citizens at every level.

Frank L. Tabrah

McCully-Moiliili

Burgess a great man who loved Hawaii

The death of attorney and equal-rights advocate H. William Burgess on March 16 was a sad day for all races in Hawaii.

Many who are uninformed might say that Burgess was anti-Hawaiian, as he challenged those programs and laws that favored those of Hawaiian ancestry to the exclusion of others. That would be a dishonest conclusion.

He loved Hawaii, Hawaiians and those of all races, and was married to a Native Hawaiian. His only goal was to make all races equal in the eyes of the law and in the spending of public funds.

He endured criticism from those receiving benefits solely due to their ancestry, but in the end, he was found by the U.S. Supreme Court to be correct.

As a Marine Corps fighter pilot, he served the country that he loved without asking for anything in return.

Bill Burgess was one of the great men of Hawaii.

Earl Arakaki

Ewa Beach

Senator’s language was inappropriate

I apologize for my language during a committee meeting, as reported (“State makes $1.25M deal in settlement of school suit,” Star-Advertiser, March 18).

A state attorney testified that the state alone was responsible when an employee driving over a school lawn injured a child.

We were told that the standard practice is the state does not seek shared liability from its employees.

I was appalled that we were not pressing for any employee responsibility, especially given we were voting on 17 cases in which the state is paying more than $10.5 million.

This practice would result in more future injuries, pain and loss. (After the hearing, we were told that the employee did pay his insurance limits).

In expressing my concerns, I used inappropriate language. More importantly, I did not acknowledge that the settlement was perfectly justified given the child’s horrible injuries.

I am contacting the family to apologize to them as well.

Sen. Laura Thielen

District 25 (Hawaii Kai-Waimanalo-Kailua)

Voting for Trump supports violence?

Given the vehemence with which a Donald Trump supporter punched a black protester in the face, saying “we might have to kill him” among other choice violence-ridden phrases, I wonder how the Republicans who voted for Trump in the caucus can live with their choice (“Trump wins among isle Republicans,” Star-Advertiser, March 9).

Nothing that this man said or did could be classified as an American virtue.

I also wonder how many of the Trump supporters have a “Live Aloha” bumper sticker.

I would also like to point out that violence seems to be exclusive to Trump rallies.

Larry Cross

Waikiki