The non-renewal of the contract of Department of Education Superintendent Kathryn Mata- yoshi makes no sense based on her evaluations (“State BOE to start search for new schools chief,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 27).

She has done much to improve the quality of public schools in her six years. The public high schools are safe and children are learning again. Unfortunately, the interests of a few who dislike her seem to weigh heavier on decision-makers than improving our schools.

The governor and the Board of Education should put the future of our keiki above politics, and allow Matayoshi to finish what she has started.

Laurel King

Kaneohe

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Teachers should get a decent living wage

All the new and exciting programs the Department of Education and the governor are proposing won’t do a bit of good if there aren’t highly qualified teachers in the field to implement them.

It’s time for the Legislature to put its money where its mouth is when it comes to asking teachers to do a better job of teaching our children, and start paying our teachers a decent living wage.

Starting salaries for teachers should be the same, if not more, than comparable pay for people with the same qualifications in the private sector.

Sure, there are some teachers who could do better, and maybe don’t deserve the money they are getting. But the reason they are there is because the good ones have left.

It’s not until our government starts treating teachers like the true professionals they are will the quality of education increase.

Wim Blees

Mililani

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Trump’s agenda better than Clinton’s

I voted for Donald Trump. He disclosed his Supreme Court choices. Hillary’ Clinton’s emails disclosed a false agenda for the public with her real agenda kept secret.

Trump supports beneficial free trade — trade between two free peoples, like the U.S. and Japan. Clinton embraces destructive open trade — opening a free-people’s market to tyranny, like between the U.S. and China. Open trade strengthens tyrannies to devour a free people.

Western civilization’s foundation includes separation of church and state. Islam’s foundation rests on the state being the church’s enforcement arm. Trump understood they were incompatible. Hillary saw no problem.

Trump embraces free-market enterprise like Apple Computer, which grew a good idea into billions for entrepreneurs, investors and workers. Clinton embraced Buffet-Romney capitalism that harvests assets others built, leaving less behind.

Trump understands that income should be taxed equally, whether it’s worked for, as with the income tax, or not, as in estate or gift taxes.

George L. Berish

Kakaako

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Trump can reduce our national debt

We should welcome President-elect Donald Trump.

Under the present leadership of both parties, it took just eight years to double the national debt. Regardless of what some pundits say, history shows us that debt is the pathway to currency collapse. If that happens it would be a disaster for all of us.

To date, all Washington has done is raise the debt limit as needed. Enough of that. Trump recognizes the problem, has years of experience with fiscal problems, and he promises the return to fiscal responsibility.

For all of our sakes, let us give him a chance.

Bob Henninger

Foster Village

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Cabinet picks would harm environment

So far President-elect Donald Trump’s picks to lead our federal agencies are bound to set us back in civil rights and environmental protections.

Our children and grandchildren are going to live with the repercussions of his presidency. Rather than making America great again, such choices are going to be disastrous for our citizens and our environment.

Moana Yost

Kuliouou

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Punish scofflaws at Hanauma Bay

My husband and I recently visited Honolulu and, like so many other tourists, we booked a snorkeling trip to Hanauma Bay.

For those who travel to this area, a film was shown about the park, featuring the beautiful coral reef and many of the fish who call this home. Great attention was given to not touching or walking on the reef.

Unfortunately so many people in the water showed no regard for these rules. I personally asked many people to abide by them but grew discouraged.

Our tour operator told us a million people visit this area every year. With that in mind, it will not be long before this precious area is destroyed.

One can already see a coral reef trying to survive. I suggest the area become a permit-only site, with fines for those who are not willing to treat the environment with respect.

Debbie Jaso

Anchorage, Alaska

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Hawaii doesn’t need federal welfare

A letter writer dismissed the idea of Hawaii’s independence from the U.S. by saying, “Hawaii couldn’t hold out for 24 hours without the massive welfare payments it receives from the federal government” (“Hawaii depends on federal largesse,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 2).

But we don’t need to be dependent on federal money. Federal money is taxpayer money.

Why pay taxes to the federal government when we can be independent and keep our tax revenues here?

Also, Hawaii can find alternatives to subsidies to be prosperous. For example, by becoming independent, we are no longer held hostage by the Jones Act, a federal law that makes onerous restrictions on what ships can go from one U.S. port to another.

With independence, Hawaii would no longer be constrained by the Jones Act and would have greater access to international trade.

Singapore is an independent, prosperous city-state that doesn’t rely on foreign government subsidies.

If Singapore can do it, why not us?

Pablo Wegesend

Moiliili