For hundreds of years, Hawaiians have revered the ancient chants about navigating via the stars.
Today we send canoes around the world navigating by the stars.
Akua (God) raised His tall mountains high above the clouds and placed them surrounded water on an island where light reflection could be controlled so we could study the stars.
The mountains may be considered sacred, but also sacred is the purpose for which Akua has done this — so we can still study the stars.
Stopping the Thirty Meter Telescope hinders Akua’s purpose. Since when can Man say he knows better than Akua as to why Akua has placed His mountains here.
Let the telescope be built and let us study the stars as Akua intended. It would be blasphemy to do otherwise.
Anthony Tepedino
Ewa Beach
Open-door policy is all about politics
I don’t think people realize what immigration was like 120 years ago.
My grandparents told me about their struggle to move from Sweden to Illinois. When they got to Ellis Island, they were held and examined for diseases. They had to prove they had a skill and knowledge to qualify. If not, they were sent back. Everyone was not welcome.
The only reason President Barack Obama wants unfettered immigration is because the new arrivals will vote Democrat.
If it showed they would vote Republican, the door would slam shut tomorrow.
Scott Brooks
Kuliouou Valley
Slom wasn’t kidding about overregulation
In a story on Small Business Saturday, state Sen. Sam Slom was quoted as saying government officials should consider small businesses for regulatory relief — and that struck a nerve.
I’m a small-business owner that is required to do an annual fire inspection. Regulations quote that the responsible department — previously Human Services, now Health — shall arrange for the inspection.
For over 10 years, the Department of Human Services had been arranging and paying for the fire inspections.
Since the Department of Health took over, one DOH individual decided that the cost of fire inspection would be passed on to the business owners, as “the cost of doing business.”
I complained to Gov. David Ige’s ombudsman and the conclusion was that the “decision by Health Care Assurance (HCA) was reasonable.”
When I asked what grounds HCA had to pass on expenses, I was told it could not be discussed.
Another straw on the camel’s back. Regulatory relief? No.
Donald Fukumoto
Aiea
‘Christian values’ abandoned too easily
It amazes to me that these primarily GOP governors who are always cherry-picking the Bible when it comes to gay rights, marriage equality, Planned Parenthood, abortion, what women should and should not do, etc., invoke “Christian values.”
The key message of Jesus was to take care of the poor, orphans and widows, and especially to feed the poor.
Suddenly, this part of the Bible disappears from their message. Jesus did not put conditions on this as to whether it was safe, convenient, practical or easy.
We should not live in fear, which is another important message in the New Testament — but for some reason these people choose to live in fear.
Then they use it as a fundraising technique. This is despicable.
The “Christian values” of these governors also seems to evaporate when it comes to health care, too.
Jim Quimby
Kapalama
Vigilance is best way to avoid violence
The recent mass murder in California reminds us, again, that our country is a magnet for mayhem.
Whether the killing spree involves poisons, planes, knives, suicide vests or AK-47s, no sector of our society is off limits. Public schools, universities, abortion clinics, disability centers, financial complexes, marathons and government buildings have been prime targets.
What can be done to prevent this all-too-pervasive slaughter? What deterrents can we use?
Nothing has worked well enough so far — not surveillance (human or digital), and certainly not the death penalty.
Some people have clamored for a short-term fix like martial law or a long-term fix like genetic engineering.
But let’s be realistic. Heightened vigilance on all fronts is our best option.
Stan Satz
Waikiki
FROM THE FORUM
Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.
“Rolovich says in his heart, he ‘never left’ UH” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 30:
>> Good luck Rolo! Go get ‘um!
>> I never heard Nick address the media before. Very heart-warming and sincere.
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“State grills HECO CEO on costs for customers”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 1:
>> The unions are for the merger. That’s enough of a red flag for me.
>> The state has all the leverage right now. Tell Hawaiian Electric and NextEra that we either get the details and cost-benefit analysis or the deal will be rejected simply because of the lack of being forthright. Show some muscle, Hawaii.
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Monthly electrical savings if HEI sold? $1” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2:
>> A whole dollar, huh? Sign me up.
>> The huge investment needed for LNG infrastructure could be better spent on grid upgrades to accommodate more rooftop solar. What I don’t get is why would Big Energy want in on our already sky-high market? Our profit margins are manini compared to Podunk, U.S.A. The unions better wise up, too. The honeymoon will only last for two years.
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“Party cheers the 100 years that Ing has been enjoying” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 2:
>> I hope he has many more years of life. Noble Ing relishes life and lives it to the fullest. Great outlook. An inspiration, for sure.
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“U.S. high court halts balloting for delegates to Hawaiian body” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3:
>> In truth, Na‘i Aupuni is trying to create something that has no precedence. In addition, if successful, a government established through this process is likely to be unrecognized as legitimate by many people who identify themselves as Native Hawaiians.
>> An election that is restricted to one race is prohibited by the federal Constitution but not the state Constitution. Which one prevails is a foregone conclusion. What is Plan B?
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“‘Back to square one’ for TMT” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3:
>> Let’s get it done right this time.
>> Rather than waste time and money, the TMT team needs to admit trying to work high-tech in Hawaii is a lost cause. It’s just too backwards to handle space exploration.
>> What’s most interesting is how our legal system protects the small segment of our society that has no respect for our legal system. Even if everything were done legally (and in Hawaii this appears to be a moving target), this will not stop the “protectors” from setting up their blockades again per Kanuha’s comments.
>> The protesters are exercising their constitutional rights. In this case, they’re challenging the laws that might make TMT “legal.” Whether TMT is finally granted or denied permission to build, Hawaii’s current land-use laws will be tested. The result may be changes in the laws or new laws. This is a long and tedious process, but this is the American way. We could short-circuit the process, but then we’d have to burn our Bill of Rights. I’m sure you’re not suggesting that we do this.
>> Peaceful assembly for protest is a right. Illegal assembly for protest is not.
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“Politicians, kin and pals of tax cheat push judge for lenience” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 3:
>> I can think of 4 million reasons not to be lenient.
>> Given that this man has stolen so much (over decades) from the people whom he was supposed to have been helping on Hawaiian home lands, I am just shocked and incredibly disappointed to see such respected people in the community beg for mercy on him.
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“Nuns none too pleased at being forced to move” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4:
>> The reporter and Sister Cassella in New York have both missed the central issue regarding removing the nuns from the St. Francis school environment. They are among its primary assets. These sisters have changed the world, and I suspect they provide daily examples to the students of St. Francis on just how it’s done. Taking this resource away from the students would be a great disservice.
>> Too bad these women have to be relocated at this time of their lives.
