As the Star-Advertiser editorialized recently, House Bill 607 and Senate Bill 534 deserve legislative support (“Caregivers need help as Hawaii’s population ages,” Our View, Feb. 12).

I’ve been there as a caregiver trying to keep my father at home, and not in a nursing or care home that he dreaded. Anyone who has done this work knows how difficult it is to work at a job and care for a loved one at home. Families are stretched spiritually, emotionally and financially.

The modest stipend provided by the legislation would allow caregivers to pay for additional caregiving by trained people, and will make a huge difference in the lives of people like my friend, Dorri Goodrich, 73, and her mother, Sarah Ching, 100, of Keaau. Keeping Sarah at home always has been a priority and the resulting financial stress has been tremendous.

I hope legislators will think of the real people doing unpaid family caregiving, and make possible the respite that a $70-a-day care benefit affords.

Patricia A. Gozemba

Diamond Head

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Hawaii fliers welcome Air Asia

I fly short hops all over Southeast Asia and Indonesia. The prices for Air Asia are very low and reasonable, and include a 30-pound bag. They are about one-third of Hawaiian Airlines’ prices. Hawaiian Air’s high profits are made on the backs of local people. The fact that they charge a baggage fee for a 20-minute flight is shocking.

I would love to see Air Asia come to Hawaii and start interisland flights. We need a new competitor to drive down the high rates that Hawaiian charges.

Air Asia X starts a Hono- lulu-to-Osaka route in June (“AirAsia X offers Honolulu-Osaka introductory one-way fare of $99,” Star- Advertiser, Top News, Feb. 10).

Garry Corwin

Liliha

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Leaked fuel tanks need a better plan

Senate Bill 1259 would require the state Department of Health to mandate that the underground fuel storage tanks at Red Hill comply with the same regulations that others have to follow. Given the history of leaks from the Red Hill tanks, and the risk they pose to the drinking water resource directly below, this bill is appropriate.

A similar bill was introduced in 2015 and died. The Health Department and the U.S. Navy opposed the bill, arguing that they were already working on a plan to protect the environment and the drinking water. It has been two years, that plan has been completed, and still not much has been done.

The plan does not require the Navy to clean up the 27,000 gallons of jet fuel that leaked three years ago. Despite this, the Health Department still argues that the plan is the best path to protect our environment and drinking water.

Quincy Bedoya

Waialae

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Install Thomas, Kamehameha III

Mahalo nui, Hanna Heintz (“Put Thomas in Thomas Square,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Feb. 15).

What could be more appropriate than two statues in Thomas Square — one on Beretania Street of Adm. Richard Thomas, and one on King Street of Kamehameha III?

Plaques should be placed there to tell the story of Ka La Ho‘iho‘i Ea, the ceremony commemorating Thomas’ restoration of the Hawaiian government after the unlawful takeover by Great Britain by Lord George Paulet in 1843.

During the ceremony, when the British flag was taken down and the Hawaiian flag restored, Kamehameha III declared “Ua mau ke o ka ‘aina i ka pono” — the life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.

Barbara Del Piano

Waikiki

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Red-light cameras raise safety issues

Have you read about other states that are using red-light cameras? Have you looked into the successful implementations of red-light cameras? How about the failures of implementation? Implementation is tricky, and can help improve safety but can also make our roads less safe. It depends on the specifications set into the software, delay times, how long the yellow light is on before turning red, etc.

I’m not sure if our leaders have considered much beyond the implied financial gains from issuing tickets. Other states have shown that when people see the light changing, they speed up so as not to get caught at the light, either waiting for it to change or to avoid being photographed and issued a ticket. Timing is everything.

Safety or financial maximization?

Greg Schmidt

Hawaii Kai

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Clear photos may help nab robbers

The pictures you print of bank robbers are fuzzy and ill-defined. Can’t the banks provide clear and distinct images?

If you desire public support, please make it so we can say, “I recognize that person,” instead of, “I think I recognize that person.” Let’s put bank robbers out of business.

Betty Berry

Punahou