It is troubling to read that after many years in elected office some people do not understand the essential responsibility of the state Land Use Commission (LUC) (“Candidates debate growth restrictions,” Star-Advertiser, July 12).

The LUC was formed in 1961 after the first Hawaii Legislature determined that a lack of adequate controls had caused the development of scattered, remote subdivisions and the destruction of agricultural land. The LUC also was tasked with preserving scenic, cultural and historic resources. If imperfect, the net effect of the commission has been good.

The LUC is even more needed and relevant today to encourage uses to which lands are best suited, and to balance the need for housing and commercial development against protecting our fragile and finite environment, which is found nowhere else in the world.

Donna Wong

Executive director, Hawaii’s Thousand Friends

—

Get real on who’s farming in Hawaii

The author of the commentary, “Hawaii food threat is real, so start planning now” (Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, July 8), like many others advocating for more local food production, said we need to attract young people to farming.

How many parents today are encouraging their children to farm as livelihood? Even farmers work hard to educate their children, so they don’t have to farm for a living.

We need to take a hard and honest look at who’s taking up the small ag leases today. A farmer in Kahuku told me that maybe 9 out of 10 available leases are taken by recent immigrants. Probably the same goes for areas like Waialua. Some came here to escape bad situations in the home country. They came to build a better life for themselves and their families. Sounds familiar?

We need to support all farmers, including the immigrant farmer, in search of a better life.

Dan Nakasone

Wahiawa

—

Tariff war with China bad for consumers

I’ve always thought that cheap is good and free is even better. It’s hard to score free, but cheap Chinese goods are abundant. So why is President Donald Trump taking that option away from American consumers by starting a trade war with China?

I know the consumer will be the loser but what is there to gain?

A 25 percent tariff will raise the cost of Chinese goods at least that amount or more. It will be unfortunate if $700 65-inch televisions will now cost more than $1,000. Will $20 coffee makers now cost $50?

Many people in Hawaii live paycheck to paycheck. How many of these people will now lose the benefit of Chinese subsidized products because of Trump’s agenda? Is there a method to his madness or is he just too rich to care?

Stuart Shimazu

Diamond Head

—

Maunawili sidewalk parking needs sign

Why is there no sign warning hikers not to park on the sidewalk along the entrance to Maunawili? Every day hikers park along Auloa Road in the grass near the entrance to Royal Hawaiian Golf Club. And every day they receive parking tickets because they have two wheels on the sidewalk.

The reason they do this is because the “sidewalk” is just a worn asphalt strip. It doesn’t look like a sidewalk. Many of these hikers are tourists whose vacation may be ruined by an expensive parking ticket. Will they think twice about choosing Hawaii as their vacation destination next time? A simple solution like a sign is necessary.

Richard Mumaw

Kailua

—

Bag ban aids crooks, raising prices for all

It’s the law of unintended consequences. Liberals rarely foresee any of the negative impacts of their do-gooder, feel-good legislation. Their war on shopping bags is no different.

The mandatory 15-cent charge for shopping bags was supposed to deter folks from using turtle-murdering plastic totes and prompt them to bring their own bags from home.

Well, criminals love the Democrats’ new policy. Now, with stores full of people either using their own bags or just carrying items out the door in their arms, crooks are looting store shelves by blending in as environmentally-conscious shoppers … but just not paying.

Now, stores plagued with shoplifters are forced to beef up security to offset the surge of crime enabled by progressives determined to “change the paradigm” and turn us all into eco-hippies.

More security means prices will go up. Thank you, Democrats, for raising prices in Hawaii.

Dexter Yuen

Aiea