HI-EMA chief deserves credit

Thank you, Vern Miyagi. It was refreshing to see a leader with the courage to step up when something goes wrong.

In the aftermath of the missile false alarm, Miyagi stepped up and, as the head of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, took full responsibility. No quibbling, no dodging, no shifting blame, no smoke screen, just a straightforward, “I’m sorry, this was my team, I am responsible, this will not happen again.”

A man like that is rare in this day and age. With great humility, he was forthright, remorseful and resolute. I have confidence that a man like that will get this fixed.

For everyone who didn’t know what to do: Have a plan, you have 15 minutes, stay calm, shelter in place or get to shelter, and have your 14 days of supplies. Running down the road in a panic is for the movies.

We are lucky to still have someone like Vern Miyagi in public service.

Glenn Takemoto

Mililani

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Leadership needs to be replaced

We should accept Vern Miyagi’s insistence that the inbound ballistic missile alert false alarm, and the ensuing, agonizing 38-minute delay in correcting it, are his responsibility, and relieve him of his duties (“Oops!” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 14).

We do so appreciate his 37 years of military service and honor him for that. However, his oversight of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has clearly failed, since the employees responsible for the false alarm were unable to manage a simple shift change without forcing the entire state and hundreds of thousands of visitors to stare death in the face.

Either they were poorly trained or careless. Both are unacceptable.

Additionally, what effect will this have on the perception of visitors about Hawaii as a desirable vacation destination?

Not only were people’s emotions painfully and profoundly toyed with, but so were people’s livelihoods. Our entire tourism economy may suffer. Only time will tell.

Tracy Clarkin

Hawaii Kai

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Seek peace, not war preparations

The recriminations against the poor sap who hit the wrong button on Saturday is completely misplaced.

Actually, we owe him thanks. He made it crystal- clear that our anger ought not be directed against the false alarm, but against our current circumstances of nuclear overkill and irresponsible belligerence from our government against North Korea.

Let’s face it, sirens are a waste of time. The state should discontinue this project that seeks to normalize an insane circumstance, namely the use at any time, under any circumstances, of nuclear weapons.

We got a wake-up call on Saturday. Will we use it to demand diplomacy or just get back to business as usual? If the latter, the next time the alarm is sounded, it may be for real.

The Rev. David J .Gierlach

Rector, St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church

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Alarm raised many emotions

Jan. 13, 2018, was a day of fear never experienced, a level of love I thought I could never reach, a sense of relief so calming.

I’ll be grateful to say good morning, good night, I love you. To be angry, to be sad, to worry, to be in fear, to forgive.

Learning from my mistakes has made me a stronger person. Thank you for including me in this mistake — it’s a lesson learned that makes me even stronger. I’m better prepared, I love, appreciate and respect more. I greet anger, fear and sadness with a sound purpose. If there is no purpose, I let it go.

We can implode and experience what life may have been if the attack had happened. Or, we can count our blessings for a second chance to feel every bit of emotion.

Janine Kurosawa

Manoa

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Don’t fire person; fix the system

The person who made the error Saturday should not be punished, fired or subject to death threats.

I would put him near the top of the investigation. He is the least likely person to repeat the error. He has been taught by experience (isn’t that the “best teacher”?) and is probably thinking of improvements to our system that need to be made.

Everyone makes mistakes. To be sure, his was a doozy, but punishing him for it accomplishes nothing. The remedy lies in analyzing the system defects.

The reason we have so few airline crashes nowdays is that there is a system to review them and fix the system. To err is human, but to really screw things up requires a group effort.

Fix the system. Make the system work.

Mary Macmillan

Mililani

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Legislature must ease tax burden

In 2017, Hawaii was ranked No. 1 as the most expensive place to live (CNBC) and the most expensive place to raise a family (HuffPost), and No. 2 as having the least affordable housing (Wallethub).

Lawmakers need to work to change these rankings to prevent Hawaii’s taxpayers from being priced out of paradise. They can start by removing the tax on rent. We have some of the highest rents in the country. Why should the state add to the misery? Second, remove the tax on food, as this is a basic need of life.

In 2017, more residents chose to leave Hawaii in search of a better life than stay and struggle to survive our high cost of living.

The 2018 Legislature needs to work toward “Making Hawaii Affordable Again.”

Brett Kulbis

Chairman, Honolulu County Republican Party

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Trump’s denials ring hollow

“The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

For some inexplicable reason, every time President Donald Trump repeats his favorite two-word phrase, “no collusion,” that line from “Hamlet,” uttered by Queen Gertrude, pops into my head.

Trump recently had a press conference with Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway (“Trump sidesteps question on Mueller interview,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 11), wherein he repeated “no collusion” multiple times in an effort to paint the prospect of an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller as unnecessary because — you guessed it — there was “no collusion.”

As recently as June he said he would “100 percent” be willing to give a sworn statement to Mueller.

What changed? Feeling a little heat perhaps?

If Shakespeare were alive today he’d be working on his latest tragedy, “Trump,” with only the specifics of a shameful demise for the title character to be decided, methinks.

Jim Howard

Manoa

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Parrots a problem at Kapiolani Park

The big green parrots that have been sighted around Kapiolani Park are going to become a major problem.

I have been observing these large birds stripping my neighbors’ mango tree clean. With their powerful beaks, these birds can penetrate the thick skin and open the fruit up for a myriad of other bird species.

In time property owners with fruit trees won’t have any fruit to eat.

Eric Phillips

Kapahulu

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Kealohas facing important truths

There is a saying, “The truth has a funny way of revealing itself.”

Former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, city Deputy Prosecutor Katherine Kealoha, are learning this first-hand.

Another truth is, “Pride comes before the fall.” We are seeing the pride and selfishness of the Kealohas upfront and personal. The Kealohas are also learning that nobody is above the law.

I hope that Louis and Katherine Kealoha humble themselves and learn from this experience and become better people who help people.

Alan Kim

Moiliili