Waikiki Natatorium neglected too long

It’s heartening to see someone with the star power of Bruno Mars throw his support behind restoration of the Waikiki Natatorium (“Help the Natatorium, see Bruno Mars live,” Star-Advertiser, July 10). The neglect of this historically significant facility is an ongoing disgrace and an eyesore.

For decades since it was closed in 1979 the community has debated the future of the Natatorium inconclusively while it has continued to crumble. Former Mayor Jeremy Harris succeeded in restoring the facade and bleachers but the pool has remained closed.

Proponents of demolishing the pool and creating a beach have never put their money where their mouth is and come up with the funds to get action. Any solution would be better than leaving the Natatorium in its abysmal condition.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

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Don’t trust Trump on science policy

Oh, come on! Debating whether President Donald Trump believes in science is a bit of a joke, isn’t it (“Divided by science,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, July 9)?

Chlorpyrifos aside, Trump denies climate change.

Enough said.

Kim Osborn Mullen

Kailua

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Trump qualified to be president

A recent letter addressing President Donald Trump’s job training said that Trump is the first president with no military or political experience (“President shouldn’t need job training,” Star-Advertiser, July 7).

He attended a military prep school and intended to serve, until deferred legally. Both Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama did not feel the obligation to serve their country in any military service.

As for Trump’s lack of political experience, that is exactly why he is now president.

Americans are tired of the negative path that our country is on, and want new ideas and new representatives in Washington, D.C. This will only truly happen if we as a nation can get term limits instituted.

Just look here at home how having one party control state government gets no change for the citizens of Hawaii. Having political experience is not one of the qualifications enumerated by the Constitution.

Gregory A. Poole

Mililani

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Albatross killer got slap on the wrist

Privileged Punahou student Christian Gutierrez got just what I expected for the horrific and brutal albatross killings — a mere slap on the wrist with a 45-day jail sentence (“Teen gets 45 days in jail for killing albatrosses,” Star-Advertiser, July 7).

As a student at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, it is no surprise that he was able to put on a great show of remorse.

Margaret Kelly

Hilo

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Let outrigger canoes compete in Olympics

The historic return of the Hokule‘a and the as-always successful McFarlane Regatta make the case that outrigger canoe racing should be allowed in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

I call upon Outrigger Hotels and all canoe clubs worldwide to write the mayor of Tokyo to invite outrigger canoe teams to participate in 35-mile ocean races, and sprints down the famed Sumida River. National teams and amazing athletes from Germany to New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii could win gold and honor our ancestors.

Kimo Kekahuna

Waikiki

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Kim, Park should get ‘Five-0’ pay raise

The producers of “Hawaii Five-0” should reconsider letting Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim leave the show.

I agree that Alex O’Loughlin is the star and should be paid big bucks. We don’t understand why they don’t pay Park and Kim the same amount as Scott Caan. This past season brought meatier roles for Kim and Park, but very little from Caan. We mostly remember Caan only for providing nauseatingly comic relief.

It’s the producer’s problem for overpaying one actor but refusing to give equal pay to the other main actors. To many in Hawaii, it looks like they don’t want to pay the “local” actors as much as the “haole” actors.

Losing one main actor is commonplace; losing half of the main actors is a fiasco.

Stan Sano

Makiki

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Friday fireworks upsets pets, owners

Granted, many people love the Friday night Waikiki fireworks. But contrary to the hotel’s public relations message, not everybody. For some pet owners, including me, they are, and have been for many years, a dreaded weekly nuisance.

The fireworks seriously upset my dog, and that upsets me, especially since neither of us has a vote on their staging.

If the hotel is reluctant to pay the state a fee, perhaps it could donate the money to the Humane Society for the discomfort caused any pets.

Paul Udell

Waialae Nui

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State must prepare for disaster, not rail

Before the Legislature finalizes its rail funding options, lawmakers should study the funding challenges facing other states, in particular Illinois. Hawaii already is facing huge unfunded liabilities, and with our limited and fragile economy, any disaster could easily lead to insolvency.

It would be wise to make hard choices now to avoid taking on too much unwarranted debt to bail out a disastrous public works project. Hawaii is overdue for a hurricane disaster and lacks enough contingency funds to quickly rebuild after a direct hit. The state should instead learn to live below its income stream and save for a rainy day or pay off pending obligations.

It is not fair to risk the future of all our citizens to fulfill unrealistic political promises.

John Tamashiro

Pearl City