I would like to respond to Lyssa Reese’s letter concerning the Honolulu Fire Department’s (HFD) response to wildland fires in Hawaii Kai (“Quicker action for East Oahu brush fire,” Star-Advertiser, May 23).

The HFD reviewed its recordings of 911 phone calls received on May 17, and determined that a call was not received at 3:50 p.m. The HFD received the first call for the wildland fire at 5 p.m. and responded and arrived on scene at 5:03 p.m.

We would also like to reassure Ms. Reese that each call received by our Fire Communication Center is taken very seriously and a company(ies) is always immediately dispatched.

The HFD is aware of the recent Kamilonui Valley fires and is working to determine the fire’s cause and origin. The Honolulu Police Department has been contacted. The HFD asks for the community’s assistance in reporting information to the HPD.

Manuel P. Neves

Fire chief, City and County of Honolulu

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More homeless encampments seen

My wife and I are frequent visitors to Honolulu. Our last visit was May 28, and it was with horror that we noted what appears to be an exponential increase in temporary, makeshift homeless dwellings throughout the city.

This is especially evident on Nimitz Highway en route to the airport. Why does the city of Honolulu allow this?

Michael Diamant

Koloa, Kauai

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Parks department should keep Square

I was disappointed in your May 30 editorial on Thomas Square (“Thomas Square can be improved,” Star-Advertiser, Our View).

Bill 23, to preserve Thomas Square as a park under the jurisdiction of Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) was a good bill, and its intent was just that, to prevent Department of Enterprise Services (DES) from taking control, as was proposed.

It was not meant to define, propose or offer new methods or solutions for DPR to manage the park. Rather it was meant only to ensure the status quo of the park’s governing authority, i.e., as a facility under DPR jurisdiction.

I would also ask everyone to examine the track record that DES has in maintaining the grounds of its current facilities like the Waikiki Shell and the Neal Blaisdell Center.

Transferring Thomas Square to DES is no panacea for ensuring that it is properly maintained, and sets a disturbing precedent.

I hope our Council members will reaffirm their previous unanimous support for Bill 23.

Diane Harding

Kailua

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Higher education has personal benefits

Regarding last Sunday’s Insight page (“College education valuable?” Star-Advertiser, May 28), I am beckoned to contribute my experience.

I majored in two fields, economics and English, which did not yield immediate success. But I have no regrets. Although I did not cash in upon graduation, I am grateful for all the teaching I received at the University of Hawaii.

I was an underachiever in high school, but became a straight-A college student by my junior year. My training in economics provided a social scientific framework by which I can analyze our society’s commerce, and my training in English literature has greatly enabled my self- expression.

I will never be a rich man, but — given the transcendent value of higher education — neither shall I be poor.

Stuart N. Taba

Manoa

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Drones disrupt Punchbowl visit

I visited my parents’ and loved ones’ graves at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific on Sunday.

Uncle Kanji’s grave is downhill of the committal pavilion on the rim of Punchbowl.

I noticed a group of tourists cross the street in front of me, walking uphill to the right of the committal area.

Suddenly, the serenity of these hallowed grounds was disrupted by loud buzzing noises. I walked toward the group of about 12 to see them looking out over the rim. Two young men were flying drones from the rim, over the Papakolea area.

I asked a private security guard nearby about the legality of drones in Punchbowl. He said he didn’t know. I also informed a CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteer.

These two men continued to take videos of the landscape and of themselves on the rim of Punchbowl, and the group boisterously enjoyed their toys, oblivious to the sanctity and reverence of this place of rest for our military heroes.

I hope they read this and see how disrespectful they were. No class!

Sue Shishido Saffery

Kaimuki

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Memorial Day honors war dead

Every year the Star-Advertiser rolls out someone to try to convince its readers that the lantern ceremony at Ala Moana Park — held on this nation’s most solemn day of remembrance of our war dead — is the right thing to do (“Lantern floating eases personal losses, stirs hope for peace,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, May 29).

It is not. Maj. Gen. Arthur “Joe” Logan is dead wrong.

The Congress of the United States of America set aside one day to honor our men and women killed in the defense of our nation. One day out of 365, and it is being hijacked by Wall Street and now the local businesses of Hawaii. He should be ashamed of himself for trying to rationalize it being the right thing to do.

If this lantern ceremony is so popular, why can’t it be held on the Sunday before Memorial Day? Or the day after or on any other day you choose, but why can’t they leave Memorial Day alone?

Robert W. Holub

Sergeant Major USMC (ret)

Ewa Beach