Clean up Natatorium for WWI centennial

This week marks the official start of Hawaii’s World War I Centennial Remembrance activities to honor the Nov. 11, 1918, armistice that ended the Great War (“Hawaii’s role in WWI recalled,” Star-Advertiser, April 1).

It is now urgent that Mayor Kirk Caldwell lead a community effort to clean up the disgraceful mess that greets visitors at the frontage of the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial.

It’s time to remove the dusty parking lot for Ocean Safety pickup trucks, the ugly No Smoking signs and the rusty railings.

And add some plantings and walkways to connect it to the nearby solemn memorial stone with its bronze plaque of names of Hawaii’s fallen.

There is no need to wait for intractable major decisions on what to do with the crumbling Natatorium itself.

The Centennial Remembance year deserves at least a War Memorial front that shows our city’s utmost respect.

Brian Bagnall

Waikiki

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Kaneshiro’s shelter a no-nonsense idea

It was refreshing to hear city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro’s short reply to concerns about the city prosecutor’s safe house for domestic violence victims: “We’re not in the business of providing social services. We’re in the business of prosecution” (“Safe house?,” Star-Advertiser, April 2).

As a former Big Brother to several “Little Brothers” in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, I had to deal with the aftermath of domestic violence. The destruction these guys leave behind is devastating. They are lucky to just get jail time.

I know mothers who went through terrible abuse. Many were brave and persevered through the system. These guys are damaged, having to prey on the weak. A real man supports his wife and children.

Hats off to Keith Kaneshiro. This is a tough situation that requires a tough, no-nonsense approach. I’m glad to hear there is a Hawaii politician who deals with problems and not just “feelings.”

Don Fernandez

Kailua

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Airport security will prove costly

It is cruelly ironic that, in attempting to save money by outsourcing airport security to low-cost private security guards, replacing state sheriffs, our state has likely brought upon itself a six-figure out–of-court settlement (“Guard who shot dog is investigated,” Star-Advertiser, March 31).

Of course I refer to the tragic killing of a family dog by a Securitas Security Services USA armed guard.

While in college many years ago, I worked part-time as an unarmed security guard. I had a uniform and badge, but was completely untrained — not even given the standard operating procedures of the places I “guarded.”

Realizing the inadequacy of my training, I quit. Our state must terminate airport security outsourcing because, as Hawaii Government Employees Association Executive Director Randy Perreira pointed out, “You get what you pay for” (“Shooting proves case, HGEA says,” Star-Advertiser, April 3).

Stuart N. Taba

Manoa

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Pit bulls dangerous when unleashed

The security officer was doing the job for which he was paid — protecting the public from known vicious animals (“Pet dog is shot dead after it breaks free at Honolulu Airport,” Star-Advertiser, March 30).

The dog was not restrained and there were people in the area. Pit bulls are notoriously dangerous animals, as has been proven time and time again. More than 900 cities already have banned or restricted this breed. Many foreign countries also have enacted similar laws.

That should alert anyone to reconsider buying a pit bull, especially if they have children. They appear docile one minute and highly vicious the next, no provocation needed. Proof of their attack tendencies is the fact that over the past 12 years, 65 percent of dog-related deaths were committed by pit bulls, which represent only 6 percent of the dog population. Check dogsbite.org and many other websites to see pictures of children killed by their so-called “family pet” pit bull.

James Robinson

Aiea

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Women athletes get short shrift again

I’m disappointed, again.

I looked to Monday’s front sports page to read about Sunday’s NCAA women’s championship game, only to find a huge story on the men’s upcoming game (“Battle of the bigs,” Star-Advertiser, April 3). There wasn’t even a teaser.

Unsurprised, I scoffed and turned pages until I finally found a smaller piece on Page C5 (“South Carolina claims title”). Conversely, I fully expect to see the men’s NCAA final filling the front sports page, with a prominent teaser on Page A1.

For years I have been resigned to devalued coverage of women’s sports. We are usually afforded lesser space, even when there’s no same-day men’s competition (think paddling’s Na Wahine O Ke Kai and Molokai Hoe).

This deprioritization perpetuates a mindset that considers women to be of lesser value, one that fosters inequities such as lower pay for equal work.

It’s been 45 years since Patsy Mink fought for Title IX. How long until her hometown paper catches up?

Melody Heidel

Kailua

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NCAA coverage mostly about men

Once again I see the disparity between how women’s athletics are treated compared to men.

I am not a sports fan, but I found this headline jarring (“Mississippi State shocks UConn,” Star-Advertiser, April 1). Granted, the headline was above the fold for the story about Mississippi breaking UConn’s 111-game winning streak in the women’s NCAA basketball semifinal game.

But the picture was tiny compared to all eyes being drawn to the male athlete and huge headline for the Tar Heels on the same page (“Tar Heel’s ankle angst”).

This is wrong on so many levels. There should have been a full-page spread of pictures for the women for their awesome nail-biting win.

Once again we are sending the message that no matter how good the woman is, she will still stand in the man’s shadow.

Michel Grotstein

Kaneohe