Taking $6 million out of the Hawaii Tourism Authority marketing budget and giving it to the athletics programs at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and Hilo is an excellent idea (“UH could score $6M from HTA budget,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 9). The athletic teams, just playing their regular schedules, will do as good a job of marketing Hawaii and promoting tourism as the HTA.

On another matter, if the HTA is so concerned about tourism, perhaps it should take a look at the impact that an industrial dairy in Mahaulepu will have on tourism on the south shore of Kauai.

Linda Estes

Koloa, Kauai

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Hawaii missing amid glitzy redevelopment

This is my 43rd year in Honolulu, where I own property and spend winters.

I’m missing Hawaiian music everywhere, Hawaiian colors in hotel decor, and the lovely comfortable muumuus. I’m missing the International Market Place where we strolled and bought jewelry, sharks’ teeth, T-shirts for kids at home, and had our fortunes told in a tree.

I must wonder who had this great vision to take the Hawaii out of Waikiki and turn the place into a Monaco or New York City. The wealthy have places all over the world for designer shopping. Ordinary people who saved all their lives for Hawaii may be disappointed. I see few on Kalakaua carrying shopping bags.

I ate at a hotel restaurant that had moved, remodeled and doubled its prices. It had bright ceiling lights, no artwork, no colors, no music. Tables were small, no linens. I felt I was back in my grade-school lunchroom.

Doris Markland

Waikiki

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Clean up gateway to Chinatown

Tourism is Hawaii’s major source of income. Many tourists who come to Hawaii would like very much to visit our famous Chinatown.

However, our Chinatown is a disgrace. We need to clean up our “gateway to Chinatown,” on the corner of King and River streets.

The city did a good job in cleaning up the Aala Park side. However, what about the spot of land along Hotel and King streets? Why are we not enforcing the existing ordinance of no tents in public parks?

I have observed tourists taking photos of our gateway to Chinatown. Is this how we want the world to remember Hawaii’s Chinatown? I know homelessness is a complex issue. However, tourism is our No. 1 industry. So tourism should be our No. 1 priority.

Roland Louie

Kaimuki

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Safe fuel tanks are Navy’s responsibility

I was very displeased and genuinely concerned with the reporting of the Red Hill fuel tanks bill (“Navy and state oppose Red Hill tank upgrade bill,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 14).

Opposing this bill is lunacy. The Navy and the state must recognize that island ecosystems are very fragile. I testified at the Capitol along with many others, including the Sierra Club and the Board of Water Supply. The voice of the people who wrote the bill was not heard in your article.

As a Navy veteran, I carried environmental duties at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. In the military, the environment comes second to mission readiness. The purpose of this bill is to ensure appropriate responsibility be taken by the United States, which annexed stolen lands.

It might perhaps be best if the tanks were closed and scrapped to ensure the longevity of Hawaii’s waters. May our mission be peace, not war.

Harvy King

Kaneohe

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Affordable units shouldn’t be flipped

Since I have long advocated changes to the affordable housing law, Dale Nishikawa’s commentary, (“Proposed changes would restrict affordable housing in Kakaako,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 19) interested me enough to read every word.

The Hawaii Community Development Authority’s proposed changes would limit owners from ever selling their units for market value. How does that hurt the builders of affordable units?

If it limits the buyers, aren’t there more eager buyers than there are available units?

Nishikawa says “only” one buyer re-sold his unit for more than the price deemed affordable by the HCDA. But why should any buyer make a profit by re-selling an affordable unit?

Buyers should be required to sell back at the price they paid. The rise in value could then be used to build more affordable housing by the state.

Pearl Johnson

Kaneohe

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Title IX goals good for K-12 schools, too

No doubt the Star-Advertiser headline, (“DOE accused of negligence in student’s rape,” Newswatch, Feb. 15) has concerned parents.

We know there are many more unreported incidents. Policies exist to change this situation: specifically, Title IX, U.S. Rep. Patsy T. Mink’s education bill, which promotes safe and welcoming campus environments for women.

In recent years, the University of Hawaii developed and implemented a Title IX program. But the state Department of Education has done little for K-12 students. Many UH strategies could be used in DOE schools.

Title IX advocates recommend that there should be someone on every campus, who as part of their duties knows the school’s legal responsibilities and procedures in cases of sexual harassment or assault.

This year’s DOE budget included the 15 needed counselor positions. The bad news is that no money was included for the positions.

We hope that the governor and Legislature will restore funding for these positions.

Ann Freed

Co-chairwoman, Hawaii Women’s Coalition

Susan Wurtzburg

AAUW-Hawaii