The holidays are a time for thanksgiving and spending time with friends, family and loved ones. For too many of our kupuna and ohana in our island communities, this is not the case.Many families are struggling each day to make ends meet, and many of them are alone or homeless.

Let’s join our neighbors in the spirit of lokahi this holiday season to help those who are less fortunate and most vulnerable to make sure they are not alone.

Although we have already made a difference in the lives of many, there are still individuals and families who are facing overwhelming challenges and they rely on a little helping hand to get back to work and back on their feet. Let’s show them that someone cares.

Many are struggling due to circumstances beyond their control, and could use a helping hand. These situations can lead to significant financial challenges and increased demand for limited services and program resources. With our collective kokua, we need to ensure every effort possible is done to provide families with the essentials and a better quality of life.

To quote John D. Rockefeller Jr.: “Think of giving not as a duty, but as a privilege.”

William Anonsen

Kakaako

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Get to the heart of hospital problems

One must consider the overall atmosphere of the Hawaii State Hospital in Kaneohe (“How did this happen?” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 15).

What’s being uncovered is just the tip of the iceberg, which is going to melt and discharge a wave of investigations. Randall Saito’s escape was a marvel — how one seemingly mental patient figured out how to escape, charter a plane to Maui, and then on to San Jose. The state and the hospital failed.

The situation has been brewing for many years, perhaps decades. An employee spoke out on the conditions (“Some State Hospital staffers regularly break rules, worker alleges,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19).

Saito may have had help to escape. Gov. David Ige and his staff must get to the heart of the frustrations that have plagued the facility for so many years, investigate complaints, and reprimand where necessary.

Fact: Escapees pose a danger to the public, people who pay taxes to keep the facility safe. This should be a “priority one” matter.

Gayle Nakama

Kalihi

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No sprinkler retrofit for older condos

The Honolulu City Council is considering an amendment to Bill 69 that would require 150 condominiums in Honolulu built before 1975 to add fire sprinklers. This would mean approximately 25,000 condo owners could have to pay as much as $50,000 each, affecting more than 100,000 residents.

Honolulu has an excellent condo fire safety record over the past 50 years, and few, if any firefighters have perished fighting high-rise condo fires.

If passed, the bill could cost condo owners as much as $1.1 billion.

If you are affected by this bill, call the mayor (768-4141), or your City Council member at (768-5010). Express your concerns while there is still time before the Council reconvenes. Remember, the Honolulu fire chief has said he believes all homes in Hawaii, including condos and single-family dwellings, should have fire sprinklers.

Robert Reed

Kahala

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Police officers deserve raise

I don’t know if it was intentional, but the values represented by the Nov. 18 Star-Advertiser front page certainly were an attention-getter (“Detour ahead,” “SHOPO settlement could cost city $96M”).

Is there really any question about valuing our police officers, now and in the future, more than a 20-mile rail system that will serve only a fraction of Oahu residents and tourists? Our police officers serve and protect everyone 24/7.

On the other hand, the rail system already has overrun the initial budget and looks like the costs will continue to rise regardless of whether it grows in length. It will never serve enough people to justify the cost. Eventually, everyone in the state will be asked to fund the rail.

How can any reasonable person complain about getting our police officers a livable wage for now and the future? The cost of living increases continually and police officers have families and risk their lives every day.

The news is full of people with guns taking innocent lives and while it isn’t happening here (yet), we need to depend on our police officers to do their job when necessary.

Shirley Hamilton

Kailua

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Rail boss bonuses burden taxpayers

Some deal these rail guys get: They receive bonuses when they always have to beg for more money to finish the project (“Former rail CEO gets $32,000 bonus pay,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19).

Now that all islands share in the tax burden, we should have T-shirts that say, “I just got railed on Oahu.” We all have to pay for this screwup.

Ira Uehana

Kapaau, Hawaii island

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More bicycles means fewer cars on road

The letter, “Don’t waste parking spaces on bicycles” (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 17) misses an important transportation fact: Replacing cars with bikes, mass transit and walkers frees up more parking spaces for those who need them. A Biki station of about 10 shared bikes takes up one parking space but potentially represents 10 open parking spaces freed up by folks arriving by Biki instead of by car.

The letter’s second point about possible city liability for not requiring Biki to provide helmets is also off-base since adult cyclists are not required to wear helmets. It would be unreasonable to require Biki to provide them. Biki does recommend using a helmet. I have walked away uninjured from two serious accidents thanks to a cracked helmet that sacrificed itself to save my head.

The Biki bikeshare program is a wonderful addition to Honolulu’s transportation system. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Frank W. Smith

Downtown Honolulu