After four years of documenting the abuse of the posted rules prohibiting animals in Ala Moana Beach Park, my pictures show dozens of violations — no dog license, dogs unleashed and running free on the beach, ocean swimming, dog poop not picked up, dogs on paddleboards, dogs in place for hours and not traversing the park.

My very favorite picture is of an owner smoking a cigar, playing flying-Frisbee fetch with his unleashed dog — four violations in all, and no enforcement.

There should be no dog park in Ala Moana Beach Park (“Give input on Ala Moana park plans,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 12). Some dog owners are knowingly and willfully ignoring the posted signs. Having a dog park will not deter the abuse. Not every dog owner is dishonorable, but there are too many abusers for us to just leap with faith and hope a dog park will magically stop the abuse or change the current lax, enforcement practices.

Bruce Lum

Aiea

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Vote Republican in general election

It was reported there are close to 742,000 registered voters in the state of Hawaii. Obviously not everyone voted in last Saturday’s primary election. Only supporters for the Democratic Party of Hawaii showed up at the polls, like they do every election year.

I do hope every registered voters, especially those who did not vote in the primary election, will show up for the general election this November and vote every Democratic incumbent out of office. The Democrats have been in power since 1959. They are responsible for the high cost of living in Hawaii, resulting in the exodus of hundreds of born-in-Hawaii residents moving to the mainland.

In addition, I would like to see Hawaii send conservative Republican Cam Cavasso to the U.S. House of Representatives. The last time we had Republicans on our island congressional team were U.S. Rep. Pat Saiki (1987-1991) and the late and great U.S. Sen. Hiram Fong (1959-1977). He was my longtime favorite U.S. senator.

Melvin Partido Sr.

Pearl City

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Ige isn’t ‘nebbish’; he gets things done

For the first time in my life, I’m writing a letter to the editor. I just had to disagree with the University of Hawaii professor who called Gov. David Ige “nebbish” (“With women losing major races, some question role of gender bias,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15). I do not see the governor as “pitifully ineffectual.”

He is quiet and low-key, but he does get things done. Of course he hasn’t solved every state problem; no governor has. I would think Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim also is writing a letter to disagree with the professor. Gender bias might have had some effect on the outcome, but I don’t think it was a major factor.

Milton Onaka

Kalaheo, Kauai

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Hanabusa didn’t have anything to say

U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa would have been a fine governor for Hawaii. She certainly has the experience, the intelligence and the heart.

What Hanabusa did not have was a campaign that actually said anything, and I can agree with John Hart’s general assessment (“With women losing major races, some question role of gender bias,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 15).

Hanabusa’s campaign was just as vague as Hillary Clinton’s failed attempt in the last presidential election campaign.

The idea that gender bias is a deciding factor in elections in the 21st century is simply “sour grapes.”

Christopher M. DiSante

Kapahulu

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Voting should be a patriotic act

Another election is over, and it doesn’t seem to matter if it is a primary or a general, a state or a national — we can’t even get 50 percent of registered voters to vote. Why is this? Let’s see a statistically significant poll to discover the roots of the failure of the majority to vote.

I feel I did my part for many years as a high school teacher of U.S. and world history, practically begging my students to take the responsibility of voting seriously, as their critical duty, once they could register.

I also emphasized critical thinking in the evaluation of candidates. Perhaps I should have emphasized that they consider being candidates also. Or has all of politics become too controlled and tragically tainted by big money and personal attacks?

Perhaps we as a nation need an infusion of truth, justice and honor — genuine American patriotism — by voting, not just flag-waving or standing or kneeling during our national anthem.

Mele Welte

Hawaii Kai

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Neighborhoods can’t belong to tourists

I so disagree with the gentlemen who said that restricting lodging would put the economy and jobs “at risk” (“Isles’ economy, jobs at risk if lodging restricted,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 12). It is a real scare piece and equates future jobs with the downturn of the economy.

I like the mayor’s plan to really crack down on rentals in residential areas. Who says that everyone has to have a “Hawaiian experience” at the cost of our neighborhoods, housing for our own citizens at more reasonable prices, and the ability to park at our own beaches and in front of our own homes?

Who will be left in Hawaii to serve all of these tourists who are staying in houses owned by mainlanders or people who own multiple houses?

We are losing what we love about Hawaii and what I assume tourists come for. We can’t just keep expanding the tourist industry, especially into residential- zoned areas.

Gretchen Gould

Kaneohe

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Griping about bags a waste of time

Regarding the 15-cent bag fee and the complaints it has generated: It seems to be that writing a letter bemoaning the law takes far more time and energy than just carrying one’s own bag to the store.

Using and reusing your own shopping sack is a simple way to do yourself and the planet a favor. How hard is that?

Heuionalani Wyeth

Anahola, Kauai