Reject state harbors’ inhumane cat rule

Proposed changes to Hawaii Administrative Rule 13-232, which, to my understanding, are primarily meant to deal with cat overpopulation at boat harbors, need Gov. David Ige’s approval. I urge rejection of these changes.

These changes would empower the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBAR) to destroy any “predatory” animals at its harbors without regard to possible ownership of these animals and to punish cat colony caretakers who, at their own expense, assist with cat overpopulation at boat harbors by taking these cats to be spayed/neutered.

The Hawaiian Humane Society (HHS) recommends the trap-neuter-return-manage program, which has had good results in other states and at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

DOBAR should follow UH-Manoa’s lead and collaborate with HHS to effect humane solutions to animal problems at its boat harbors instead of doing what is expedient.

Jennifer Chiwa

Makiki

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Ignoring big majority reveals DLNR sham

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources’ public input process for rulemaking needs to be reviewed by an outside agency.

Earlier this year, DLNR proposed a new rule that prohibits feeding feral animals or doing trap-neuter-return in any area under the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.

This new rule was buried in “Various — Numerous Amendments and Repeals Proposed for the Sake of Clarity and Consistency.”

Despite the new rule’s hiding spot and inadequate public notification, many responded. According to the report to the DLNR board, of the more than 1,100 individuals providing oral or written testimony, 43 supported the proposed rule and 1,068 opposed it, which is about 96 percent opposition.

Yet on Sept. 8, the board approved the rule anyway.

Regardless of how people feel about the issue, we all should be concerned that a 96 percent opposition from more than 1,000 people means nothing to this agency. This was a sham.

For the public input process to have any integrity, 96 percent opposition cannot be ignored.

Allison Ikeda

Manoa

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For-sale peddlers not doing free speech

The state’s peddling law does not say that a kiosk has to be less than 43 inches high (“Kiosks skirt law using wheels,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 14).

Hawaii Revised Ordinance Sec. 29-6.2 (c) states that it is unlawful to peddle on any public place in Waikiki.

I agree that the street performers who are legitimately practicing their First Amendment rights by performing and doing art should be left alone. But selling a product or service on a public sidewalk is not a First Amendment issue.

The way the peddling law stands now, anyone peddling goods or services in a public place in Waikiki is breaking the law. So those who are willing to break the law, if not cited, are getting a leg up on those not willing to break the law.

Either the law should be enforced for everyone, or it should be made legal for everyone.

Carey Johnson

McCully

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Military service would aid Dreamers

Ever since President Donald Trump terminated DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which was illegally ordered by President Barack Obama, there’s been outrage by the House and Senate minority leaders.

They recently stated that “many” of the DACA participants are serving in the U.S. military, which is a bald-faced lie. The Department of Defense reported that only about 900 have enlisted in the military out of the 800,000 in the U.S.

Now if the rest of the 800,000 would enlist in the military and complete their obligation, I’d have no problem letting them remain in the U.S. as many legal immigrants have done to “fast-track” their obtaining U.S. citizenship after finishing their commitment in the military.

We must remember that these are “illegal” immigrants, not “undocumented” immigrants as many politicians claim. Calling them “undocumented” would be no different than calling a driver without a license an “undocumented driver,” or someone carrying a concealed weapon without a permit an “undocumented concealed carrier.”

Gary Fuchikami

Ewa Beach

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Monuments should inspire remembrance

The disposition of Confederate statues is purely a state and local government decision, but I would like to see a more reflective approach to these monuments.

Frankly, they should inspire remembrance, not admiration. They should remind us of how intelligent, well-educated, God-fearing Americans decided to take up arms to strike against the country to which many swore oaths to serve.

We cannot today simply dismiss them or their cause as a crazed effort to sustain slavery, as much as we cannot dismiss the desire to sustain the barbaric institution as a key outcome of the struggle.

How could the many military and civilian leaders of character now engraved in bronze have made such a horrendously wrong decision? How do we today continue to guard against their error?

John Hansen

Waipahu