Feral pigs aren’t native to Hawaii

Feral pigs are not native in Hawaii (“Feral pigs here getting bad rap,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 30). A native species is one that occurs somewhere naturally, not one brought there by humans.

As the letter notes, pigs were originally brought to Hawaii by Polynesians. By definition, therefore, they are not native.

Pigs are arguably the human- introduced species that has caused the most damage to Hawaii’s unique but rapidly disappearing natural heritage. For instance, their wallows are breeding grounds for non-native mosquitoes that kill endangered native birds by transmitting malaria.

As the only species with the power to destroy the world, yet also maintain its spectacular diversity, we have the responsibility to manage other species appropriately. Labeling feral pigs as “native,” because they were brought here by the first humans to settle here, abrogates responsibility for safeguarding Hawaii’s natural heritage not only for future generations of Native Hawaiian people but for all people.

Feral pigs are alien and are destroying that heritage.

Robert Cowie

Kailua

Obama spends heavily on nukes

Robert K. Soberano questioned the use of nuclear weapons by the Republican Party (“Republican leaders OK with nuclear war?,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 1).

It may surprise people that President Barack Obama has initiated one of the largest expansion and enhancements of nuclear weapons ever by the U.S.

The Defense Department plans to spend nearly $1 trillion on new nuclear submarines, aircraft and weapons. Additionally, new high-speed cruise missiles to deliver nukes are being developed for use against overwhelming enemy combat forces or terrorist compounds that may be preparing to use nukes.

Obama has never officially rejected the “first-use” policy despite his tendency against it, because it is illogical to have nukes and take them off the table. So, regardless of who is president, the nukes will be there for military or political purposes.

Russel Noguchi

Pearl City

Dec. 7 anniversary no cause for a ‘gala’

The article by Allison Schaefers, “Be our guests” (Star- Advertiser, Oct. 1), was a major embarrassment and in extremely bad taste.

Schaefers and the Hilton Hawaiian Village invite readers to attend the “gala” “celebrating” the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The words “gala” and “celebration” describe happy events. The attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in 2,335 U.S. servicemembers and 68 civilians killed, the declaration of war by the U.S. against Japan, and the dropping of two atomic bombs on Japan. None of these can even remotely be considered to have been happy events.

The Hilton is quoted as “hoping” that President Barack Obama and Michelle will attend. Their appearance obviously would help Hilton sell more of the outrageously priced $500-per-person tickets to attend.

The Hilton should be ashamed, and the Star-Advertiser should not have given it a free advertisement.

Robert Rau

Kaimuki

Clinton not in power for past 30 years

Donald Trump said Hillary Clinton had 30 years to effect change and asked why she is only now saying she will do so.

Thirty years takes us back to 1986, when Clinton was living in Arkansas. Only in 1993, when her husband became president, did she move to Washington, D.C.

During the 1990s she had no political power or significant influence over national policy. While she was in the U.S. Senate, from 2001-2009, there were more Republicans than Democrats. As a freshman senator she had little influence.

As secretary of state, she has even less influence over domestic policy. I am not a fan of Clinton, but I think Republican lies and generalities said about her should not go unchallenged.

Laurence Goldstein

Pearl City

Congress clears Iraq to sue U.S. leaders

Congratulations to the Congress of the United States for its passage of legislation allowing 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia (“Congress rejects Obama’s veto, but suing Saudis is no easy task,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 29).

In the same stroke our Congress has given permission for the Iraqi people to sue George Bush, Dick Cheney, Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld for war crimes.

Of course, Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader of the Senate, said it was President Barack Obama’s fault. Go figure.

Jim Frisbie

Waialua

‘Compromise’ won’t get affordable units

It is alarmingly obvious that the zoning laws of the City and County of Honolulu are up for sale to the highest bidder. And in this case, the developers of the Mana‘olana Place Hotel and Resort Condominium project are the high bidders.

A resolution granting the developer the right to “build higher, at a greater density and with less parking than existing zoning laws allow” is being proposed by the Zoning and Planning Committee for the sum of $3 million (“Council vote on tower delayed over concerns on affordable housing,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 23).

With this sum, the developer will not be burdened with building low-rent units in their project. How convenient for the developer — all this for mere chump change that will inevitably be squandered by the City’s Housing Development Special Fund, leaving the residents of Honolulu with a building that is taller, of greater density and with less parking than required by normal zoning laws.

Jack Lutey

Haleiwa