In every human being, there is a good side and a bad side. No matter how good a person is, there is always a dark side. No matter how bad a person, there is always a good side.

The Star-Advertiser’s recent headline read, “President lied, Comey tells senators” (May 9). That seems to be a bad side of President Donald Trump.

But there is a good side that came out of the James Comey testimony about Trump:

>> Trump was never under investigation;

>> Trump did not obstruct justice;

>> Trump did not collude with Russia;

>> Russia did not alter the election outcome. The paper could have used any of the good side for Trump for its headline.

How about this past Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery, with a photo of Trump bending down to receive the hug of 6-year-old Christian Jacobs, whose father is buried at Arlington? Another good side of President Trump.

Melvin Partido Sr.

Pearl City

—

Military subsidies raise cost of renting

I have written about the problem of the high cost of buying and renting a house in Hawaii to our leaders in our state and federal governments, including our City Council members.

I spent 21-plus years in the Army with two tours in Vietnam. What is causing this problem are the military personnel in the pay grade of E-1 to E-5 who are single and residing off post contrary to military regulations.

These single soldiers live off post and get an additional cost of living allowance of approximately $3,000 per month. I have a friend who rents his house in Mililani to five single soldiers all assigned to the same unit. They drive their BMW, Lexus and Mercedes without carpooling, which is a reason we have the worst traffic in the nation.

Max N. Calica

Mililani

—

Navy will move ahead on Red Hill

My Red Hill team received a letter from the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Health earlier last week commenting on our progress on the Administrative Order on Consent (AOC) regarding the underground fuel tanks. The regulators were critical of our interim work for Sections 6 and 7.

I agree, and we can do better. Their letter illustrates the AOC’s value; the process holds us to the highest standards and it’s transparent. Regulators assess and verify our progress, and provide appropriate guidance.

While we have met all of our other AOC obligations, we will increase our efforts and apply necessary corrections to meet the stringent requirements for Sections 6 and 7.

Most importantly, I want to assure you that we continue to fully support the AOC and that the water is safe to drink.

Rear Adm. John Fuller

Commander, Navy Region Hawaii

—

Rail won’t reduce carbon footprint

I take exception to your fostering the view that rail will decrease the state’s carbon footprint (“Lawmakers need to decide on rail,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 9). According to the rail’s own studies, traffic would have increased so much by the original completion date that it would only eliminate a tiny percentage of traffic.

But here’s the elephant in the room: It runs on electricity, and no one is talking about the cost of that fossil-fuel usage. I respectfully suggest that neither you nor the governor wave any environmental banners over rail.

Andrea W. Bell

Kailua

—

Take action for Native Hawaiians

Data from reports about Native Hawaiians, including the 2012 Native Hawaiian Justice Task Force and 2010 Disparate Treatment of Native Hawaiians in the Criminal Justice System, are agglomerated again (“Native Hawaiian men in poor health, according to a report issued by OHA,” Star-Advertiser, June 6).

Most are aware of the malignant effects visited upon the indigenous in the throes of corporate-imperial conquest and colonization. Likewise, that colonial subjugation requires supplanting indigenous culture with that of the victor’s, and that residual horror metastasizes through future generations via epigenesis.

Instead of helping to heal, these reports provide fodder for confirmation bias, concretizing the implicit unconscious bias that permeates state, federal and social strata of Hawaii.

Maybe it’s time for a consortium to render an intervention/action plan that encourages and models behaviors that enlighten, embolden and heal.

Dale Kenui

Mililani Mauka

—

Isle shipping needs cooperative security

Maritime security continues to be paramount to our multi-island state. The potential threat from transnational terrorism has become part of our daily lives, and we have adapted our lives to accept the reality of innocence lost forever.

We will only be successful with the continued collaborative efforts of government agencies, the private sector, law enforcement, the public and innovation engineering and technology that provide protective defensive measures that help to mitigate potential threats serving as deterrents and help safeguard our critical seaports.

As a multi-island state that imports more than 80 percent of its consumables with 98 percent arriving via waterborne transportation, we cannot afford to do otherwise. Shipping is the most international of all the world’s industries. It is our collective fiduciary responsibility to protect these critical infrastructures, and that is what we must continue to do cooperatively through unified partnerships that are in place.

William Anonsen

Managing partner/principal

The Maritime Group