Larry Dove noted that “the Star-Advertiser is highlighting almost on a daily basis dysfunctional state or county agencies or organizations that continue to be funded, regardless of how badly they do their job” (“Kunia Loa situation emblematic of state,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 14).

The cumulative effect on residents and visitors alike highlights the disunity between government and the people, including a dysfunctional public education system, rail transit, homelessness, an underfunded public worker retirement system, deferred infrastructure needs, University of Hawaii sports — wait, didn’t the UH basketball Warriors just win an NCAA playoff game, for the first time ever?

After reading the paper, I go outside to pet the dog, sniff the sweet air, gaze at those incredible Koolau mountains, talk story with early-rising neighbors, and just enjoy that aloha sensitivity as I have since Aug. 3, 1963, when I first walked down Kalakaua, entranced by Diamond Head, Kapiolani Park and the ocean, all together, in one image.

We nonetheless need to balance the books.

Phil Broms

Niu Valley

Homeless problem doesn’t need a guru

Another day, another photo opportunity. The Star-Advertiser had a very prominent color picture of our mayor and the Utah homelessness “guru,” artfully positioned so their smiling faces were mirrored in a reflecting table top (“Homelessness: Solution finder wants to avoid isle politics,” April 13).

Apparently Lloyd Pendleton (with whom the mayor was said to be having a “bromance”) is still hanging around but wants to be “outside of the politics.” I hope he will realize that by consenting to photo-ops he is already well “inside” Hawaii politics. And he says he might want to be a “mentor” to state homeless coordinator Scott Morishige, also deeply part of the political scene.

Pendleton would do best to return to Utah. The mayor would do well to concentrate on his job, and maybe, just maybe, Morishige will, on his own, begin to have some success in doing his job — “coordinating” efforts to reduce homelessness. We do not need another layer of personnel dealing with the problem.

Darrell Schuetz

Kaneohe

Riders won’t find rail a convenience

The rail will fail. Poetic but true.

I just got back from Copenhagen, where I saw a rail system that worked there. It was inexpensive to use and timely, like every five minutes. The rail was close to huge apartment complexes from which thousands of people would travel via rail each day to work.

Hawaii has a million people, but they are spread over a larger geographic area. In Honolulu, homes are far apart. There are condos, townhouses and single-family homes all separated by lengthy walks to proposed stations.

It will be difficult and time-consuming to reach any rail station, as well as returning home with packages and bags.

The rail project barely won when put to a vote. People in East Honolulu will never see it. Those who live close by will not put up with driving and finding parking places near the train station to avoid long walks.

It’s time we bail.

Jim Delmonte

Hawaii Kai

Government just wants to expand

In the article, “In Defense of Nature” (Star-Advertiser, Insight, April 24), the second line reads, “Hawaii needs a tough and effective bio-security plan to combat destructive invasive species.”

Yet the only solution forwarded by state bureaucrats is: Give us more money and more staff. This is a common refrain from paper pushers.

In the week prior, the mayor said homelessness would go away if he could hire eight new bureaucrats to oversee homelessness (“Help for the homeless: An urgent issue requires an urgent response,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, April 17).

Government workers are not doing their jobs effectively. Look at the oversight of Kunia Loa Ridge Farmlands (“Illegal rentals spread,” Star-Advertiser, April 24). Excuse after excuse is why KLRF is such a joke.

In Hawaii, where government and unions are on steroids, there will never be cost-effective solutions, since taxpayers are seen as a source of unlimited money. This is catastrophic. Look at Detroit or Puerto Rico, which are now in technical bankruptcy.

Arthur Warren

Keaau, Hawaii island

One final push for Wahiawa General

The 2016 legislative session is winding down and I am concerned. Local news recently reported on the financial struggles of Wahiawa General Hospital, and that this institution will shut its doors without an infusion of cash.

I’m now wondering if the momentum from the publicity is starting to sputter. If that is happening, I want to help push funding for WGH back up the legislative priority list.

For me, this is personal. My son suffered a medical emergency last month. For him, emergency care was less than five minutes away. Annually, WGH treats 20,000 ER patients and serves a geographical area of one-third of Oahu. The sudden loss of services will create a gaping hole that will take a long time to fill. Taxpayer dollars should be spent on core services and when it can promote the greater good. WGH is certainly worthy of a $3 million assist.

Greg Lee

Wahiawa

A ‘select few’ block TMT on Mauna Kea

As Kaiwiola Coakley observed, “Our island resources ought not to be held by a select few” (“A&B, BLNR display lack of respect for public,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 23).

Yet a self-selected few wish to impose their demands regarding the use of government lands on the summit of Mauna Kea upon the duly established representatives of the government of Hawaii.

Since the Mahele of 1848, the Kingdom of Hawaii and its successors have held title to those lands on behalf of all citizens equally, not for a select few.

Lloyd J. Soehren

Nuuanu