No aloha from fireworks users

Aloha? Not much aloha shown regarding the use of fireworks — the annual tyranny of the 5 percent while the other 95 percent suffers.

The politicians refuse to pass tough-enough laws while the police are useless in enforcing the existing ones. Every year there are repetitive firings of loud, illegal aerials from the same locations. You can’t tell me they couldn’t find those if they wanted to.

Because no one acts, we are forced to put up with this while our pets are traumatized.

Follow the money. There must be somebody making money off this, or it wouldn’t continue. And don’t tell me it’s about culture and tradition.  

That’s a weak excuse for doing nothing.

Paul Tyksinski

Kailua

—

No law on Oahu for New Year’s

The New Year’s Eve fireworks reminded me of the movie, “The Purge,” where for one day a year, citizens are allowed to break any law they want, including murder, without fear of prosecution.

Unarmed or helpless citizens barricade themselves in their homes as the lawbreakers roam the city looking for victims.

Except for the name and a few other differences, that is Honolulu on New Year’s Eve.

This year I witnessed people with cannon-sized PVC pipes stuffed with gunpowder that shook the ground when they went off. Little kids throwing lit firecrackers at each other. Homemade “bombs” going off day and night.

For someone not from Hawaii seeing these activities, they would think the people in Honolulu must have gone mad. When will our mayor, City Council and Honolulu Police Department enforce existing laws on these “Purge” offenders for the safety and sanity of our citizens?

Earl Arakaki

Ewa Beach

—

Print newspaper a valuable asset

During these trying times for newspapers, I want to thank the Star-Advertiser for continuing daily printed papers.

Many papers have apparently gone only to digital. As a senior, I like to read the paper at my dining table. Given the stories this past year, I start with the comics both daily and Sunday. I do check online for new stories during the day, but still prefer the paper copy.

This has been an unsafe year for reporters (“81 reporters killed with threats rising, group says,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 31). As the story said, “At least 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs this year, while violence and harassment against media staff has skyrocketed.”

I am grateful for a free press and continue to support the media. It would be a sad day when we lose accurate, independent reporting.

So in this new year of 2018, thank you to the press.

Claudia L. Webster

Kailua

—

GOP tax measure a victory for rich

The GOP’s victory celebration for passing its tax bill was adorned with glowing speeches riddled with falsehoods. Republicans claimed it is massive tax relief for the working class.

But under the bill, tax rates are reduced by 2.6 percentage points (39.6 to 37) for individual top earners and by a whopping 14 points (from 35 to 21) for corporations, while the rate for low earners is not similarly reduced. It remains at 10 percent. While the exemption for estate tax is doubled, the personal exemptions are eliminated.

Further, the bill preserves the carried interest loophole that allows hedge-fund/investment managers to tax their earnings at a much lower rate than the poor and middle working class who derived their income from physical labor.

It also allows owners of unincorporated businesses (Sub-S corporations, partnerships, LLCs) to reduce their “pass-through” income, another tax break for the rich.

The sad truth is the rich will get most of the benefits while the poor and middle class will get very little.

Rod B. Catiggay

Mililani

—

Don’t let Kailua lose bowling alley

As an avid bowler for 35 years until an accident caused me to give up the sport, I find this is another step toward turning Kailua into “Little Waikiki” (“Petitions hope to spare Pali Lanes,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 2).

Art Machado has dedicated his life to promoting youth bowling to keep the youth off the street as well as giving seniors a place to meet and have fun, enjoy life. Bowling is a sport in which the entire family can participate.

Kailua community leaders let Whole Foods into Kailua but opposed Target. This is an example of what is happening to Kailua.

I would encourage all the average local population to step up to help preserve Pali Lanes — and applaud Evan Weber, who lives and works in Washington, D.C., but remembers the importance of his roots, for coming forward with his endeavor to save Pali Lanes.

Ken Takeya

Kailua