I am writing in support of the letter regarding the Thirty Meter Telescope by Toshio Kishi (“TMT will sanctify land on Mauna Kea,” Star-Advertiser, March 29).

As a Native Hawaiian, I believe all land in Hawaii nei is sacred and it hurts to see so much of it covered in concrete and not benefiting my people. At least the TMT will benefit Hawaiians by providing opportunities for our keiki to learn and potentially be employed at good jobs.

Several Native Hawaiians have been involved with the science on Maunakea and have contributed to our increased knowledge of the universe around us.

This is also a fitting extension of our great Hawaiian navigators and explorers, who used their knowledge of the stars to become the best navigators on the planet both in the past and today with the crew of the Hokule‘a.

It is also a fitting extension of the pursuit of knowledge prized by our great king, Kamehameha I.

James Daniel “Bla” Pahinui

Waialua

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Patient should control death

Ira Zunin’s highly moral criticism of the medically assisted death bill entirely misses the point (“Medically assisted death bill should not have been passed,” Star-Advertiser, Wealth of Health, April 7). The question is why he, or any other doctor, should decide the issue for another person.

And if they insist on playing tin God, then why can’t we sue them for the consequential pain and suffering and emotional distress that they force on others? Or does Zunin seek power without accountability?

Also, I wonder how he sees abortion and the issue of who decides?

That’s actually a more extreme case.

Lloyd Lim

Makiki

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Marine heroes of ‘Bloody Tarawa’

Mahalo for publishing the story of one of the many Marines who gave their all for the Battle of Tarawa (“Tarawa Marine identified, buried with full honors,” Star-Advertiser, April 7).

Many have been located, disinterred and identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. Thus, they can go home and closure is obtained.

I work with Delta Cargo and many have passed through here; some to Arlington, some to hometowns across America.

So far, the youngest I have given honor to was 17. The oldest, 27. This is from the units that perished on the first day of combat. One Marine perished a day before his 20th birthday.

They are still revered and honored. A Marine in dress blues solemnly escorts the Marine home.

Chilling, but so joyful that “Bloody Tarawa” is giving back our Marines through the fantastic work of those who find them, identify them, and then painstakingly ensure they are taken care of.

Semper Fidelis and welcome home.

Gregory Casler

1st Sgt. U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)

Kailua

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Trump using shrewd tactics

Whether negotiating for a big house or a little bracelet, when you want to bargain, do you always tell the truth?

No, I don’t think so.

President Donald Trump is a shrewd businessman who always keeps his adversaries guessing. If you see it as lying, so be it (“Politicians need to demand the truth,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 8).

I see him as a smart business executive who is actually getting things done.

Revitalizing the economy, tax reform, helping to get ISIS under control, securing our borders, getting Kim Jong Un to settle down, letting the world know that trade agreements should be done in a fair manner — things that past presidents have talked a lot about, but done little.

These are his campaign promises, and he’s doing all of this with little or no help from either party.

Oh, I almost forgot: He’s also draining the swamp.

Ted Kanemori

Kaneohe

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Save lives, not tires on Tantalus

Driving on the upper reaches of Round Top and Tantalus drives is hazardous. The yellow center line on both roadways is no longer visible. Also, the center line reflectors are long gone.

Driving is especially dangerous at night when, without street lights, fog limits visibility and obscures the hairpin turns that are common on both roadways.

Finally, there are no white lines marking the outer edges of the roadways to prevent a vehicle from tumbling down a steep bank.

It’s only a matter of time before someone will suffer serious injury or lose their life in an accident.

The city has done little more than fill in the potholes to prevent damage to tires.

That’s okay, but the mayor should be more concerned with saving lives than saving tires.

Joe Gedan

Round Top Drive