Sam Pooley made some good points about the future of Hawaii, now that the pandemic is upon us and tourism has dried up (“After the pandemic, Hawaii can’t return to ‘normal’ tourism,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 3).

As a former part-time lecturer at the University of Hawaii, I have to wonder what role the university is taking in reshaping our economic future. Granted, it is a major employer, but it also receives a big chunk of our state taxes.

One thing it could be doing is to partner with the state to attract high-tech employers to the areas surrounding the campus. Right now you can take the University exit and you will see nothing — no high-tech corridor, no start-ups, no new development. Yet the university remains insular, an ivory tower surrounded by a sea of nothingness. It’s time for the university to leave its island and help lead us into the future.

Edward D. Lasky

Hawaii Kai

Enforce beach violations when violators are there

Last Thursday I walked the beach in Kailua. A little after 6 p.m., a four-seat ATV with three police officers drove by. A few minutes later, two more police officers drove by on individual ATVs. By that time, it was dark and no one was on the beach.

On Sunday, I was walking on Kailua Beach again, but it was 2 p.m. The beach was packed. Several groups had eight people sitting right next to each other with no masks. There were no police officers to be seen.

I have come to the conclusion that if there is no enforcement, there might as well be no law.

Carl Bergantz

Kaneohe

Best way to reopen state is with strict mask law

Our governor is in the hot seat because in the end, he has to make the decisions. He gets pressure to open this state from all directions, which might not be the right thing. I am sure that he and Mayor Kirk Caldwell would rather wait a little while longer to take this step.

The law should be that everyone must wear a mask in these times. The countries that have been successful are the ones that strictly enforced this requirement.

Johanna Jacob

Hawaii Kai

Citing surgeon general, here to help, is appalling

It’s apparent that Honolulu prosecutors are using U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams as an example, saying he intentionally, knowingly or recklessly broke the law by standing on the beach near waters’ edge taking pictures (“U.S. surgeon general and aide plead not guilty,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 3). Adams’ attorney, Michael Green, entered a not-guilty plea on his client’s behalf before Circuit Judge Shirley Kawamura. A trial date is tentatively set for December.

What is appalling and unsettling about the case is that Adams came to Hawaii to help the governor and the mayor with COVID-19. Green said, “They act like he brought the pandemic here.” He is being prosecuted when other similar cases have been dismissed.

This is not my ohana. We locals are a compassionate people. Where is our mana‘o? We can do better and we are going to survive the pandemic crisis.

Molentia Guttman

Makiki

Myth of Trump business savvy is topped by lies

Lisa Adlong certainly put her finger on some of President Donald Trump’s shortcomings, but seems to be in awe of his largely mythical business acumen (“Harris could take over a Biden administration,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 29).

In fact, many of his businesses ended up in bankruptcy, with vendors and customers stiffed for millions. And his profits were often accounting tricks based more on the tax code than being a well-run business. Oh, and one major shortcoming she missed is that he is a congenital liar. Time for a change!

Jim King

Waikiki

Maskless-rally infection wouldn’t stop Trump fan

Just wondering: If one of President Donald Trump’s supporters attended one of his maskless rallies and caught the virus, got very ill, and maybe even brought it home and infected other vulnerable loved ones, like his mother, for example — would he still vote for him?

It seems crazy, but the answer still appears to be yes!

James T. Nakata

Kaneohe

Loud Halloween booms herald things to come

At first I thought I was dreaming when at 8 p.m. on Halloween evening, loud booms and aerials started exploding in my Mililani neighborhood, not far from the high school.

I did dial 911, and was told someone would check, and that several calls had been received. The aerials and booms continued throughout the next hour and no blue lights were seen in the neighborhood.

If we are celebrating the winners of the election, it is a bit premature, and this just adds to the stress of being isolated with COVID-19 and other nasty events happening. Obviously, there has been no work done to find and prevent the sellers of aerials and other loud bombs.

I dread Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s if this is a portent of things to come.

C’mon, HPD. Get busy with this — legislators, too. We don’t need any more stress.

Marilyn B. Lee

Mililani

Next time, provide more voter service centers

The long lines to vote on Election Day (four hours at Kapolei and Honolulu Hale) could have been avoided if state and city officials had listened to Common Cause Hawaii and provided more voter service centers.

Two locations for 400,000 Oahu voters is ridiculous.

Larry Meacham

Wahiawa

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