Hurricane Harvey devastated thousands of people in Texas. Hurricanes Irma and Jose will be the next causes of mass destruction in our country.

With President Donald Trump and many other leaders refusing to do anything about climate change, and with Trump especially continuing to sabotage the environmental movement, we will continue only to watch as superstorms and hurricanes are on the rise.

Climate change is real. It’s causing mass destruction and Trump wants to cut the budget for disaster relief. Not only is he doing nothing about climate change, but the ability to mitigate these situations is becoming impossible, with a lack of funds to help people.

How can someone so ignorant continue to run our country? Climate change will only get worse if we continue to deny its existence and if we don’t reduce our carbon footprint on this planet.

Charessa Fryc

Iwilei

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Spectrum, HawTel need better plans

Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom need perpetual bundles. These 1-year teaser rates are gimmicky and short-lived. On Spectrum, after 12 months, a bundle skyrockets from $29.99 to $89.97 per month.

Offer me a good rate that is locked in so I don’t have to always hunt for a new deal each year. Otherwise I’ll stay on the sidelines.

Von Kaneshiro

Downtown Honolulu

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Trump has made significant gains

President Donald Trump has signed more than 150 executive orders and proclamations and has enacted more than 50 laws.

He has proposed $550 billion in reinvestment and jobs in our country and has overseen a drop in our national debt, while under Barack Obama the debt soared.

Consumer and business confidence, and the U.S. manufacturing index, are at all-time highs, illegal immigration has decreased by more than 60 percent, and he has re-established strong diplomatic ties in the Middle East and Asia.

He has insisted that Europeans pay for their defense, put Syria on notice, and has a comprehensive Afghanistan policy.

He has withdrawn from the anti-American Trans-Pacific Partnership, is renegotiating NAFTA for American workers, and has updated the military and Veterans Affairs.

He continues to work on middle class tax relief and the unsustainable Obamacare.

Gary R. Johnson

Kaneohe

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Don’t cut corners on Red Hill tanks

When a group like the Sierra Club files a complaint against a state agency like the Department of Health, you can bet it’s a serious issue (“Sierra Club sues state over leaky Navy fuel tanks,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 22).

Hawaii is home to some of the largest fuel tanks in the Pacific and they are buried underground at Red Hill. These tanks service the military’s immense needs for fossil fuels.

I spent over half a decade in the U.S. military. During this time it was clear we were expected to show up and go the extra mile each and every day.

Only meeting the standard and only showing up often resulted in disciplinary action. Why is it that now the military can cut corners where public safety is concerned?

These tanks that have already leaked 27,000 gallons into our soil and threaten our water supply.

I hope the DOH takes this complaint seriously and re-examines its efforts to protect the public’s drinking water.

Randy Gonce

Kaneohe

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Oahu should take care of rail itself

Seriously? They want us to help foot the bill for Oahu’s over-budget rail system through an increase in the hotel room tax.

First of all, Kona is going through issues of its own. Let’s start with the water pumps and the ongoing water restrictions. We need someone at the helm to inspect these pumps and get them up and running, which officials have failed to do.

Next is our bus system, which has many buses out of commission. Buses are the only mode of transportation for many people.

Let’s not forget the bathroom facilities at our beaches, which are in deplorable shape and need revamping. Not a great visual for our tourists.

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell needs to take care of his responsibilities in his own city and leave us neighbor islands alone.

Laura Bollman

Kailua-Kona

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Revisit rail project before it’s too late

I predict that the mayor and his crew will be back at the trough, pleading for more money for Honolulu’s ill-conceived, poorly designed blight of a rail system.

We all want better traffic for the island. Foisting this behemoth upon the landscape especially as it enters the downtown environs just does not make sense. Why were other options not seriously considered?

To many of us it seems the fix is in and we as a community will pay the price for decades to come. If you truly love these islands you would be demanding that the city and state revisit this project before it is too late for our island for our children and those that follow. Auwe!

Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.

Michael Jackson

Alewa Heights

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Alapai terminus a good idea for rail

Rico Leffanta’s letter, “Rail should stop at Alapai transit center” (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31) should be discussed further and expanded under an “Our View” editorial, as his suggestion has a lot of merit. It should be brought to the attention of the rail officials who are responsible for choosing the route for serious consideration.

I thank Mr. Leffanta for a real worthwhile suggestion.

Clyde N. Swindell

Mililani

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Photo contest brightened her day

A big mahalo to the Star-Advertiser for running the Endless Summer Photo Contest. For weeks the daily photos were a real day-brighter among all the tragic news articles.

It must have been very difficult for the judges to select a winner from the numerous impressive photos submitted. Congratulation to the winners and everyone who entered the contest.

Ruth Falter

Ala Moana