Provide racetrack for drifting, racing

I read about the City Council passing a bill on Wednesday that would outlaw drifting and drift racing (“Drifting: Bill approved outlawing the driving technique,” Star Advertiser, April 26).

However, I feel once again government has done a half-baked job for this situation. I don’t think it will make that much of a difference.

If these kids were afraid of being ticketed, they wouldn’t have been up there in the first place. They must have been breaking some kind of a law already on the books.

What happened on Tantalus was a tragedy, but it could have been avoided. Mankind will always want to see who is stronger, who can go faster and jump higher. What has not been addressed is to find a place where these kids can race and drift legally.

Perhaps the Council should look into helping someone open a racetrack for these kids — and, I’m sure, some adults — to go legally and safely.

Here’s a carrot: The city should open the track. If done properly, it could make some money. Lord knows the city could use it.

Dale K. Yamauchi

Makakilo

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Number of homeless surprises visitors

Recently my husband and I visited family on Oahu and were amazed by the beautiful mountains, beaches and tourist attractions. This was our first vacation to Hawaii and I must say Oahu blew us away with its stunning landscape and scenery.

Throughout our stay, I was very surprised at the homeless population. At many of the beaches we saw people lathering up at the outdoor showers, people living out of shopping carts and cars, not to mention the tents and tarps set up along fencing and on the beaches on the west side of the island.

Not only was this saddening to see, but we were told not to get out of the car as it was known for not being a safe place for tourists. Also, it is very disheartening to think about how many of these tents could be housing young children.

I can’t seem to shake the unease I feel for having seen so much vagrancy. This really takes away from the stunning scenery of Oahu and the ability to experience a large area of the island safely.

Joanne Bania

West Rutland, Vt.

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Institutions don’t come before God

Some folks express satisfaction regarding the role of God in our affairs.

The Rev. Franklin Graham said, “God showed up,” referring to 2016 presidential election results. He was pleased.

This quote shows the misplaced devotion of enthusiasts for their own brand and group. It doesn’t matter which one.

Some are in love with their own institutions, as if God is the reservoir and their own institution is the only divine faucet.

What God says to the world is to have no other devotion between us and Him. Or Her. (Elohim is both).

Martin Luther founded his protest on the premise that nothing — not priests or churches or books or organizations — comes between a person and our Maker. The connection is direct.

I would add Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and yes, flat-Earthers to the list. None are divine.

Trying to fit a president into a religious niche is a scandal. President Donald Trump is not our call. Leave him to Heaven.

Beverly Kai

Kakaako

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Local zealots pursue politics of insanity

Many locals support illegal immigrants entering our country and receiving benefits, instead of protecting our border and using those funds for Hawaii’s homeless and infrastructure.

If illegal immigrants commit heinous crimes, reward them with sanctuary?

Our newspaper barely mentions that China is stealing our intellectual property, U.S. taxpayers overpay for NATO, President Donald Trump pressured North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons, and Mexico charges a minimum 16-185 percent value-added tax for U.S imports, while we charge them zero without repercussions or renegotiation.

In letters to the Star-Advertiser, zealots recommend deleting conservative columnists and are laser-focused on an unproven Russian collusion, but are not troubled that our government’s raiding of Trump’s attorney’s office forever negates the attorney- client privilege.

Locals proudly continue to support ingrained politicians, unconcerned that Hawaii perpetually ranks nearly last in education, business, roads, employee pension funding, value for taxes and a rail system that is affordable.

It’s insanity!

Gary R. Johnson

Kaneohe

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UH should sue NCAA for years of snubs

Enough is enough!

The latest University of Hawaii volleyball snub is just one in a long string of incidents involving our teams being raked over by the NCAA (“Snubbed! University of Hawaii volleyball gets bypassed for NCAA berth,” Star-Advertiser, April 23).

There is no way to justify the University of California, Irvine, getting the nod over a much better UH men’s team.

And I’m sorry, David Matlin: Maybe you haven’t presided over UH sports long enough, but for a long, long time this has been a yearly occurrence with one team or another. Just ask Dave Shoji.

It is time to file a legal action against the NCAA and put it on notice. I would love to hear the selection committee defend itself in court on this one.

Every year we hear how we are “talking” to our conference representatives.

It doesn’t work.

The big conferences are in charge and will continue to bury us unless we try another way to level the playing field.

Pat Mori

Pacific Heights