Regarding the article about Waikiki residents protesting the planned Ainahau Vista II tower for low-income senior housing: I am one of “those” seniors (“Residents fight plans to put up low-income site,” Star-Advertiser, April 10).

I have a state pension and Social Security, plus paid medical, dental and vision. My income is higher than many retirees, yet I am still unable to afford the high cost of rent in Honolulu. I am on waiting lists for several low-income senior housing properties.

I take offense that these elitist Waikiki residents don’t want me or people like me living in their neighborhood. Many of the residents of affordable senior housing are like me — responsible, stable older people. We are not undesirable riff-raff just because we cannot afford the high cost of housing in Hawaii.

We’re your mothers, fathers, brother, sisters, grandparents, aunties and uncles. We are your family members.

And someday, it could be you.

Jeanne Moore

Downtown Honolulu

Community needs Wahiawa hospital

I support saving Wahiawa General Hospital.

First of all, a big mahalo to state Rep. Marcus Oshiro for his passionate efforts to keep Wahiawa Hospital open. He has been doing an awesome job alerting the people of his district and neighboring districts served by the hospital. His efforts have not gone unnoticed.

It is vital to keep the hospital open. It not only serves the people of Wahiawa and surrounding areas, it also serves the millions of tourists who visit the North Shore every year.

Marilee Y. Lyons

Haleiwa

Use HPU campus for performing arts

I know what we should do with the Hawaii Loa campus of Hawaii Pacific University: Make it into a top-of-the line performing arts center (“HPU to merge campuses,” Star-Advertiser, April 2).

Imagine a place where Hawaii could host international guest musicians, host local band camps and musical workshops, serve as a venue retreat for hula halau — the list could go on and on.

The Windward side (and the state, for that matter) desperately needs a place to hold concerts and recitals. Yes, we have several theaters in the area, but no place where the acoustics are adequate or appropriate for solo recitals, choral concerts, chamber music events, poetry readings and the like.

Any musician will tell you there is an immense difference between performing in a space made for theatre productions verses a recital hall made for small ensemble or solo performances.

The community needs this.

Susan McCreary Duprey

Founder and artistic director, Windward Choral Society

Saint Marianne also spoke Hawaiian

In an “Off the News” item, it was mentioned that “Damien, for one, is the only Hawaiian-speaking saint there is” (“Oh when the saints go marching in, to Waikiki,” Star-Advertiser, April 5).

In the 27 volumes of documentation on Saint Marianne, it is noted that “Mother Marianne and her companions sisters at Kalaupapa did learn to speak and understand the Hawaiian language after they moved there (to Kalaupapa) from Honolulu in 1888.”

The document goes on to say that “the majority of their patients were Hawaiian, and because of their being segregated in an isolated area, the natives retained their language longer than did most others in the islands.”

“Mother Marianne, a sensible women, believed that the short-lived natives under her charge at Kalaupapa should be taught to read in their own language.”

Classes at Bishop Home were taught in Hawaiian and not in English.

Yes, we have two saints — Damien and Marianne — who were Hawaiian speaking.

Alicia Damien Lau

Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities

Pro-rail politicians feeling a bit nervous

Our rail system will be the most expensive project per capita in the nation. The problem is that every time you blink, it gets more expensive.

Last election, our pro-rail mayor won by a small margin and since then, we’ve seen more general excise tax money promised to this project with more “sorry, but” statements in anticipation for future requests for funds. Come hell or high water, they are going to build the rail all the way to Ala Moana Center; no stopping at Middle Street.

The 2016 elections are nearing and candidates are changing their tune (now they’re worried about the cost) to stay on the good side of everyone.

Beware the bearer of false gifts and broken promises. When it comes time to cast your ballot, vote for the folks who have been true to their word and look out for the best interest of the people fiscally.

Ted Kanemori

Kaneohe

Caregivers oppose unannounced checks

The caregivers of Hawaii vehemently oppose Senate Bill 2384, which would allow the state Department of Health to conduct unannounced annual inspections of their facilities.

The caregivers do not see any valid reasoning to abandon the old practice of giving the caregivers advance notice of the date of their annual inspection. This bill provides inconvenience to both the caregivers and the nurse consultants who do the inspections.

DOH is aware that caregivers have varied tasks, including bringing their residents to the doctor, picking up medications or doing some grocery shopping for their residents. What if the caregiver is not home at the time of the visit? The visit is futile.

Unless there is an urgent need of such an unannounced visit, the issue of trespassing is involved. Laws protecting privacy also are violated.

Constante A. Domingo

President, Caregivers Association of Hawaii