Homeless wield the real power

It should be obvious to anyone living in this beautiful state where the real power lies. It isn’t with our duly-elected lawmakers. The power lies with the growing numbers of homeless people.

While they live like gypsies and are constantly on the move, we who are not homeless give up visiting parks and other amenities our taxes have paid for and that we believed were ours. In the meantime, those in the so-called seats of power twiddle their thumbs and blah blah back and forth about what to do.

Here’s a solution: Give the homeless wheels so they can move faster when they are “swept,” and muzzles for the dogs they refuse to surrender in lieu of moving to a shelter.

Daci Armstrong

Sacramento

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Incentives can boost enrollment

There have been many concerns expressed at the Legislature over continuing declines in college and university enrollments in Hawaii, including the report on salary increases at the University of Hawaii, even in the face of declining student numbers (“Lawmakers question big pay hikes at UH,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 28).

I suggest that local businesses offer more incentives to their employees to attend evening or online classes for credit or certification, especially for Waikiki.

Additionally, this also means putting out the red carpet for foreign students from all across Asia. While mainland universities are experiencing a huge decline in foreign student enrollment, the universities and colleges in Honolulu could easily reverse that trend because of their proximity to potental students living in China, Japan and South Korea.

Jay Pineda

Waikiki

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Medical care needed on trail

A letter writer said he fell across a hiking trail because his “knees went dead” (“Hiking mishap brings out spirit of aloha,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Jan. 1). He wrote: “People on the way up and down had to step across my 240-pound body.”

How could any person “step across” another human laying on the ground, obviously needing help? Somebody should have called 911. I could not believe that a doctor took his history, made a diagnosis and just left him there.

The writer thanked the two families who stuck with him when he struggled his way down because numbness of his leg muscles.

A more prudent action would be to get emergency help, because even a minor accident could have injured some ligament, bone, blood vessel, with secondary dislocation, fracture, bleeding or edema. “Dead” knees and numbness of muscles are warning signs already. Struggling while walking downhill could aggravate temporary disability into permanent damage.

Margaret Lee, M.D.

Salt Lake

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Hawaii banks give a living wage

Congratulations to the Republicans for passing the tax reform bill. Thanks to President Donald Trump for making America great again. This will be a huge boost to our economy, especially for the middle class.

More congratulations go to Bank of Hawaii for leading the way in the state by giving its employees a living wage of $30,000 a year. This will surely help the poverty levels of our state. Congratulations to First Hawaiian Bank, Central Pacific Bank and American Savings for doing the same. Thank you to those companies who have the courage to be leaders and grow our economy.

As a former business owner, I would always do my best to pay my employees a higher wage, sometimes at a loss to my company. It is very challenging to pay the minimum wage, knowing that this would mean these workers had to take another job and sometimes two more jobs to be able to live in Hawaii.

Signe Godfrey

Downtown Honolulu

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A&B should reverse plans

I find it very hard to believe that Alexander & Baldwin plans to demolish one of the last bowling alleys on this island, in Kailua, over major objections of residents who see it as one of the last gathering places for bowlers and residents in Kailua and Oahu. Then, to further add insult to injury, to cut down the gorgeous 40-year-old monkeypod trees shading Manoa Marketplace, which I would guess have not injured one resident since they were planted.

The founders of this kamaaina firm, located in one of our last historic buildings on Bishop Street, would turn over in their graves at these cruel plans from one of our largest Hawaii corporations.

Auwe!

Bob Vieira

Pauoa Valley

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Sad to lose trees, bowling alley

Being a fan of local landmark nostalgia and The Outdoor Circle, I was saddened to learn of Alexander & Baldwin’s plans to tear down a Kailua landmark bowling alley and graceful monkeypod trees in Manoa. A&B started as one of Hawaii’s “Big Five” companies in the 1870s. Being one of Hawaii’s largest private landowners, it has made other controversial business decisions in the past. I guess business as usual overrides the aloha spirit.

Chris Jansen

Mililani