Why does the Star-Advertiser mislead us about the supposed safety of pesticides and herbicides?

Most recently you state, “The team [on Kauai] found no substantial evidence that pesticides harm plants, animals, or humans” (“Pesticide testing a welcome effort,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Dec. 17).

But earlier in the same editorial you said, “Small amounts [of the insecticide chlorpyrifos] can cause nausea and headache while very high exposure can cause respiratory paralysis” — meaning it can even kill humans.

Pesticides and herbicides are designed to be poisonous to every living thing. And they persist and spread in the environment. The toxin we spray on Kauai today in six months could be poisoning seals in the Arctic.

The evidence we don’t yet have for Kauai is simply specific conclusive evidence that specific harm is occurring there as a result of toxin spraying; that kind of evidence is very difficult to obtain. Please stop trying to reassure us that these poisons are safe.

Lorna Holmes

Iwilei

Ige failed to curb homelessness

Gov. David Ige needs to get his head out of the sand. Look at how the homeless have been allowed to destroy Hawaii’s beauty since he took office.

We see his point man, Scott Morishige, standing up to public scrutiny; he always appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. His most recent comment exemplifies why we have made very little progress: “The only way to address homeless is to provide housing.”

We don’t need more developments in Hawaii. The state has surplus land and vacant buildings that could be utilized today. Designated community campgrounds for homeless would be the quickest, cheapest and easiest fix.

There’s nothing wrong with camping in Hawaii. Taxpayers do it all the time, although we have to secure permits and pay a fee.

Ige should issue an executive order making it illegal to live on the streets. Do not allow the trashing of Hawaii to continue.

Lane Woodall

Hawaii Kai

Governor would empower schools

Lee Cataluna’s column reminds us that in 2010, there was a fundamental change in our system, placing responsibility for our school system with the governor (“Ige nearly incoherent in defense of meddling,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 9).

Schools are living through the business-minded approach of that first appointed Board of Education and the CEO leadership style of top-down, one-size-fits-all mandates.

Student performance results have made slight gains under this approach, but the morale in the schools has been negatively affected.

Gov. David Ige, on the other hand, has made his vision very clear: He wants and feels that those closest to children — principals, teachers and school community — need to be making the decisions on how education is delivered. He appointed board members who want to get more resources into the schools and give teachers and principals room to be creative in addressing student needs.

This sort of dramatic transformation will require creative thinking and new leadership.

John Sosa

Hawaii Kai

Football player shows courage

Nothing is impossible when anyone has a deep passion to reach their goals. And this is exactly what happened when former University of Hawaii football player Michael Andrade made a great comeback by conquering dyslexia and back surgery (“Hawaii’s Andrade refused to quit when football ended,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 18).

Andrade fought his way through educational and health issues and earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science/native resource management.

Like he did in football, Andrade tackled his dyslexia problem. He never lost focus and did not let anything block his way to graduate. He worked very hard by remaining positive.

As Andrade begins a new journey, I am sure that he will be an inspiration to others as he was on, and off, the football field.

Congratulations to Michael Andrade, who is definitely an all-time Rainbow Warrior.

Alexis M. Liftee

Nuuanu