As a trustee of the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs (1984-1996), I attended marine conferences at which scientists warned that the oceans are being over-fished.

The movement to expand Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument is overdue. This refuge area will protect and sustain marine life for future generations, as our ancestors did.

More people and fishermen, warming oceans, pollution and fewer fish demonstrate a need to expand this refuge area. Papaha- naumokuakea is our incubation area for marine sustainability.

Longliners, crying sovereignty and home rule, fished out the Gulf of Mexico, migrated to the West Coast, depleted the fish in that area, and now sail into Hawaiian waters, overfishing with their wall of hooks — 47 million hooks deployed by Hawaii fisheries in 2014. The hooks stretch for miles, showing their greed.

For the long-term sake of all of us, including fishermen, we need to expand Papahanaumokuakea.

Moanike‘ala Akaka

Hilo

Larger sanctuary will cause problems

At first glance, expanding the Papahanaumokuakea Marine Monument looks like a good idea.

After digging deeper into this, the negative impacts toward our state, culture and economy will quickly surface. As someone who works in the fish industry, it will directly affect me, but restaurants and consumers will also feel the burden. Higher prices, questionable quality from foreign imports, and inevitable shortages are only a few problems of what can be expected.

What many don’t know is if this monument expands, we will have to depend more on foreign product, outsourcing more money to foreign countries while the fish should have stayed here all along.

This industry helped Sam Choy and his career (“Bigger marine reserve would safeguard health of ocean,” Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, July 24). It’s time for him to re-evaluate his stance and return the favor.

Shane Yoshimoto

McCully

Kudos for warning about roofing scams

I would like to thank state Insurance Commissioner Gordon Ito for his timely warning to consumers about potential roofing scammers blanketing neighborhoods after Tropical Storm Darby, promising free roof inspections (“Post-storm scammers prompt warning from state,” Star-Advertiser, July 27).

If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, they are putting many reputable roofing firms in Hawaii in a negative light they do not deserve.

Anyone who tries to get a homeowner to sign a contract quickly without arranging repairs through an insurance carrier, or claiming the contract won’t affect the insurance policy, is suspect.

Signing a contract places the homeowner, not the insurer, in the pocket of the roofer.

Terry Mullen

CEO, John Mullen & Co.

Opposing GOP bill a win for Zika virus

Democrats love Planned Parenthood more than fighting the Zika virus.

They blocked a $1.1 billion GOP bill because Planned Parenthood would not get specific funding in the bill. Funding would be directed to community health centers, of which there are more than any Planned Parenthood abortion centers.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the Obama administration is exploiting the Zika virus for political gain.

And our Hawaii Democratic delegation is going along with their “leadership.”

Carol R. White

Punchbowl

Would Trump block refugee babies?

Bob Sigall’s column about the Pan Am-assisted evacuation of infants and children from war-torn Vietnam in 1975 was heartwarming (“Pan Am flight out of Saigon in ’75 changed lives forever,” Star-Advertiser, Rearview Mirror, Aug. 12).

The article mentioned 90,000 refugees who passed through Hickam. Although little was said about how successfully these refugees integrated into American culture, there was mention of a doctor and police officer as well as a reference to periodic reunions. Don’t expect such feel-good stories in the future if Donald Trump is elected.

Michael Bornemann

Hawaii Kai

‘Security guards’ became the thieves

It is hard to believe that at this time in history there are still people who think that brown-skinned people need to be told how to run their lives and country by non-brown outsiders (“Hawaiians should ‘optimize’ situation,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Aug. 2).

If my information is correct, the U.S. had a treaty with the Kingdom of Hawaii that in exchange for the use of Pearl Harbor as a naval base the U.S. would protect the kingdom from any outside invasion and takeover. The “security guards” became the thieves and have mistreated the Hawaiians ever since.

How has “partnering” with the U.S. government worked out for Native Americans? Very badly.

Kevin Brooks

Kalihi

It’s never too late to end Korean War

Sixty-three years after the signing of the July 27 Korean War armistice, do readers find it strange that American leaders routinely cite the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea, along with China and Russia, as the most important threats to American security (“Army secretary’s Pacific tour stops in isles,” Star Advertiser, July 27)?

How did this happen? One answer is failure to conclude the political settlement called for within three months of the Korean Armistice Agreement.

Since the armistice was signed, military threats, sanctions and negotiations have not brought a stable peace.

Since all war combatants are now U.N. members, how about seeking a U.N. Korean War Peace Settlement Conference? The American president, or the U.N. secretary general, could engage the U.N. to end the war.

Glenn D. Paige

Tantalus