Your articles on #MeToo were important for the many victims of sexual abuse and harassment to know they are not alone. However, it is just as important to say to perpetrators that this kind of behavior is absolutely unacceptable.
Adults who harass or assault do not begin their odious practices in adulthood. As young people they failed to learn everyone should be treated with respect, especially on a school campus. Too many adults excuse bad behavior as being “naughty.”
This is one of many reasons Hawaii needs a Title IX law. Enacting a Title IX law tells students that the system will protect them from sexual harassment and assault. A Title IX bill has survived the legislative gauntlet of hearings and may soon become law.
To all legislators and Gov. David Ige, we need the strongest possible state law and House Bill 1489 is a big step in that direction. We need to protect our keiki from becoming victims or perpetrators.
Amy Monk
Commissioner, Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women
Hawaii Kai
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Condo leases turned into vacation rentals
I took great interest in Allison Schaefers’ report, “Waikiki condo seeks to ban short-term rentals” (Star-Advertiser, March Opens in a new tab27) Opens in a new tab.
On the ewa end of Waikiki, the Association of Apartment Owners board of our 3-year-old condo is actively trying to crack down on this same issue.
There is a law, and I don’t understand why people — U.S. citizens as well as foreign investors, owners as well as tenants — feel entitled to break it.
Here in our condo, and I’m sure in many others, immigrants are leasing apartments for a year and, unbeknownst to the owner or rental agent, are turning around and renting these units out as vacation rentals for one night, one week, two weeks — less than the 30-day minimum required by the city. We also have a strict occupancy rule that permits two adults per bedroom, and these entrepreneurs advertise that the unit sleeps six in a two-bedroom unit.
The association board does not mean to be punitive. Buyers know before purchasing units that short-term rentals are not allowed. It is in the bylaws as well as house rules.
Ramona Chiya
Waikiki
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City services aren’t what they used to be
The mayor’s State of the City and my State of the City differ greatly (“Caldwell to announce plan for more B&Bs, longer-term vacation rentals,” Star-Advertiser, April Opens in a new tab3) Opens in a new tab.
More than 26 years ago, I bought my current home and frankly, until a few years ago, felt that the taxes I paid and the services I received were fair. That is no longer the case.
For the past six years it has been going in the wrong direction. It used to take no more than a week to get a new or a fixed garbage bin; now it takes three to eight weeks. Street lights, same thing. I live in District 7 for bulky item pickup. This used to be a great service, but no more. Since December we have waited from 2-1/2 to four weeks to get pickup. This situation is out of control.
When you can’t do the small things right, why should we expect you to get the big things right? Choo-choo!
F.M. Scotty Anderson
Waialae Nui
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Columnist wrong about aid in dying
Ira Zunin obviously has not had the sickening experience of watching a father, mother or other loved one waste away in an assigned care home (“Medically assisted death bill should not have been passed,” Star-Advertiser, Wealth of Health, April Opens in a new tab7) Opens in a new tab.
My father requested I bring him rat poison to hasten his death as he lingered in a care home he hated. I couldn’t do it for fear of being handcuffed for his murder.
He took things into his own hands and starved to death. My father would have happily chosen a medically assisted way to end his life. Please allow the patient to end his life his way.
I will choose this option if given a six-month death sentence by my doctor. That sounds to me like a wonderful way to go. My father’s dog went that way when he was riddled with pain. Please don’t give animals a better way to die than people. Now that is inhumane.
Pamela Kehaulani Nakagawa
Makiki
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Find way to change lantern day schedule
As a veteran and a Buddhist by persuasion, I am both enchanted by the annual lantern ceremony at Magic Island and bothered by the decision to hold this event on Memorial Day.
I agree with writer Robert W. Holub that the beautiful, heartfelt event should be held the weekend before and thus honor the intent of our national holiday to pay respects to those who gave their lives in military service (“Lantern floating day needs to be changed,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April Opens in a new tab9) Opens in a new tab.
I imagine that a majority of island residents agree and would support a reconciliation effort to resolve this matter.
Stephen Paul Lerman
Liliha
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‘Never Again’ will probably fade away
The sad truth is that the “Never Again” movement will taper out before election day as the more urgent issues of senior prom, graduation, college, and/or going to work come to the forefront for Generation Z.
Although this movement is vaguely similar to the anti-war movement of the 1960s, the consequences were more drastic (getting drafted and going into battle in Vietnam), and this generation lacks the intestinal fortitude to see it to the end.
I sincerely hope I am wrong, as I am an ultra-liberal Democrat, but after close to 50 years in education in two states, I fear Gen Z will lose its focus quickly and will not be a factor in the 2018 elections.
Bryant Ching
Kailua-Kona
