Rob Perez’s article was a wake-up call on the importance of monitoring the quality of care in our nursing homes and other care facilities licensed to admit nursing home-level residents (“Feds find care-facility inspections below par,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 2).

We are short on properly trained inspectors and the state Department of Health’s Keith Ridley assured us that they will be hired. Recruiting more inspectors is a lengthy process and training them requires even more time.

While the immediate impact of these federally identified deficiencies are not clear, Hawaii’s culture of caring by our families may have moderated its deleterious effects. While that should not excuse the DOH’s lag time, it is important to continue to encourage families to be involved, to volunteer, to be the “squeaky wheel” and report on shoddy service and to participate in Family Council meetings.

Family members are irreplaceable advocates for their loved ones and others. Let’s protect those who have built Hawaii and who are least capable of protecting themselves.

Cullen T. Hayashida

​Moanalua Gardens

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Costly rail won’t make a difference

The original justification for rail transit was that it would reduce traffic. That justification quickly fell by the wayside as it became clear that it would have practically no such impact.

Then it was touted as an “alternative” form of transportation, as if that were enough to justify the billions being spent.

The latest assertion is that its purpose is to spur transit-oriented development. So it’s not the rail that’s important; it’s the development that will spring up as a result.

But all development is transit-oriented development. New apartments, condos, retail shops, malls are all developed where transit is available.

The only thing that rail is doing is shifting development from one place to another. The development would happen anyway.

Can our politicians really say with a straight face that it’s worth the $9 billion that rail is costing us so that development happens “here” instead of “there”?

Roger Garrett

Moiliili

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Column introduces us to good people

How fortunate we are to have Michael Tsai’s column, “Incidental Lives,” which introduces us to people young and older who are a credit to humanity. We are reminded that there are good people and good activities and practices in our midst.

The PBS program, “Hiki No,” which features students learning and presenting stories about our communities, is comparable.

Mahalo to those who recognize that we have much for which to be thankful.

Mandy Bowers

Manoa

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Cataluna’s mom a special woman

Lee Cataluna’s column, “A mother’s purse held a world of joys, hopes” (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 1), was written so tenderly that I read it aloud to my family during Sunday breakfast.

My children, ages 7 and 9, listened closely and understood why I periodically had to pause as I got misty-eyed and said over and over, “This is so beautiful.”

Her remembrance refreshingly avoided the usual mentions of awards and accomplishments but introduced us to a very special woman whose actions spoke of a life infused with love and guided by true generosity.

Food for thought.

Margot Schrire

Hawaii Kai

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Activists ignore benefits of TMT

Astronomers are the least objectionable people I know. Their eyes are skyward and their words tend toward unity and peace so that we can explore the heavens.

The Thirty Meter Telescope developers tried to be better than their predecessors, soliciting community input and offering real economic benefits.

Kealoha Pisciotta has waffled between the land being sacred and TMT not paying enough rent (“Kealoha Pisciotta,” Star-Advertiser, Name in the News, Sept. 29). Activists like herself are being short-sighted by ignoring what benefits can be realized for many, in favor of nothing. Anyone remember the Superferry?

Harlan Sheppard

Ewa Beach

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Space telescopes better than TMT

If the Hubble Space Telescope, in outer space and beyond Earth’s atmosphere, is far superior to the Thirty Meter Telescope because it is not distorted by the atmosphere, why do we need the TMT?

Not only is the Hubble superior to the TMT, but it will soon be replaced by an even better telescope in the near future. So do we really need the TMT?

Gordon Matsuda

Kaimuki

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Anti-Trump cartoons show paper’s bias

There you go again! Donald Trump may not “be your president,” but there are thousands of us who think differently. So why does your editorial page feature so many nasty anti-Trump cartoons?

I have been a subscriber for more than 35 years and have never seen you insult not only the president, but me as well, so often. Are you urging me to cancel my subscription? I consider it often.

I suppose it is true — you are part of the biased media that only sees one side of everything. For shame!

Betty “B.J.” Dyhr

Waikiki

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Government leaders fail in Kakaako

Closing Kakaako Waterfront Park is a truly damning condemnation of both state and city leadership (“Perils and squalor prompt shutdown of waterfront park,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 4). So, are we to conclude that if enough people occupy a prime piece of real estate the state is just going to roll over and close the facility?

Really?

So much for the “live, work, play” slogan for Kakaako. Now the governor wants to spend half a million dollars for cleanup and can’t guarantee it won’t happen again?

What’s the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

That’s me: I keep paying my taxes and expecting our “leaders” to fix things.

David Young

Makiki