I commend the mayor’s effort and goal to have a nice sandy beach, especially in the middle section, at Ala Moana Beach Park.

As a lifeguard at this beach for 15 years, I have seen this done before. The rocky middle section was covered with sand and it was great for about one year. Then Mother Nature did her thing and the sand moved in the Ewa direction, where it is now.

To keep the sand from shifting again, which it will, I suggest installing a couple of small rock wall barriers extending from the shoreline.

Otherwise, this great project will be a wasted effort again after one year.

Bill Goding
Waipahu

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Koshiba provided useful perspective

James Koshiba’s thoughtful assessment of what he experienced at the Kakaako homeless camp offers real insight into the causes of crime and violence at growing and crowded homeless sites (“Sweeping the homeless toward crime and conflict,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, July 29).

Let’s hope the Governor’s Leadership Team on Homelessness will consider Koshiba’s research and experiences.

The causes for homelessness and violence and civil disorder at the sites are many.

The governor’s team would benefit from Koshiba’s perspective on site assessments.

Constance Oliva
Kailua

We may all end up in tents in Kakaako

It is apparent from Sunday’s headline, “Too close for comfort,” (Star-Advertiser, July 26) that the Star-Advertiser is choosing to view the homeless as pariahs who could infect the good citizens of Honolulu.

The homeless are men, women and children, like us. Many have been caught in the crossfire of the housing debacle on Oahu.

The Star-Advertiser knows there’s not enough affordable housing; and with what is available, a local wage earner has little chance of competing with the subsidized military renters.

Although the homeless encampments are an issue, local residents should be more concerned with the million-dollar condominiums in Kakaako that most of us can’t afford.

These developments tend to drive up property values and rent.

This may force our children and future generation to either move to the mainland or sleep in tents.

Moses Akana
Aiea

Prosecuting teens won’t set things right

The decision to pursue criminal charges against a homeless 14-year-old struck me as the wrong thing to do (“Brower will press charges,” Star-Advertiser, July 24).

What needs to be done is to restore the dignity of people who have been marginalized.

Leaders are called to set things right.

If inequality and poverty are deeply embedded in structures highly resistant to change, what are we to do? Do we ignore families struggling for economic and political survival against exploitation and repression?

Yes, if we let crime and punishment be the only recourse.

Sociologist Johan Galtung says that for wounds and traumas to be reconciled and conflicts to be solved, the parties cannot be too unequal. Inequality colors the outcome.

Those on top economically and politically are already higher; while those at the bottom are lost in the struggles in this life.

Any action taken will tend to tilt in favor of the top. Auwe.

Ho‘oipo DeCambra
Waianae

Don’t let developer bend rule post facto

Developer OliverMcMillan was informed that the glass being installed on the Symphony Honolulu tower doesn’t comply with a Hawaii Community Development Authority rule (“Glass rule may need changes, state says,” Star-Advertiser, July 23).

Now, after 35 floors of glass were installed, OliverMcMillan wants the rule changed.

Shouldn’t such a request have been made before the glass was even purchased?

But, no. The developer built what it wanted.

Developers shouldn’t think they are above the rules and can change them after the fact. The glass that has been put up should be taken down, or the cost to conform to the rules should be paid as a fine and used toward helping our homeless.

All these luxury condominiums are being erected. Few Hawaii residents can afford them.

Why do we need luxury condominiums? They should have been made less luxurious and more affordable. Then, more locals could live where they work and lessen traffic into and out of town.

Susan Nomura
Alewa Heights

Hawaiians on roll had to affirm what?

The only people allowed to vote on whether “to create a Native Hawaiian government” will be those who are on the list run by the Native Hawaiian Roll Commission (“Names of 95,000 Hawaiians put online,” Star-Advertiser, July 29).

To be an eligible voter, one must also affirm the “unrelinquished sovereignty of the Hawaiian people.”

Should we then allow people to vote in regular state and city elections only if they affirm that the sovereignty of the Hawaiian people was relinquished in 1893?

Talk about stacking the deck.

Bob Gould
Kaneohe