What is the real truth behind the opposition to constructing the Thirty Meter Telescope?
Locals supposedly claim that the land is sacred and significant to Native Hawaiians. Tell us, what part of Mauna Kea is much more significantly sacred than any other so-labeled “sacred place?”
If you are a Native Hawaiian, take a good look at all of Hawaii and not just Mauna Kea. It is no more sacred than any other land in Hawaii. Is the land you live on sacred? Look at Kakaako and Waikiki, where numerous bodies were buried, dug up, and relocated. What about the oldest island in our chain — Kauai? There may be more sacred sites on that island than any other island.
I am a Native Hawaiian who attends school on the mainland, and the TMT protesters do not speak for me. This issue is about individual selfish attitudes, plain and simple.
Kekoa Williams
Minneapolis, Minn.
—
Missile test failure not 1 person’s fault
If one operator has the capacity to mess up a missile test, the problem is not the operator (“U.S. blames operator for missile test failure,” Star-Advertiser, July 26).
Lane Yoder
Kaneohe
—
Get freeloaders off state highways
Finally, someone has the courage to speak out about the disgusting waste of taxpayer dollars in catering to the homeless.
Richard Rath’s letter was excellent (“Millions wasted chasing homeless,” Star-Advertiser, July 26). It shows the folly of our politicians. Spend $4 million in taxpayer money to clean out a few of the homeless on H-1 and Nimitz highways.
Our politicians and “do gooders” provide these people who contribute nothing to the economy with free food, medical, phones, child care, books and toys, and free real estate (illegal squatting on city and state land), housing and more.
The problem is worse than ever. The last time I drove down Kalakaua Avenue to Beretania Street and then on South King back to Kalakaua, I was totally appalled at the encampments. Yesterday I drove down Nimitz and was shocked.
Who is in control here?
It is not the taxpayers; it is the freeloaders.
Enough!
Diane Tippett
Waikiki
—
Hawaii Kai DMV very inconvenient
Something must be done about the Hawaii Kai facility providing driver’s license renewals. While there used to be a reasonable wait with adequate parking is now impossible.
A line of about 100 waiting, the line not moving at all. The parking lot was overcrowded and I had to leave without my license.
I know the Department of Motor Vehicles facilities had computer problems recently, but it should be back to normal by now.
If the state requires the renewal of driver licenses, it must provide an area and personnel to accomplish it. Please fix it!
Jane Wylie
Makiki
—
Stop building rail, and conduct audit
Despite many news reports in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, as well as opinion pieces not only by interested parties, but unbiased third-party journalists such as Richard Borreca and David Shapiro (“Isle leaders intently keep blind eye on rail’s budget,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, July 23) — as well as a multiplicity of other stories indicating improper influence by special interests or the appearance of same (“Rent waiver is state’s latest grant to affiliated shipyard firms,” Star-Advertiser, July 23) — the huge waste of taxpayer money and subversion of the interests and well-being of the average taxpayer, the underhoused, and the environment in this state continues unabated.
As is undeniably documented, by transportation experts and neutral economists, the wise thing to do, as well as the moral thing to do, is to immediately cease and desist from this impoverishing wastefulness of finances and the environment.
We should perform the recently avoided forensic audit of the rail transit project, and get our effective attorney general, Doug Chin, to quickly prosecute all white-collar crimes, including improper influence.
Richard Stancliff
Makiki
—
White House now a dangerous swamp
In the fetid swamp that is the current White House only piranha remain. Cannibalism has begun and nothing is getting done to benefit anyone except Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is rapidly rising to the top of the food chain.
The Democrats’ “A Better Deal” is like hoping that throwing in your pet turtle will solve the problem.
Jeff Bigler
Wailuku
—
Judicial system makes bad decisions
Our judicial system is off the rails and absolutely disgusting. A judge on Kauai gave a person who harassed a monk seal four years, while a judge on Oahu gave a woman who killed a passenger in her car while on drugs 18 months (“Man given 4-year term for harassing seal,” Star-Advertiser, July 27; “Negligent homicide lands woman in jail for at least a year,” Star-Advertiser, July 26).
One can only believe that judges value the life of a monk seal more than the life of a human being. No wonder Hawaii is slowly becoming a laughingstock for justice.
Mike Eberle
Waikiki
