Letters: Allow spectators at high school football games; Vaccinated shouldn’t need to wear masks; Find qualified nominee to serve on HART board

Why are team supporters being denied access to high school football games? In light of all the audience- accommodating venues that have opened for performances and other events, this seems arbitrary.

Outdoor football stadiums fit the definition for outdoor gatherings, now capped at 75 people. Stadiums generally have at least two seating sides, thus 150 could attend such events and remain within the county guidelines.

Yes, limitations and protocols need to be put in place, but that is working at the Waikiki Shell as well as Blaisdell Center. I am not sure who made this call. Perhaps our news outlets could find out more details, as I have seen nothing about it in print or televised reports.

Barbara Tavares

Makiki

Vaccinated shouldn’t need to wear masks

I am sorry to see our COVID-19 case count soaring again, but I am comforted that the hospitals haven’t been overrun. I have several friends and acquaintances who will not get vaccinated and there is no changing their minds.

The vaccine is readily available to all. There has been no discrimination or exclusion of anyone over 12. From what I understand, those of us who are vaccinated have about a 90-plus percent chance of not catching COVID-19 and an even better chance of staying out of a hospital.

Sadly, I think the situation is not going to change. I am now in favor of removing mask mandates because I think the majority of us are protected as much as we can be and we just aren’t going to convince the others until their families suffer from COVID-19.

Science has to develop a quick-response vaccine and I think it will. I just don’t think incentives or time is going to change anyone’s mind. It’s time to move on. Honestly, I wish the unvaccinated the best of luck.

Janice Kim

Kaimuki

Tourists do pollute Hawaii’s environment

Of course tourists pollute (“Tourists don’t pollute, support life in Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 26).

They rent thousands of cars that pollute our air and clog our roads. They throw trash and relieve themselves in places they’re not even supposed to be going. They walk around without masks and, more alarmingly, they bring coronavirus to every island and make the numbers soar. They wreck the coral and leach non-approved sunscreen into the oceans.

What if we could become an agrarian economy once again? That would result in less pollution.

Carol Williams

Captain Cook, Hawaii island

Find qualified nominee to serve on HART board

David Shapiro’s column should have been on the front page of the paper in bold print (“Honolulu City Council’s new rail board nominee owes key rail interests,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, July 25). How long is the botched rail job going to go on? As Shapiro pointed out, the new nominee for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board has zero qualifications for the job.

The City Council’s criteria are that a nominee has expertise in areas such as transit operations, construction, financial management, land-use planning or property development. Anthony Aalto is not qualified in any of these areas. He made a film about rail and received money for that project from rail interests. Auwe.

Shirley Hasenyager

Kailua

Navy can replace fuel tanks as well as ships

A recent article in Defense News reported on a decision by the chief of naval operations, Adm. Michael Gilday, to decommission seven cruisers.

“When we tried to deploy a ship most recently and had to bring it back twice because of fuel tank cracks is an example of something we just couldn’t predict but we have to react to, and it does have an impact on reliability — and we need to be able to provide the secretary of defense and the president reliable assets out there that they can count on to do the nation’s business,” Gilday said.

Ought not the same reasoning apply to the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility? The Navy needs to start planning immediately to remove the tanks and develop an environmentally safe alternative.

Paul Casey

Mililani

Shirokiya, Ala Moana should resolve problems

I am so disappointed in the legal dispute between Shirokiya and Ala Moana Center management (“Shirokiya facing demise after centuries-long existence,” Star-Advertiser, July 28). It’s my understanding that the judge in this dispute has ordered mediation, and I’m so grateful for this decision.

I hope mediation means that the parties involved can still resolve their differences and continue to work together for the many small businesses that depended on their space at Shirokiya and for the many people who enjoyed going there.

If the parties cannot envision the immense financial and public relations gain they would eventually have in continuing to work together, I hope they show caring for the small businesses and for the many people who would celebrate a resolution of their differences.

Furthermore, the parties should see that resolving their differences would be a service to the community and to visitors.

Jennifer Chiwa

Makiki

Allow companies to tow cars without police

I seem to recall a method of solving illegally parked cars from a while ago. Just give tow truck companies the license to tow illegally parked cars without needing the presence of a police officer in certain areas, like the two-lane Hana Highway. It would be very profitable for the tow companies and would solve the problem quickly. They could take pictures as proof of parking violations.

Robin Uyeshiro

Kailua

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