Letters to the editor: Dump plastic bags once and for all

Let’s stop all the hemming and hawing and beard-stroking around the plastic bag ban (“City Council bills would shut bag-ban loopholes,” Star-Advertiser, June 5).

Considering the state of Hawaii’s ecosystem, plastic bags have no place in it. Why don’t we choose a date, to give time for education and preparation, and on that date, all retail establishments in the state of Hawaii must stop giving out/selling plastic shopping bags. Forever.

Patrons can bring their own bags or boxes, buy a truly reusable bag (e.g., made of fabric) at the store, or carry their purchases out in their hands. (Note that I’m not suggesting giving out paper bags.)

Yes, we’ll loudly grumble initially but we’ll get used to it.

Companies in Hawaii that import/make plastic bags for retail establishments can turn their attention to importing/making durable, reusable bags.

We need to suck it up, develop a backbone on this crucial issue, and ban plastic shopping bags in Hawaii forever.

Anne Wheelock

Nuuanu

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Homeless don’t belong on Nimitz

Mayor Kirk Caldwell is doing the right thing regarding removing homeless from the grassy medians along state-owned Nimitz Highway (“City sweeps homeless from state-owned Nimitz medians,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 5).

The state is doing nothing.

That area is a first impression for tourists, not to mention a health and safety concern. They are living where cars pass relatively fast daily and not always in sight lines. And one individual asked the police, “When can we come back”?

This is ridiculous.

If you don’t want to be bothered, and want to live like that, then set up your tent somewhere out of sight so the city does not need to move you. Moreover, get some help that the city and state are offering. Get a job and start building/rebuilding your life.

And why would a police officer reply, “That’s up to you”? What a ridiculous answer by a representative for the city of Honolulu. You should hear what people say in Waikiki about the homeless problem here.

Clifton T. Johnson

Waikiki

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Enforce laws against living on the streets

I just read an article about the homeless in the median on Nimitz Highway. We have been vacationing in Hawaii for the last 14 years.

It is true about the visitors’ first impression of Hawaii, when the first things they see when coming to this beautiful island is the tents and all the homeless people. It seems like it gets worse each year.

We travel a lot and we do not see this problem in other states, with the homeless in the middle of interstate highways, beaches or other places where the tourists are.

I’m sure other places have the problem too, but they must have better rules and laws because it is nothing as bad as it is in Hawaii.

Someone really needs to make more laws and be stricter in enforcing them. There has been a lot of upscale building and renovations in Waikiki for tourists but the homeless problem is still an eyesore.

Debbie and Ricky Camp

Decatur, Ala.

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‘King tides’ just a made-for-TV drama

What happened?

News stations were busy reporting on an upcoming catastrophic event called “king tides.” After watching all three local stations with a bevy of reporters waiting on the south shore with bated breath, I was ready to start building my ship 300 cubits by 50 cubits by 30 cubits.

It reminded me of when a tsunami warning was sounded several years ago and my Nixle system was driving me crazy, with my phone going off every couple of minutes all night long. What eventually rolled in was described as 6-inch-high ripples. I lost a night’s sleep because of this overreaction and needless to say, I canceled my Nixle account.

Have we reached a point where news stations are so desperate to scoop the other stations that they try to create “extreme” weather and make it into a story?

Royle Kaneshige

Waialua

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Columnist confuses protests, violence

As a proud liberal, I am heartened that one of the right wing’s most respected commentators is the juvenile Ben Shapiro.

In his latest nonsensical blathering, he somehow tries to equate actual violence (Trump-inspired) with symbolic violence (Kathy Griffin, protesters) (“‘Resistance’ can lead to violence from both sides,” Star-Advertiser, May 31).

T’aint so, Ben. Actual violence inflicts actual physical pain. Montana U.S. House candidate Greg Gianforte physically assaulted a journalist. Period. Trump supporters physically assaulted protesters. Period. The wacko in Portland allegedly killed two innocent people, in the name of bigotry and xenophobia. Period.

How dare Shapiro try to equate the two? How utterly clueless to state that “leftists attacked Trump rallies during the 2016 election cycle,” when the only ones hurt were the protesters, beaten at the urging of Donald Trump himself? I wish Shapiro was intelligent enough to recognize that he writes rubbish. But then again, he is a conservative.

Michael Mills

Ewa Beach

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Repetition doesn’t define insanity

A letter writer said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I don’t think this is true of everything, to wit: Practice makes perfect.

Musicians practice scores repeatedly to perfect a score. Athletes repeat moves to win.

What’s insane is this oft- repeated phrase.

Cathleen Pomponio

Kalihi-Palama