Hydroponic farms can be sustaining

What’s being left out of the ongoing discussion concerning Hawaii’s prime agricultural land developed for unaffordable housing, and whether seed crops are at odds with Hawaii’s goal of food sufficiency, are the current modern techniques of hydroponic farming.

Like the archaic technology of the already obsolete rail system, Hawaii’s leaders are woefully ignorant of well-established farming technologies that do not require the fertile soils and acreage of traditional farming. With vertical hydroponic farms, the need for expansive lands is substantially mitigated. Enclosed controlled growing environments also greatly reduce or completely eliminate pesticide and herbicide use.

Large-scale enclosed hydroponic farming is a viable solution and Hawaii should be a leader in self-sufficiency with zero-mile, farm-to-table produce.

Philip Cedillos

Makawao, Maui

Enforce parking in neighborhoods

It’s time for the city to create a parking authority specifically dedicated to enforcing parking laws in our residential neighborhoods.

A drive around our block will reveal a line of trash bins or traffic cones along the curb to save parking. My neighbor has erected his very own “no parking” sign.

There are vehicles up on blocks along the curbside, parked on sidewalks, in striped zones, along curves, right up to the stop line at a stop sign, others encroaching on driveways.

Consequently, the child walking to school, the elderly headed to the bus stop, or the mother simply pushing a baby stroller, walk on the street. It’s easier than navigating around the obstructions on the sidewalks.

The parking problem can create bad blood among neighbors, along with creating unsafe driving conditions.

Mel McKeague

Kapolei

Don’t send letters; communicate

I agree with Pua Kealoha’s statement, “That department is so dysfunctional,” in regards to the form letter she received in March on allegations of child abuse within her home (“State’s letters may violate law,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 25).

State Department of Human Services officials claim that their diversion system, which includes the letter, is not intended to identify alleged perpetrators.

They also claim that they do not take the caller’s information as fact.

However, a statement within the letter says otherwise. When a determination is made, it means that the problem has been established. But how can a problem be established when you do not have the facts?

If a face-to-face meeting is required, then follow your policy instead of making a determination based on the caller’s accusations. DHS must do the right thing by addressing the accused first. The key to problem-solving is open communication.

Stop sending the letters.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu

Climate regulations threaten economy

“NOAA said (the Louisiana flooding) had its chances boosted by 40 percent because of heat-trapping gasses” (Star Advertiser, Sept. 21).

This is political nonsense. A stationary tropical cyclone trapped by upper winds caused several days of record rainfall similar to that over Maui.

Yes, these disasters were man-made, in that most houses were built on slabs in a flood plain. Code changes to build houses on pier foundations will ameliorate future damage.

On the other hand, increasing fuel and mileage taxes on the working poor and declaring Hawaii fossil-fuel free by 2045 is also political nonsense. It will eliminate heat-trapping gasses only by destroying the economy and will be of no avail to the planet.

Ronald E. Hughes

Aiea

Espero shouldn’t be focused on police

As a 40-year resident of Ewa Beach, I see a glaring omission in legislative priorities by state Sen. Will Espero in his campaign for a fifth term as our senator (“Candidates focus on enhancing schools in District 19,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 22).

While he has plenty of ideas on how to reform the Honolulu Police Department — over which he has no authority, as it is a county function, not a state function — he provided no ideas on how to improve what is inarguably the worst traffic on the island in Ewa Beach.

Espero wants to extend the 0.5 percent general excise tax surcharge to take rail to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, but does not say anything about Gov. David Ige’s recent announcement that he is going to stop all new road construction. This includes a new lane on H-1 East from Kunia to Aiea and installation of a new afternoon Zipper Lane.

After 16 years as our state representative and senator, he should know what is really needed in his district, and not just pursue his vendetta against HPD.

Pam Smith

Ewa Beach

Mariah Carey tickets taken by resellers

It’s a shame that Blaisdell Arena and Ticketmaster promote kamaaina pre-sale tickets and then do nothing to protect the available seats from resellers.

Tickets for the Mariah Carey concert went on for sale to kamaaina at 9 a.m. Saturday. Both my wife and I went into Ticketmaster the very second the kamaaina sale started.

At 9 a.m. all seats were completely sold for both Friday and Saturday. We went to the resellers at 9:02 a.m. and they have all the tickets posted for sale. Prices are more than $1,000.

Shame on both Blaisdell and Ticketmaster for allowing this to happen.

Don Frederickson

Kaneohe