The Sierra Club’s criticism of Alexander & Baldwin’s generosity and responsibility says more about the Sierra Club’s self-indulgent nature than A&B’s flaws (“Protesters press A&B to abandon water rights,” Star-Advertiser, April 27).

Just compare the Sierra Club with A&B’s contributions to Hawaii. A&B pays a lot of money in taxes that benefit us all. For many decades it used Hawaii’s land to provide good-paying jobs and retirement benefits for many thousands. On Maui, A&B kept Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar open long after profitability justified it.

The Sierra Club wants land reserved for those with enough discretionary time and income to enjoy it.

A&B was born here. The Sierra Club came from the mainland to do good, and did right well. I’m with A&B on this one.

George L. Berish

Kakaako

B&Bs turning Kailua into ‘tourist hell’

Vacation rentals becoming unavailable will force Marsha Phillips to go elsewhere (“Vacation rentals fill a needed market niche,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 17). Is that a promise?

Obviously, I am not one of the many lovely people she met here, nor one of those shopping in one of the boutiques selling the same tourist junk and other overpriced items.

Would Phillips like to have her neighborhood turned into tourist hell? I don’t think so.

No, we want our legislators to think of what is best for the people who are trying to live here.The ones who are surrounded by greedy bed-and-breakfast owners who rent to overly loud screaming children with parents who stay up all night drinking and partying, blocking driveways and littering our beaches.

Unfortunately, our legislators and the B&B owners are only interested in the big bucks and could not care less what is happening to our once-beautiful town.

Pat Meyers

Kailua

Airbnb helps some stay in their homes

I have many fond memories of my home.

Airbnb largely has enabled me to keep those memories and stay in my home of 33 years.

My rent is now at least four times higher than what I paid in 1983. I am partially retired, so I rely on this extra income to make ends meet.

I thoroughly enjoy hosting guests from around the world. I feel safe opening my home to travelers who would rather have an authentic, local experience.

In addition to bringing money to our local businesses, my guests develop an appreciation and respect for our aina, as I teach them about the history and culture of Hawaii.

Let’s remember that tourists and natives are all part of this community.

Eve Schell

Waikiki

Kenoi still good man despite misjudgment

I believe that the felony charges Billy Kenoi is facing shouldn’t change the way people see him as the Hawaii County mayor.

Everyone makes mistakes. Unlike the other government officials, Kenoi stepped up and owned up to his misjudgment. He also paid back everything he owed.

Instead of being worried about simple mistakes, we should be focused on serious matters that are really hurting our economy.

Sarayah Harrington

Kalihi

Law Day should be day of mourning

May 1, Law Day, should be a day of mourning in our country because the Obama administration has been lawless (“The rule of law provides freedom; the rule of God does not,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, April 17).

Despite taking an oath to “faithfully execute” our laws, President Barack Obama has systematically refused to do so.

Our immigration system is not broken, it is unenforced. Sanctuary cities continue unopposed, and Obama’s executive orders further flout immigration laws.

While calling for more “common sense” gun laws, Obama has failed to enforce gun laws already on the books. Straw buyers and those who lie on background checks are rarely prosecuted.

So far the U.S. Supreme Court and Congress have been feckless in getting Obama to live up to his oath of office.

Rhoads Stevens

Hawaii Kai

HMSA has odd way of showing it cares

It has been my experience that somewhere along the road to patient-centered health care, pre-authorizations have become the norm, not the exception (“Critical tests are being delayed, some doctors say,” Star-Advertiser, April 27). These are increasingly draconian measures that impede, not protect, a patient’s access to care.

Hawaii Medical Service Association contends that pre-authorizations are necessary to protect patients. Protect us from what? The anxiety and uncertainty that early, accurate diagnostic testing could put to rest?

HMSA hired National Imaging Associates (NIA), from Arizona, to approve diagnostic exams for HMSA’s 720,000 members in Hawaii. In its mission statement, NIA says it will use its resources “to achieve bottom-line results and guarantee multi-year cost savings.”

I must have missed the part about how this idea is HMSA’s way to protect the health and safety of its members.

Deborah Luckett

Waialae-Kahala

Mission to Mars would be distraction

Before we spend a lot of money to send someone to Mars, we should clean up the mess that we made here on our planet first (“Mission to Mars,” Star-Advertiser, April 27).

That said, I have a list of persons whom I would like to see be sent to Mars.

F. DeWolfe Miller

McCully