The assertion by the Honolulu prosecutor’s office that the primary concern over testing of the huge backlog of rape kits — that it might traumatize some rape victims — strains credulity (“Required testing of rape kits removed from bills,” Star-Advertiser, March 20).

There are ways that testing could proceed now with notification of victims subsequently.

Failing to conduct the tests also delays or denies the quest for justice for rape victims who expect their cases to be pursued.

As most rape victims are women, such an attitude also shows a paternalistic view of women, which in itself is infuriating and demeaning.

The real reasons appear to be bureaucratic dysfunction and, most of all, money.

Rape is a very serious crime often with life-changing consequences for its victims. The victims deserve to have their cases aggressively pursued.

In addition, it is reported that many rapists are serial rapists. Catching a few of these could prevent future sexual crimes.

Dorothy Petras

Kaneohe

What do highly paid HEI execs do all day?

I can’t imagine what Hawaiian Electric Industries president and CEO Connie Lau does all day to justify getting paid so highly (“Lau’s $2.7M pay package lowest since 2007,” Star-Advertiser, March 23).

If you divide $2.7 million by the 40-hour work week, then multiply that by 52 weeks, you get $1,298.07 per hour.

Usually corporations justify such high pay by describing the competitive market through which the CEO has to skillfully steer the company.

What is the competition for Hawaiian Electric Industries, which is basically a government-sanctioned monopoly?

The same reasoning makes me wonder why HEI’s Alan Oshima and Richard Wacker, shown on the same page, also are being paid so handsomely.

Taking the executive pay down to realistic levels and then using any resulting surplus to lower the cost to each HEI ratepayer would be a good way to spread the wealth, as the savings would go right back into Hawaii’s economy.

David Yasuo Henna

McCully

Zoo woes a bad sign for future of rail

So, the city, which cannot even run a zoo (“Honolulu Zoo faces an uncertain future,” Star-Advertiser, March 23), is building and will run a multi-billion-dollar rail line?

Pamela Garrison

Kailua

Caring for feral cats benefits everyone

Apparently Linval Kingston is not aware of the Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) and the Cat Friends Hawaii-supported program, “Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM), a humane and effective strategy to reduce the number of feral cats in the community and improve their quality of life (“People who feed feral cats are selfish,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 21).

When people trap, neuter and then return cats to managed colonies, their numbers stabilize and then decrease as they live out their lives without reproducing.

The cats are fed daily by HHS-designated feeders who buy food and pay for the care of these cats out of their own pockets. The cats are very healthy and do not carry disease and filth, as suggested. A vet works with the cats to maintain their health.

It is difficult to conceive of anyone thinking animal lovers who provide care to such animals as being “selfish.” What about “selfless”?

Vicky Durand

Tantalus

Yes, Hawaii schools should copy Finland

A loud “yes” to emulating the Finnish school system (“Finland’s education system might be worth emulating,” Star-Advertiser, March 23).

Until we train, pay and respect our teachers as professionals, we will continue to have poor results.

Besides improving people’s lives, this investment would actually save taxpayers money.

For example, almost a third of high school dropouts live in poverty, and they have high incarceration and unemployment rates.

Let’s make the investment in our keiki’s future so they have the opportunity to become contributing members of society.

And if you think teachers have it easy, try teaching a class of 25 children for a week, with all the paperwork and testing involved.

You would soon realize teachers are facing an impossible task.

Lorna Holmes

Downtown Honolulu

Government failures here are shameful

With the loss of accreditation of the Honolulu Zoo, the possible loss of the Thirty Meter Telescope and the decline of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Hawaii is going to be known as the “anti-science state.”

It’s not too late to reverse this shameful trend.

Stephen Ugelow

Hawaii Kai

Restore water flows to East Maui streams

Streams support native rights, cultural practices and aquatic ecosystems. These beneficial instream uses are no less important than any other uses.

For more than a hundred years, millions of gallons of water a day have been diverted from dozens of streams in East Maui. No consideration was made for the people who depended on those streams for drinking, cooking, bathing, irrigating kalo and gathering.

Oopu, opae, hihiwai, limu, aholehole, mullet and other food species depend on streams to thrive and reproduce. Ask any fisher if streams flowing into the ocean are important. Dry stream-beds, stagnant water and warm, sluggish flows do not support life.

There is enough water for Central Maui, including well water. There are no alternatives to flowing streams.

We need to stop the misinformation and scare tactics and oppose House Bill 2501 — a special-interest bill that favors certain farmers over others.

Let the water return to East Maui — mauka to makai.

Marjorie Ziegler

Kaneohe