As we hunker down due to approaching weather systems, be reminded that we are globally the most isolated place on the planet. The Papahanaumokua- kea and Pacific Remote Islands national marine monuments hold our lifesaving fish stocks, which are accessible only by our longline vessels.

We advocate buying locally grown produce, but not locally caught fish. The alternative is carbon monoxide or tasteless-smoke-treated, previously frozen fish. The hepatitis A outbreak should be of concern.

We are vulnerable to natural disasters. Our seaports and most of our airports are at or near sea level, open to the devastating effects of a hurricane tidal surge or tsunamis. We are nearly totally dependent upon imported food and goods as we hoard water, canned goods and paper products with each threat.

Our leaders must ensure that these protected waters are open and available to our local fishing fleet to sustain our state should such an event occur.

Roy N. Morioka

Waialae Iki

Oahu can’t handle much more growth

The World Conservation Congress is meeting on our island this week. People from all over the world will be discussing the importance of conservation and sustainable development, whatever that means to them.

The eight main islands of our state encompass a total of 6,500 square miles.

Our island, Oahu, is only 597 square miles. In Kakaako alone, there are 3,971 planned or already built housing units. That is just one area of our island. Each housing unit will need water, sewer, electric, trash removal — it goes on and on.

Most things reach a saturation point. Aren’t we getting close?

When will our citizens say “enough”? Sadly, if they ever do, it will be too late.

Diane Tippett

Waikiki

Duterte threatens Filipinos’ liberties

After six years of ineffective leadership by President Benigno Aquino III, Filipinos are now confronted by the frightening aggressiveness of Rodrigo Duterte. The new president began by declaring war on drug dealers, encouraging the police to shoot them with impunity.

Duterte also named scores of public officials he accused of complicity in the drug rackets and ordered them to surrender. When the chief justice of the Supreme Court objected to the inclusion of judges, the president threatened to impose martial law — but later rescinded the threat.

However, the possibility of martial law could not be dismissed because Duterte ordered the reburial of Ferdinand Marcos, who did impose martial law in 1972 — and who died in exile in Hawaii in 1989 — in a cemetery designated for national heroes. His predecessors refused to do that.

Duterte is very popular with Filipinos who are fed up with corruption and incompetence in government. But defenders of civil liberties are justifiably concerned.

Carl H. Zimmerman

Salt Lake

Poor management plagued rail project

Your article, “How we got here: A timeline” (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 28) punctuates the arduous process throughout the rail project. However, there are several milestones than require elaboration.

The Federal Transit Administration approved the final environmental impact statement on Jan. 18, 2011, with the issuance of the Record of Decision for the project.

The ROD authorized commencement of property acquisition, utility relocation and purchase of rail vehicles, but nothing more, thus making groundbreaking in February 2011 merely ceremonial. Full authorization and federal funding to build the project came on Dec. 19, 2012 with the signing of the Full Funding Grant Agreement. Unlimited construction actually started September 2013 after completion of a full archaeological survey.

Yes, the hot construction market is partly the cause of our way-over-budget situation. Of equal or greater importance are the overly optimistic cost estimates, reckless forging ahead and inefficient execution that have plagued the project schedule and cost.

Richard Ubersax

Waimanalo

Lawsuits kept rail from moving ahead

Before rail opponents gloat about the rejection of federal assistance to complete the entire rail line to Ala Moana, they should reexamine — if not acknowledge — their role in rail’s dilemma.

But for the meritless legal obstacles they erected that unnecessarily delayed bidding and construction during the early stages of the project, when building and financing costs were low and, in some cases, under budget, rail could very well have been on time and within budget.

The frivolous lawsuits delayed critical work at costs that could have been locked in before the current Honolulu construction boom sent all construction costs skyrocketing, exceeding all reasonable estimations.

Like the gutless City Council members who killed rail in 1993, the recent crop of obstructionists have only themselves to blame for the budgetary hellhole they’ve put Hawaii’s taxpayers in.

Francis M. Nakamoto

Moanalua Valley

Respect the lives of animals, too

How interesting it is that most Republican politicians are so fanatically against abortion and yet many of them are proud wildlife hunters, too. They apparently think nothing of the defenseless animals they routinely slaughter for sport.

It’s so typical of this party’s shameless hypocrisy.

Kevin Johnson

Kakaako