Since the latest eruption on Hawaii island, more than 20 fissures have opened up. Thousands of people have evacuated to safer grounds. Visitors are spending less. The event made the national news.

It must be scary for the nearly 200,000 residents on the Big Island to hear about the lava acting up again — even more so now, with threats to the island’s other resources.

Besides the volcanic fumes, toxic fumes from burning gases could pollute the island.

What must be going through the residents’ minds? Uncertainty, fear, loss, despair, uneasiness and a host of other emotions. I think it was great that the Army National Guard has stepped in to help. It makes it a lot easier on the residents, knowing federal help is there.

Keep up the good work on Hawaii island. And thanks to the Army National Guard for its brave assistance to this whole situation.

Dean Sabado

Ala Moana

—

Hawaii sure isn’t what it used to be

Scooters are like any other new entity in Hawaii (“Rental scooters can’t flout rules,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, May 17). An extremely small minority makes a huge issue of it, the media jumps in and the politicians try to figure out how to make a buck. This has happened with kayaks in Kailua, swimmers at Ala Moana and the list goes on forever.

Sadly, it’s all baloney!

I spend so much time at Ala Moana Park that some of the homeless think I am one of them. Daily I threaten to count the numbers of blue signs in the park. Signs such as, “No dogs” (Ala Moana is now the dog capital of the world). “No camping”: The most luxurious banyan tree in the park has been occupied with a tent and bikes for weeks now. No one enforces the rules. The same applies to the swimming lanes and paddleboards. And Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s plan to redo the parking may come back to haunt him.

Bottom line: Hawaii is not anywhere near what it was 30 years ago. There may become a point whereby record tourism finds a nicer, cleaner place to go, like Japan.

Robert Smith

Waialae-Kahala

—

Enforce laws that lead to jaywalking

A friend and I recently crossed Bethel Street in the direction of the Hawaii Theatre, and since we were not in a crosswalk, we received a jaywalking ticket from two police officers who were just camped out by Sun Yat-sen Park.

However, the reason we crossed in the middle of the street, and not in an intersection, was because there were homeless people blocking the sidewalk — making it difficult, and possibly dangerous, to continue toward the crosswalk.

I understand the officers were doing their job, but their job is to enforce all laws, such as sitting on a public sidewalk. If they are going to enforce jaywalking, they also should enforce other laws as well. Otherwise, what are the laws there for?

Tyler Street

Makiki

—

Hawaii’s problems bigger than Ing’s

Whatever problem one may have with state Rep. Kaniela Ing, we should wake up to the real-life issues negatively impacting our lives, the future of our children and our children’s children.

Kaniela Ing’s problems with the state Campaign Spending Commission are not our problem presently (“Lawmaker Ing accused of spending violations,” Star-Advertiser, May 18).

Do we realize we do not have the benefits of universal health care? Do we realize that self-serving powerful money interests have our politicians in their hip pockets to do their bidding? This is just the tip of the problems we all face.

If one cannot support Ing, even as he speaks out for issues like universal health care, then we need to look at ourselves. Become an informed citizen. Read, research the pros and cons of the major issues, broaden your perspective.

We judge and hold Ing responsible. So too should we hold ourselves responsible.

Art Lee

Kalama Valley

—

White House sows chaos worldwide

On May 8, despite contrary advice from his secretary of defense and secretary of state, President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 agreement concerning Iran with China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, U.S. and the European Union.

Iran was mostly honoring the agreement, according to multiple independent U.S. and international agencies.

The possible consequences are predictable:

Iranian hardliners are strengthened; Iran resumes nuclear weapons development; a Middle East nuclear arms race; the entire world nuclear non-proliferation regime endangered; any trust and collaboration with deal partners diminished; international legitimacy and credibility of the U.S. reduced; and U.S. military adventures against Iran and North Korea.

In this and other ways, the dangerous chaos of the White House spreads worldwide. While Trump kept another campaign promise, most of his voters may not want more wars, resumption of a nuclear weapons race and a nuclear war — although it would be good for business, especially the weapons industry.

Leslie E. Sponsel

Hawaii Kai