Did D.C. understand Hokule‘a’s message?

I found it interesting that two articles about the future of Mother Earth appeared in consecutive editions of the Star-Advertiser: one on Sunday, thoroughly covering the return of the Hokule‘a after a three-year journey spreading the wonderful concept of Malama Honua, or care for the Earth (“Warm welcome,” June 18), and the one with a front-page headline, “World will face lethal heat, study predicts” (June 19).

I couldn’t help wondering whether the Hokule‘a sailed up the Potomac River to our nation’s Capitol to spread the concept of Malama Honua among our elected leaders, who still may be non-believers regarding the future condition of the Earth, our only home.

Ed Sullam

Aina Haina

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Roth repeats same anti-rail arguments

Randall Roth’s opposition to rail is based on the same old arguments that have been used from the beginning — no one will ride it, it costs too much, and there are better alternatives (“Enough is enough: Cut losses, end rail project,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 20).

But despite these arguments, every time the issue has gone before the voters, either by direct referendum or by a vote on pro- or anti-rail candidates, rail has been approved or the pro-rail candidate has won.

The anti-rail lobby either doesn’t realize or it doesn’t care how expensive its opposition has been. Roth says that over 11 years, the cost has risen from $3 billion to about $10 billion. Some of that cost increase has been the result of lawsuits brought by rail opponents.

Speculation that nobody will ride the rail flies in the face of common sense. People will see the value in avoiding heavy traffic, getting to their destination in a quick and inexpensive way, and not having to worry about parking. Changing the rail system to a fixed-bus guideway that dumps the bus in the most crowded traffic on the island is not a sensible alternative.

Tom Koenig

Mililani

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Legislature shouldn’t be fooled by rail

Who’s at fault for the rail transit project debacle?

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on you. Fool me thrice, shame on whom?

Fool me once falls on the City and County of Honolulu, which presented a rosy picture of the financing that would be required to complete the project as originally envisioned.

Fool me twice falls on the voters who had a chance to reject the still-rosy cost estimates but instead were swayed by the barrage of advertising promoting rail.

Fool me thrice will fall on the Legislature if it votes to fund the project without requiring that credible cost estimates be produced.

If the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation was spending its own money rather than the taxpayers’ (city, state and federal), it would require a best case, worst case, and most- likely-completion-cost analysis before proceeding.

David Seeholzer

Wahiawa

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Excited about trying out Biki system

I am truly excited that bikeshare will be launching in Honolulu. While I was volunteering with Bikeshare Hawaii during its outreach efforts last month, I was happy to discover that a bikeshare station would be placed near my office on Alakea Street.

I’m excited to Biki during my lunch breaks. This means I can try out different restaurants in Kakaako and downtown that I couldn’t reach by foot.

I’ll also be able to get a little bit of exercise in the middle of my work day.

I love the fact that bikeshare means access to bikes, without having to worry about the required upkeep or carrying around my own locks and lights. It also gives me the opportunity to get my friends who don’t bike a chance to try one out.

My office even plans to have a Biki-to-lunch day for team building.

I feel like this will be a great transportation option for both residents and visitors.

Molly Pierce

Kaimuki

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Guns don’t offer much protection

I wonder who could name one National Rifle Association member who has used his Second Amendment-protected weapon inside the U.S. to “protect citizens from oppression” (“Enforce laws instead of taking away guns,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 20). Or even a non-member.

It is often pointed out that in cases of mass shootings in classrooms or nightclubs that if only some of the students or patrons had exercised their Second Amendment right and had a weapon with them, many deaths might have been prevented.

I for one have gone more than 80 years and never been in a situation where I could save a life or even prevent a robbery if I were armed. And I would hate to have to forever carry a gun just in case.

Is there really any point to the Second Amendment?

It seems to me the only real reason to own a gun is for fun.

Bart Mathias

Waialae

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Cal Thomas wrong about ‘the left’

I almost laughed out loud when I read Cal Thomas’ statement that “it is the left that is mostly responsible for taking us to new depths in political, verbal, and behavioral abuse” (“Left-wing partisans mostly to blame for political abuse,” Star-Advertiser, June 20).

It has been generally observed in the U.S. and around the world that it was the candidacy of Donald Trump that ushered in the era of unbridled profanity, bigotry, racism, misogyny and xenophobia in American politics and general public discourse.

It wasn’t “the left” that publicly called Mexicans “rapists,” called for a “Muslim ban,” called women “pigs,” and whipped up rally crowds to “beat the crap out of him … I will pay for the legal fees.”

As for the current investigations of Trump and his surrogates, I would remind Thomas that it is a Republican Congress and a special prosecutor appointed by the Republican Department of Justice that are conducting these investigations, — not “the left.”

William E. Conti

Waikiki