UH welcomes input on Mauna Kea

There has been a lot of discussion this legislative session about state Sen. Kai Kahele’s efforts to create a new management structure for Maunakea (“Mauna Kea governance bill appears dead,” Star-Advertiser, April 3).

The University of Hawaii has been on the record to being open to new management models since Gov. David Ige announced his 10-point plan in May 2014.

The UH Board of Regents passed a resolution in August 2017 affirming UH’s commitment to the collaborative stewardship of Maunakea.

The university does not oppose the intent of Kahele’s efforts, but it does oppose Senate Bill 3090 and the revamped House Bill 1985.

I encourage everyone to read the public testimony submitted by the university at www.hawaii.edu/offices/government-relations/.

Dan Meisenzahl

University of Hawaii spokesman

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Don’t forget Korean conflict veterans

It is great that those who served during the Vietnam War are being recognized and honored (“State House honors 7 isle veterans of Vietnam War,” Star-Advertiser, March 30).

Unfortunately, many of us who served during the Korean conflict (1951-1955) are often overlooked and forgotten.

As a member of the Illinois National Guard, I was called to active duty in 1951. I sold my insurance agency at a loss and purchased a mobile home. I took my wife and daughter to Fort Benning, Ga., and then to Camp Cooke, Calif. (now Vandenberg Air Force Base).

Following two years of active service, I attended UCLA and joined the California National Guard. For the next 30 years I was a citizen soldier, husband, father, student, CPA and professor.

All who served are now in their late 80s, and the number is dwindling.

It would be nice if the Star-Advertiser and some community groups would at least extend some acknowledgement to those of us who faithfully served and responded to the call to defend.

H. Stanley Jones

Kapolei

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Pursue peace on Korean peninsula

The appointment of John Bolton as national security adviser to President Donald Trump should be a cause of concern for all of us who aspire to live in a more peaceful world.

His past remarks advocating using U.S. military force in a preemptive attack to eliminate North Korea and forcefully reunite the Korean peninsula showed no regard for the devastating consequences of war. Since September, dozens of articles have laid out what such a war would look like.

The false missile alert was a wake-up call to the reality that playing chicken with nuclear arsenals makes no one a winner. The Honolulu City Council should act quickly and follow the lead of Hawaii, Kauai and Maui counties, all of which passed resolutions urging a peaceful solution to the conflict with North Korea.

As the United States prepares for talks with North Korea, a peace treaty should be the ultimate goal to bring closure to nearly 68 years of war.

Soo Sun Choe

Palolo

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Djou’s integrity led to his leaving GOP

Bert Oshiro asserted that Beth Fukumoto and Charles Djou left the Republican Party for opportunistic, self-serving reasons that had nothing to do with the party’s direction under the Trump presidency (“Trump blameless in GOP problems,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 4).

While I don’t know Fukumoto, I’ve known Charles since high school and believe he is one of the most principled politicians around. I rarely agree with his politics (being a flaming liberal myself), yet have always respected his integrity and values- driven actions.

I can’t imagine that leaving the Republican Party was an easy decision for Charles to make and have to believe that he acted out of a strong sense of conscience.

The way I see it, much of the Republican Party abandoned many of its core values in favor of winning, and Charles should be applauded for his character and integrity rather than belittled for “taking the easy way out.”

Alika Campbell

Kailua

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Gun devotion lacks common sense

In response to “Humans, not guns, kill people” (Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 4): The headline should be, “Humans, WITH Guns, Kill a LOT of People.”

This is why perhaps guns should be left on that table, or that chair, or in a locked case, and maybe out of human hands.

It’s amazing that the least of common-sense suggestions for any gun control in the wake of mass shootings inspires so much mindless rage, hatred and disdain. Any shred of empathy for the slain and the aggrieved is summarily eclipsed by this devotion to guns, above all else.

Nor do I understand why the Star-Advertiser would print a letter that only re-treads the lamest of gun-culture slogans, serving further to inflame, while doing nothing to enlighten or encourage collective resolution of this issue.

Jared Wickware

Kalihi

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Silencing others hardly fair, equal

I always love it when liberals espouse fairness and equality (“Thomas attacks logic and truth,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 5). And what typically is their solution to achieve “fairness and equality?”

It is to not publish anything with opposing views (e.g. Cal Thomas). Amazing.

Rich Greenamyer

Mililani

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More commercials on cable channel

Is it just me, or have other viewers out there noticed the increase of commercials on TV since Oceanic Time-Warner Cable became Spectrum here?

For example, while watching a movie on LMN Channel recently, there were 41 30-second commercials between 9 and 10 p.m.

The regular shows are tape- delayed to air here and most times there are up to 10 30-second commercials between segments of the show.

I think Spectrum is here not to provide quality TV, but to make money by showing more commercials.

Bill Bowles

Mililani