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Much of the discussion in the article, “Hawaii businesses, tourists struggle with pandemic-induced changes” (Star-Advertiser, June 28), centers around the loss of workforce in the tourism industry following the pandemic.
Underlining this is an often-neglected but very simple fact: Workers in the tourism industry can’t afford a decent living in Hawaii. In Honolulu, according to data from a 2020 report from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the median hourly salary of a worker in food preparation and serving is $14.82, while that of a retail salesperson is $13.77. These are not livable wages.
If the objective is to save the tourism industry, upon which so much of Hawaii’s economy depends, how about we pay the workers, whose labor supports it all, a livable wage? Instead of lamenting the difficulty of competing with enhanced unemployment benefits, businesses need to recognize that the low wages they currently offer their employees are simply not sustainable.
Nadia Alves
Downtown Honolulu
Some residents would love a tourism pause
Mike Eberle’s letter (“Reducing visitor arrivals doesn’t make sense,” Star-Advertiser, July 7) is what doesn’t make sense, in my opinion. The fact that he has “been in the tourism industry” doesn’t make him an expert either.
I find the Maui mayor a shining example of common sense in managing the deluge of people who land here every day (“Maui Mayor Mike Victorino wants tourism pause,” Star-Advertiser, June 30). I’d love a tourism pause.
Trying to argue about real numbers is irrelevant to many residents. Just pick up your phone and check the North Shore daily gridlock. It starts about 10:15 a.m. on a weekday.
Many of us out here roll our eyes and reminisce about “the year of COVID.” And a big mahalo to legislators who are listening.
Debbie Aldrich
Haleiwa
Like other states, Hawaii requires an ID to vote
Elizabeth Jubin Fujiwara complained that the Supreme Court continued voter suppression against Blacks and other minorities by adding new voter ID requirements (“Supreme Court guts Voting Rights Act,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 7).
She went on to say how Hawaii is very pro-voting and is now a “beacon of light” for other states, because Gov. David Ige recently signed a bill ensuring access to a ballot by having automatic voter registration when a person gets a driver’s license or state ID card.
Ah-ha! In order to get either one of those IDs, one must produce original documentation or certified copies — not photocopies. In Hawaii, in order to vote, one must obtain a driver’s license or state ID.
I am for voter ID and so should be anyone who wants total fairness and transparency in our country’s elections.
Tommy Penrose
Waikiki
Help homeless receive personal hygiene goods
It saddens me that homeless individuals aren’t provided with the same resources as the rest of us and must fight to preserve a way of life.
Some of these people suffer from hygiene issues, particularly women, because they are unable to afford the items necessary to maintain their personal hygiene.
Local government, as well as state officials, need to work together to resolve this issue. Monetary donations help, but holding donation drives will go even further. Involving the local community will bring people together for a good cause. The homeless as well as the public will thank you!
Kira Rose Moananu
Kamehameha Heights
Myeni was fighting for his life, too
It seems that only police officers’ lives matter to city Prosecutor Steve Alm, and not a citizen in our community (“Honolulu police officers’ actions justified in fatal shooting of Lindani Myeni, city prosecutor says,” Star- Advertiser, July 1).
The police claim that it took five seconds from start to finish for the shooting of Myeni.
Myeni must have taken a few seconds to say, “Who are you?”, and then had a few seconds left to fight off three armed males attacking him. He had to make a split-second decision to save his life with his fists. While doing so, on his knees, the officers shot him in a split-second decision to save their lives, they say.
If both were fighting for their lives, why is a split-second decision justified for the three armed police officers and not the other unarmed citizen, fighting for his life? Because, it is evident that his life is not valued by our laws and community. Pitiful.
Ken Chang
Kaneohe
UFO report lacked comprehensiveness
The recently released UFO report has been a disappointment and is not very comprehensive report (“U.S. intel report on UFOs: No evidence of aliens, but … ,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, June 4).
The UFO study is fewer than 10 pages long and only covers fewer than 150 sightings over the most recent 12 or so years.
The report did not cover sightings that were quite numerous in the late ’50s and ’60s. In fact, some very popular magazines displayed many pictures of UFOs that were sighted in New Mexico and the greater Southwest. In addition, no comprehensive effort was made to gather information on sightings outside this country.
The intelligence agencies need to do a much more comprehensive study of UFOs that covers all of the last 100 years and takes into account sightings outside this country. The report must focus on sightings outside of pilot reports and open it up to sightings by all sectors of the public.
Jay Pineda
Waikiki
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