When the lava stops and calm returns to Kilauea, Hawaii County officials will have to determine the conditions under which displaced residents can return to their properties.
The escalating costs for disaster relief should be a factor in determining the conditions that allow for repopulating high lava hazard zones. Mobile homes and trailer parks are seldom considered desirable accommodation. However, residing in lava hazard zones should require exceptional attributes other than resignation to the loss of one’s sacred domicile.
Hawaii County should consider zoning rules that require residential occupancy in high lava hazard zones to be fully mobilized in two to four days, with functionality confirmed through inspections. I hope that requiring the use of attractive, off-grid and uniquely tropical and truly mobile homes can become a new business opportunity serving those living in the warm embrace of Madam Pele’s domain.
Joseph DeFrank
Mililani
—
Don’t give developer higher densities
Here we go again. A developer, this time the Avalon Group, developer of not one but two towers near Ala Moana, goes to City Council seeking to build more densely than currently allowed by zoning laws (“Developer questioned on number of affordable units in its Ala Moana project,” Star-Advertiser, June 25).
Avalon goes into these negotiations with exaggerated densities, just like the dozens of developers before it, knowing the City Council and city Department of Planning and Permitting will compromise and allow it to supersede the current density rules. What a shibai for the citizens of Honolulu.
How about this for a law? We don’t pass any new laws until we can enforce current laws. Zoning densities, using a phone while driving, noise pollution, using a turn signal, no taxation on rental units, running red lights — the list is endless.
Let the City Council, the mayor and the police enforce our current laws before we start compromising and constructing new laws.
Pat Kelly
Kakaako
—
Enforce the rules on using gillnets
Dozens of dead hammerhead shark pups were found recently at Keehi Lagoon (“State investigating shark pups found dead at Keehi Lagoon,” Star-Advertiser, June 27).
State Sen. Mike Gabbard told KHON2 News that he has proposed a law that would prohibit the taking of sharks with gillnets.
But it already is illegal to use gillnets within three miles from shore from Kawaihoa Point to Keahi Point. Another law would not have prevented this incident. The state needs to get serious about enforcing the laws already on the books.
When calling the Department of Land and Natural Resources enforcement office after 5 p.m., you are only able to leave a voice mail. The ones who break the rules know this and use nets illegally only when the enforcement office is closed, so there is very little chance of getting caught.
Lee Kaneshiro
Palolo
—
Halawa Stream needs maintenance
Hurricane season is upon us. As with each hurricane/rainy season, property owners along Halawa Stream worry if they’ll get through unscathed.
The overgrown mangrove and the buildup of trash, silt and rocks all contribute to the hazard of flooding. Our government representatives and agencies have yet to approve the required and seriously delinquent maintenance on this stream.
Yes, we were designated a flood zone. This does not remove responsibility and liability for non-proactive maintenance by local government.
I read that the Manoa Stream project has been put on hold. May we have their place in line? We’ve already waited more than 25 years. Isn’t that more than fair?
Lynn Wong
Aiea
—
Trump’s attacks on media wrong
After the fatal shootings at a Maryland newspaper, our president said our journalists should not fear danger in the United States (“Trump responds to attack on Maryland newspaper,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 29).
Our president has repeatedly said that the media are the enemy and are “fake news.” He is the cause of attacks on the media, and now says they should not feel threatened.
Trump and his followers have attacked people in Charlottesville, Va., pushed for an immigration ban and a border wall, separated families, and met with the world’s most dangerous dictators.
He continues to say the media are fake news, except for Fox News, a big Trump supporter led by Sean Hannity, and “Fox & Friends.”
Our media are very important to the people of the nation and the world. Without the media, who knows what’s going on within our own government or the world?
Trump has caused cataclysmic harm to our nation and will go down in history as being the worst POTUS ever.
William T. Pirtle
Waipahu
—
President should live up to his office
There’s a distinct difference between criticism of the president, and disrespect for the office of the president.
The office is a concept, envisioned as embodying the highest political and moral principles — and as such is deserving of universal respect.
The president is not the office, however, but only its human tenant, who must earn respect by living up to its admirable standards.
Those who sharply criticize, or even disdain, our current president, hold the office itself with appropriate respect. Therefore, they take issue with the present occupant who seems constitutionally incapable of properly personifying his office.
An egotistical, habitual liar, and equal-opportunity bully/abuser of everyone including women and children, is in no way deserving of the respect usually due the presidency.
Consider his heartlessly cruel order incarcerating migrant infants and children, forcibly separating them from their parents. This has been not only an immoral betrayal of “family values” but outright, government- imposed child abuse.
Is this truly a president, or an imposter?
Don Hallock
St. Louis Heights
