Please help stop encroachment on the boundaries of centuries-old Loko Ea fishpond in Haleiwa (“Council panel OKs plan for building near Haleiwa fishpond,” Star-Advertiser, May 22).

For income, the Lili‘uokalani Trust is leasing this land to be used as a surf shop and maybe one or two other commercial interests.

I do not understand why Kamehameha Schools, which owns the pond, cannot work out some property trade such that the site is not developed and Lili‘uokalani Trust can still earn income on some other property provided by Kamehameha Schools. I ask that it get off the sidelines and step onto the playing field.

Remember the Haleiwa Theater? Gone, replaced by a McDonald’s. Remember Salt Lake? Filled in, gone forever.

Please learn more about this rare Hawaiian cultural artifact that also may soon be gone.

This issue is coming up to the Honolulu City Council for final approval June 1. The time is late.

Jim Frisbie

Waialua

Boards enable community input

I was stunned to read that the Honolulu Charter Commission is recommending that voters be asked to consider eliminating neighborhood boards (“Charter proposal calls for an end to neighborhood boards on Oahu,” Star-Advertiser, May 23).

It is extremely disappointing that this proposal has come as far as it has.

This is a definite non-starter and should be dropped immediately.

Eliminating the boards would take away the only way that many are able to participate in our governance, take away their ability to have direct contact with elected officials who regularly attend board meetings, and eliminate the ability for communities to come together effectively to oppose plans and actions such as the current disaster at Sharks Cove.

Having served on the North Shore Neighborhood Board, I have been able to participate both as a board member and as a resident.

We need our neighborhood boards.

Bill Quinlan

Velzyland

Boards provide valuable forum

Neighborhood boards truly are the place where the government and the people meet.

Every month, they provide a venue for community members to bring concerns, and a forum for those proposing projects for the area.

The governor, mayor, City Council members, legislators, the military, representatives from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, and police and fire officials attend every meeting on the island, either in person or through representatives who report back.

The boards are a principal place where they learn what is happening in their community. ‘Olelo televises many board meetings, and community members do watch.

Board meetings truly are democracy in action.

Members are elected by small areas of the island and are the voice of their people. While board decisions are only advisory, they are weighty evidence to take to legislative and City Council meetings.

Many in higher office first gained community favor and support serving on neighborhood boards.

Don’t mess with neighborhood boards.

Kioni Dudley

Vice chairman, Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale Neighborhood Board #34

‘Affordable’ not inevitably shoddy

It is a shame that Mark Coleman implied that affordable housing is built to shoddy standards (“Kalama Kim: Board of Realtors president sees need for housing at all levels,” Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, May 20).

I worked for 23 years in the milieu of building houses that met the economic earning power of those working in the area, both in public and private industries.

In no way does the building have to be cheap and poorly built. That statement is heard everywhere where NIMBYs gather.

Look at the quality of the homes being built through the USDA/Rural Development program, or the EAH (Ecumenical Association of Housing), or the hundreds of examples in books that highlight affordable housing development.

Edwyna Spiegel

Makiki

Baggage fees hurt goodwill

I agree with Martin Schram regarding baggage fees, but I would go further and suggest airlines do not charge them at all (“Airlines should rescind baggage fees during busy travel times,” Star-Advertiser, May 19).

I recently flew to Japan on JAL. There were no baggage fees.

Because no one brought gigantic carry-ons on board in addition to their “small” personal item — just a briefcase, purse or other small item — a full Boeing 777 took only 20 minutes to board and leave the gate.

If U.S. carriers were to do this, they would gain much of the goodwill they have lost and perhaps even save money or make more money because of the reduced time embarking and disembarking.

Especially on long-haul flights, they could even just add $50 to the ticket, which on a $2,000 ticket would not be an issue for most travelers. It’s all about improving the currently awful experience of air travel on U.S. carriers.

Robert Cowie

Kailua

End-of-life care requires options

I want to thank the Star-Advertiser and Pat Gee for reporting on our recent panel discussion with the Interfaith Alliance of Hawaii, “End-of-Life Options and Dying With Dignity: Next Steps” (“The right to choose,” May 21).

It is so important that people feel empowered to express their wishes to family, friends and doctors, and that they have all options available to them.

I wanted to clarify Compassion & Choices Hawaii’s position on end-of-life options, as it was incomplete in the article. We believe everyone should have access to all options for end-of-life care, including hospice, pain management, palliative care, refusing unwanted medical treatment and medical aid in dying.

Mary Steiner

Campaign manager, Compassion & Choices Hawaii

Incident shows shaky values?

I was greatly moved by your story (“Devastated boyfriend waits for victim to stir,” Star-Advertiser, May 23), which caused me to wonder: What conditions caused this senseless incident to occur?

Where were the parents of these minors, who were allowed to be out and unchaperoned in the early-morning hours? Where did these minors get the idea that underage alcohol use is acceptable? Who supplied these teens with the alcohol or other substances that appeared to be the catalyst for this tragic event? Where were the church, the police, parental guidance and the education system for teaching correct values and behavior?

Very little good can come of a meeting involving teens and intoxicants at 3 a.m. on a workday. I suggest it’s time for us to re-examine our values and societal controls to address this problem before another senseless injury or death results from preventable bad behavior.

Bill Calderwood

San Diego