Like all of us, I look forward to the legislative inquiry into the false missile alert.

I hope the Legislature considers all the flaws in our community this revealed, and not just focus on who to blame for the incident.

I have three concerns I hope are addressed.

First, doesn’t there need to be someone always on duty who can authorize a unique emergency message? We can’t possibly anticipate everything.

Second, are there large public buildings like the Hawai‘i Convention Center or Blaisdell Center that could open on a moment’s notice and take in anyone who happened to be in the area?

Finally, we need to pass a law that if a disaster is imminent, a business cannot force its customers to exit. The stores that did would have handed out a death sentence if the missile attack was real.

Bryan Mick

Kailua

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DOE shelter-in-place planning incomplete

The state Department of Education issued a letter reassuring parents that shelter-in-place emergency drills take place (“State education department addresses missile scare,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Jan. 17). So it appears DOE has bought into the shelter-in-place concept.

According to the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, shelter-in-place is advised for 14 days following an actual nuclear attack. Does that mean DOE will pre-position food, water and medicines for the children to sustain them for two weeks while they shelter in the schools?

I have seen nothing in the way of confirmation of any plans or funding to purchase and store food and water at the schools. If parents do not believe their children will have food and water, and that students who require medications will get them, this shelter-in-place idea will fail before it gets started.

Is the Legislature going to fund DOE to purchase, store and maintain the required supplies to support shelter-in-place? Without resources, this plan is a dangerous fantasy.

Garnett Howard

Ewa Beach

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Half of population lives in hardship

Two recent articles made me sick (“Half of Hawaii residents face financial hardships,” “Homeless shuffle to avoid park closures,” Star-Advertiser, Jan. 10).

The articles made clear how awful life can be for about half of Hawaii’s people. Eleven percent (47,066 households) of our neighbors live below the federal poverty level and 37 percent (165, 013 households) live below the household survival budget.

These data make clear why we have so much homelessness in Hawaii. Almost half of our population lives on starvation wages, a check away from homelessness.

As if that wasn’t horrifying enough, we see how our government, instead of providing both the funds and the housing to help our people live dignified lives, spends its time chasing the homeless around from park to park, stigmatizing these unfortunate community members as criminals, as unwanted and as undesirables.

Add to that the many cruel and insensitive letters to the editor attacking the homeless, and we have what amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

HEWA, people of Hawaii nei. Are we really that heartless?

Joel Fischer

Waialae

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Sony Open strikers ignored charities

After nine months of negotiations, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) chose the final round of the Sony Open to inform, through a strike, that its members “deserve” comparable pay to regional rates in the country. As a union member most of my adult life, I read the article describing the walk-off with great interest (“Coverage of Sony Open limited due to walk-off,” Star- Advertiser, Jan. 15).

The strike was an affront to the generosity of the Sony Corp., host of the tournament, the efforts of Friends of Hawaii Charities, beneficiaries of tournament proceeds, and the recipients of the services provided by the charities.

When Local 665 members see the Meals on Wheels trucks go by to service our kupuna, a blood drive to help keiki in a local hospital, or military members at the YMCA Honolulu site, or any of the more than 100 deserving charitable organizations working for the betterment of our community, I hope they remember their actions last Sunday. This is the real “regional” consideration.

Don Weir

Kailua

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Kamehameha leads way to greater good

In light of an emotional issue like the Dr. Robert Browne sexual abuse legal case, it can be easy to lose sight of the greater good that Kamehameha Schools is doing.

Historically, Kamehameha is the most important educational leader and advocate for Native Hawaiian education in Hawaii. Its strategic focus benefits thousands of children through its own programs and community initiatives it supports statewide.

In my work in K-12 and higher education, I see daily examples of Kamehameha’s leadership making a difference. From charter schools to college scholarships, pre-K to Department of Education collaborations, Kamehameha’s vision of a thriving lahui for our keiki has benefited generations of students and their families.

It is not my place to judge the truth in this difficult situation. I can only hope the legal process provides a justice for these past victims that also does justice to present and future beneficiaries of Princess Bernice Pauahi’s legacy.

Kimo Perry

Lawai, Kauai