The public education needs of Hawaii’s keiki now extend well beyond high school.

The state Department of Education and the University of Hawaii recognize that pre-K to 12 is insufficient. Yet only families with financial means are able to better prepare their keiki, while others incur staggering unaffordable education loan burdens.

Most keiki are left to do with high school diplomas, or even less, despite their promising potential and desire to achieve their dreams. Also, about 20 percent of keiki are dyslexic, autistic, gifted or have other special needs where required professional services should be met with public funds.

Hawaii must act to better prepare our keiki. Legislative proposals to extend free public education into UH community colleges must be approved; but that is just the initial step, as public education must cover all keiki, including those requiring special schooling. To do less would continue depriving our keiki the basic education needed in today’s world.

Charles Ota

Aiea

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Justify extending rail past Middle Street

The unaffordable planned rail transit system to Ala Moana Center needs to stop at Middle Street.

If Mayor Kirk Caldwell takes a hard look at his revenue enhancement proposals, he will find that he intends to exhaust all viable sources in a punishing manner (“Mayor plans tax, parking hikes to add to rail funds,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 24). All of his proposed sources of revenue impose a hardship on the citizens of Oahu now and forever more. What a dismal future. The rail has already killed or damaged a number of businesses along its route in Waipahu and Pearl City.

If the mayor truly believes that the rail is like a bypass surgery that cannot be terminated short of its goal, he needs to clearly quantify the economic, social and quality-of-life benefits that all Oahu citizens will enjoy by completing the rail as planned. He cannot expect all of us to endure the economic sacrifices without justification.

John Tamashiro

Pearl City

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Mayor’s rail cost estimates appalling

I was appalled and disgusted at Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s testimony on the rail budget (“Legislators grill city on need for rail tax extension,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 25).

He said he needs $9.6 billion and then suggested rounding up to $10 billion — a $400 million “roundup.” To put this in perspective, this amount is enough money to pay for the proposed new Aloha Stadium more than three times over.

I was impressed by state Sen. Jill Tokuda and the Ways and Means Committee for seeking a realistic number and not rubber-stamping the mayor’s vague numbers. He readily admits he doesn’t know how much completion will cost.

He now asks for a permanent extension of the rail tax. Who didn’t see that coming six years ago?

Greg Mau

McCully

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Nearly entire state will benefit from rail

Because the state failed to provide transportation alternatives in keeping with the Oahu General Plan, the city with its limited resources was forced to build rail.

Legislators would have people believe this is a Honolulu City and County project only, when in fact this project will affect most of the state’s population and its jobs. The completion of rail will generate economic growth and more job and housing opportunities for our next generation entering the workforce.

While residents living from Ala Moana to East Kapolei will finally get the transportation alternative they require, the other winner will be the state tax coffers, which will benefit from increased income tax and general excise tax revenues.

Roy Kamisato

Niu Valley

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Many could join Buyout Hall of Fame

Lee Cataluna may be right when she said we shouldn’t be annoyed about the $250,000 of taxpayer money being given to Police Chief Louis Kealoha, because if we didn’t, he may sue for a gadzillion dollars, as other failed or ethically challenged University of Hawaii administrators and coaches have done when they were terminated (“Buying out Kealoha was the sensible thing to do,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 20).

Instead of getting upset, we might want to turn the experience into a positive thing. Let’s create a “Buyout Hall of Fame” with Kealoha being the first member.

Other charter members could be UH President Evan Dobelle ($1 million), athletic director Herman Frazier ($312,000), men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold ($344,000) and football coach Greg McMackin ($600,000), just to mention a few.

We could have an annual celebration/fundraiser called the “Buyout Ball” to induct new members, including associate memberships for people like the current Honolulu police commissioners who contributed to the process. The possibilities are endless.

Peter Knerr

Kailua

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Nation can choke on immigration

Enough is enough. Immigration is like food. First it builds the body of the nation, but when we become obese, it ruins us.

Our population has swollen to where it is getting bothersome. There is no need for more people. All immigration is now harmful and should be stopped.

For a start, President Donald Trump is right to initiate more stringent border controls.

Volker Hildebrandt

Kaneohe

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Don’t let politics destroy friendships

Recently I heard a very sad story. A friend told me that her daughter had some friends who were voting for one candidate.

My friend’s daughter mentioned to them that she was voting for the other candidate. Those former friends no longer speak to the daughter.

I actually cried when I heard this story. However, it also made me realize how fortunate I am to know that I have true friends, even though we’re not on the same political page. We’re still on speaking terms.

There’s a lot more to real friendship than politics.

Cheryl McIlroy

Kailua