I gave public testimony at Honolulu Hale to provide a wake-up call to the Airbnb and vacation rental owners, and City Council members, about the state of the housing crisis.

I am a senior citizen who was once a homeowner on Oahu. My adult children were born and raised here. I am now a renter who is unable to find a studio or ohana unit at any affordable fair-market price.

Most units that I have found online or through Craigslist are more than $200 a night and nestled into neighborhoods throughout the Honolulu suburbs. They are predominately being run by corporate entities.

Let the commercial travelers and wealthy tourists stay in Waikiki and leave the rural neighborhoods as housing for our residents — not mini-hotels. Kupuna shouldn’t have to spend their golden years on the brink of becoming homeless.

Karyn Herrmann

Hahaione Valley

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Cartoon demeaned Frederica Wilson

Living in a multiracial, multicultural state, I was shocked to see the political cartoon of President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson jumping on a flag-draped coffin, presumably that of Sgt. La David Johnson (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 24). It shows both acting badly.

This portrayal of Wilson is a further attempt to dehumanize her. She heard the phone call the president made to the widow. The president handled the call badly and Wilson remarked on this. The attack on her began.

She was accused of fabricating her story. She was called wacky, an empty barrel. White House Chief of Staff Gen. John Kelly said she bragged in a speech and Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders joined in.

They attempted to dehumanize this woman, to accuse her of lying, to make her feel unworthy of her office. Did I mention she is African-American? She is not allowed to speak or have an opinion.

To demean her in a Hawaii paper in inexcusable.

Laura Bolles

Waialua

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Huckabee event uplifting, unifying

It is shameful that Eric Ryan, who claims to be a fellow Republican, would have any kind of issue with our fantastic and awe-inspiring event with Gov. Mike Huckabee (“Hypocritical to invite Huckabee to speak,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 27).

This event was fun, uplifting, unifying and extremely successful, as compared to Ryan’s consistent and irritating attacks against thousands of Republican loyalists. Our party is growing in the right direction.

Huckabee’s keynote message was a reflection of a young daughter who experienced the Holocaust museum in New York.

After seeing the horrible murder of millions of innocent Jews, Christians and homosexuals, she wrote in the guest book, “Why didn’t someone DO something?”

That young girl is now President Donald Trump’s press secretary in the White House.

We celebrated life at a wonderful event.

Steve Kaleipahula Holck

Kailua

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Homeless pollute Nuuanu Stream

There needs to be a better solution for the homeless in Honolulu.

I think it’s great that the state would close portions of Moanalua Stream to clear the homeless from the Nimitz H-1 viaduct area.

This will stop theft of copper and electric wires and will decrease pollution of the nearby stream.

There is only one problem: Where will all the homeless go?

I live about 10 minutes from the Nimitz/H-1 viaduct area and I’m afraid that more and more homeless will travel to my neighborhood, looking for a place to camp.

When I drive to school every day, I pass River Street, where the homeless have been camped in front of Nuuanu Stream. Recently I saw a homeless person throw his trash in the stream.

This stream will only get more polluted if more and more homeless people in the area are looking for a place to camp.

Kailey Wann

Chinatown

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River Pauahi project offers a good lesson

There is a ray of sunshine in Hawaii today, amid the gray clouds of Honolulu’s homeless problem (“Chinatown building’s renovation helps preserve affordable rentals,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 25).

The action by the Ahe Group was literally a lesson that our state and city officials could learn from. They could solicit insight from Ahe Group’s CEO and president, Makani Maeva, about addressing the growing issues of homelessness, and actions that bring solutions.

The tenants of the River Pauahi building could have easily become a statistic by losing their homes to high market prices and contract expiration. Raised rents in today’s market means eviction and homelessness tomorrow.

Cheers to Maeva and her team’s efforts, making a difference and bringing a sense of hope in the community.

Nancy Martins

Kailua

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State can’t handle transportation issues

A look at the ineffectiveness and incompetence of the state Department of Transportation and state government:

>> Hawaiian Airlines stepped in to complete the maintenance hangar, due to delays and more than 3,000 construction errors. Construction price increased from $85 million to $120 million. The airport is dated and an embarrassing dump.

>> Trespassers living under the viaduct for more than two years, creating an eyesore and health hazards. Removal of homeless and cleanup will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Yet, “No Trespassing” signs are posted, examples of all bark, no bite.

>> Potholed roadways (Kamehameha, Nimitz, Pali and Likelike highways, to name a few).

Sadly, the airport, the homeless and potholed roadways are the things visitors see on their way to Waikiki — wonderful impression for a first-time visitor.

There seems to be a double standard: one for those of us who follow the rules and pay our taxes, and another for the homeless.

Alan Umeda

Kaneohe