In the 1990s, Honolulu’s mayor touted his Aala Park tent city. Today the city says Aala’s tent experiment failed because of crime. It was sanctioned by the city, so why wasn’t an adequate police presence established to ensure people’s safety?

In Waianae, a successful homeless encampment on state land is faulted for uncleanliness and other problems. But the residents weren’t allowed Dumpsters and portable toilets (although I’m told they are willing to pay for them).

Are these encampments failures, or was it a failure of government to ensure their success, as has been done in other states?

The Legislature provided $30 million to get “ohana zones” right. At a minimum, sufficient security, sanitation and staffing are needed. The alternative is doing virtually nothing about homelessness, prolonging the pain.

To show he cares, Gov. David Ige should approve ohana zones.

Renee Ing

Makiki

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President succeeds despite liberal critics

This particular letter to the editor is a broad-painted brushstroke of personal dislike rather than a factual criticism of President Donald Trump (“Trump’s supporters ignore his reality,” Star-Advertiser, May 7).

Liberals and Democrats still heavily criticize Trump.

>> He would never become the president. He beat all of the Republican candidates and the Democratic candidate.

>> He is a career businessman, not a career politician. He has made many political changes but has not received positive recognition.

>> He knows nothing about the economy. The stock market has risen to levels most experts failed to accurately predict.

>> He will cause World War III with North Korea. He has successfully gotten North and South Korea to the peace table.

>> He will never get his appointees approved by the U.S. Senate. The Senate has been forced to seriously consider his appointees because internally promoted directors have resigned or been fired.

>> He will not do any better with military conflicts. Trump has allowed the U.S. military leaders to fight battles with minimal political interference.

Keoni Ronald May

McCully-Moiliili

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Trump stands tall by rejecting ‘deal’

Reporting our president nixed the “the landmark nuclear accord with Iran,” the Associated Press was careful not to use the word “treaty” (“Trump says he’s withdrawing U.S. from landmark Iran nuclear deal,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, May 8).

That this scuzzy “deal” included very low-profile unmarked American aircraft delivering pallets of cash to runways in Iran was part and parcel of the redolent, sleazy, underhanded “transformation” President Barack Obama did his utmost to inflict on America.

No wonder Obama’s stinking-to-high-heaven “deal” was never submitted for Senate consideration as a legitimate treaty. With all the deal’s appeasement giveaways to a terror-exporting nation intent on secretly building nuclear warheads mated to ICBM delivery vehicles, the Senate would never have ratified it.

Thank you, President Donald Trump, for standing tall for America.

Thomas E. Stuart

Kapaau, Hawaii island

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Support funding for music education

As a student who loves music, I see immense importance in the preservation of music education. I believe it benefits not only a student’s academics, but also creativity, critical thinking and motivation for learning.

When budget cuts arise, music programs are usually among the first to go. President Donald Trump plans to remove the 21st Century Community Centers Learning Program from the 2018 budget, which will affect around 6,000 of Hawaii’s students. These students will, unfortunately, not be able to experience music education. My wish is for everyone to be informed of the beauty and long-lasting beneficial effects music has. While others may not see much importance in music, I have seen only benefits.

I hope for my words to inspire our community to continue to support music by donating and encouraging students; music has the ability to change hearts, and therefore, people.

Kiana Kawahara

Pearl City

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Adopt pets from shelters, not stores

I attend Moanalua High School and am concerned about the well-being of animals in Hawaii. As a person who has adopted myself, I think people should adopt animals from shelters, not purchase from breeders.

The Hawaiian Humane Society received more than 23,000 pets, hundreds of which arrived dead in 2015. A Ward Research study showed that 60 percent of Oahu residents are pet owners, and 26 percent purchased from breeders, pet stores and puppy mills. I encourage people to adopt over purchasing irresponsibly. By publicizing this topic more, people will be informed that adopting is a better alternative to purchasing and would choose to adopt.

Samantha Jacobs

Salt Lake

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Let dog walkers use Kakaako park

I have been walking my labrador retrievers at Kakaako Waterfront Park since it opened more than 20 years ago, abiding by state rules requiring pets to be on leash.

Now that the city has taken over jurisdiction, newly posted signs say animals are prohibited. As the only urban park in town to allow dogs, why wasn’t consideration taken to “grandfather in” this practice under new jurisdiction?

Of course, caregivers will continue to feed the colonies of feral cats while chickens roam everywhere.

Robert Lyons

Lanakila