I returned yesterday and fully complied with all Safe Travel requirements. The accepted COVID-19 testing partner got me my results two hours after I passed through the airport screening. Fortunately, I’m negative. This does not matter, as I must quarantine for 14 days since the result hadn’t arrived prior to my entry.

As a physician, I will certainly say this makes no sense from a medical standpoint. Indeed, it totally lacks common sense.

Oh well, only 13 more days until I can leave my condo!

Thomas J. Quarnstrom, M.D.

Ala Moana

Outrageous that infected travelers got on plane

On Nov. 29, Wesley Moribe and Courtney Peterson were allowed to fly out of San Francisco even though the local airport authorities there knew they were both COVID-19-positive before they boarded the plane (“Kauai couple with COVID-19 charged with reckless endangering for allegedly boarded a flight,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4).

The citizens of Hawaii should be outraged by this, considering the many months the state’s tourism industry has been shut down to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

To me, this was criminal negligence and those involved at the very least should be fired. Every passenger on that plane should be suing the San Francisco airport. The California authorities should have arrested the couple when they attempted to board the plane.

This was akin to the Transportation Services Administration letting a passenger board a plane with a loaded handgun and not arresting him until after the plane reaches its destination. He is supposed to be stopped before the flight, not afterward. Otherwise what is the point?

Wayne L. Johnson

JAGC, Navy (retired)

Alexandria, Va.

Kauai’s unemployed need face-to-face help

When I went to the Kauai unemployment insurance office in April to get some help for my recently unemployed wife, I was stopped by two Hawaii National Guardsmen, who denied me entrance. They were polite, but why are Guardsmen keeping the community out of a tax-supported social agency?

Folks are upset about the pandemic and being unemployed, but we will not resort to violence. We need help, not avoidance. This agency belongs to the community and is supported by our tax dollars.

It has been close to two months since my wife’s 26 weeks of benefits ran out. She has done all the required filing, but has no idea if she will be eligible for the 13-week extension.

When I went to the Kauai unemployment insurance office on Dec. 1, again I was blocked by the National Guard. They were nice, but not necessary. We need face-to-face assistance now.

Ray Catania

Lihue

Unchecked obesity may cause future health crisis

So the buzz phrase for COVID-19 appears to be, “I wish people would listen to the science.”

Well, science also says that over-consumption of food and an insufficient amount of physical exercise results in early mortality from heart disease, Type-2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. Approximately 94% of the COVID-19 deaths have been related to underlying health conditions and 6% died from COVID-19 alone. The hard reality is that, basically, the fittest have the best chance to survive this pandemic. So we need to listen to that science, too.

More than 40% of Americans are obese today. Yes, obesity is not a contagion, but nonetheless this will clog our health care system in the near future. America’s health care costs are expected to soar as Baby Boomers become senior citizens. A health tsunami is looming. There will be a shortage of beds and equipment.

If you are overweight and it’s caused by something you can control, you are setting yourself (and the health care system) up for a future health catastrophe.

Lisa Adlong

Hauula

How would rail serve luxury condo dwellers?

I don’t understand the logic that the terminus of the rail line at Ala Moana suggests luxury housing (“City should get more from Plaza,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Dec. 2; “City wants transit easements for rental tower,” Star- Advertiser, Dec. 3).

Is the goal to make money for the owner of Ala Moana Center? The occupants of the high-end condos would already be near shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Is the idea that they would ride the rail to football games and the flea market at Aloha Stadium?

Arlene Woo

Makiki

Democrats should do as Trumpsters did to them

This is in response to John Tamashiro’s letter asking that “left-leaning individuals” stop being mean and spiteful (“Cancel-culture behavior needs to be eliminated,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 3). The answer should be that the new administration should take cues from what was done by the Trump people, and do their utmost to destroy the Trumpsters economically, psychologically, emotionally, physically and, in the end, “Lock them up!”

Contrary ideas and actions were openly suppressed and harassed by President Donald Trump. Trumpsters made their bed; let them lie in it. The only problem is that maybe the mainstream Democrats are too spineless and cowardly to return the favor.

Bryant Ching

Kailua-Kona

COMFORT AND JOY

2020 has been a whopper of a year: the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hurt, politics and elections. But surely there is much to appreciate, much that brings joy.

In the spirit of the season, we are now accepting letters (150 words max) and essays (500-600 words) with uplifting messages to share during this holiday season.

Email to letters@staradvertiser.com; or send to 500 Ala Moana Blvd. #7-210, Honolulu 96813, c/o Letters.