I found it beyond surprising that the day after a horrific attack took place in New York City, which left eight people dead and many more injured, that the front page headlines and articles in the Star-Advertiser dealt with an Airbnb tax deal and the success of a new bikeshare program.

Sandra Fujii

Manoa

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Recycling means more than profits

There is more to recycling than profits.

The Big Q about sending recyclables to HPOWER because it’s cheaper, is exactly what is wrong with our capitalistic society (“If it’s cheaper, should recyclables just be burned at HPOWER instead of being sent away for recycling?” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 30).

Choosing the cheapest option, not the most sustainable or best for society, puts profits before logic. If Oahu starts burning our recyclables, instead of finding a better system, this will be a step backward. Even burning of trash is questionable.

The lack of concern about air pollution seems to overlook the fact that the Earth is a closed system. We need to be a smarter community, island, nation and world when it comes to the products we make and the life cycles they have.

We need to switch from a linear build-use-throwaway mindset to a circular cradle-to-cradle mindset, where products are repurposed after their consumer lifecycle. Hawaii should impose stricter rules about what products can be brought into our island community.

Only those that can be properly recycled or reused, should be allowed to be sold.

Travis Counsell

Kailua

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Send more waste to burn at HPOWER

You reported that “the city contracts with Covanta Honolulu to run HPOWER, and it must send that operator 800,000 tons of waste a year or else pay the difference. From 2013 to 2105 the city paid out $6.2 million to cover the tons it missed and the lost electricity revenues, according to the auditor’s report” (“Auditor urges city to get some cash for its trash,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 27).

We could have used that money to help the homeless!

Instead of waiting for laws to change, a simple solution would be to ask citizens to put their paper and plastic waste in the gray containers to provide fuel for HPOWER, thereby increasing electricity production and meeting the city’s contractual requirement with Covanta.

All city and state offices should start doing that.

Opala.org says government employees have recycled more than 250,000 pounds of paper annually since the beginning of the city’s office paper recycling program in 1989. It would be a good time to divert that paper to HPOWER.

Arun Savara

Aina Haina

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Let’s act to ways to prevent diabetes

You are free to eat anything you want. But have you considered the cost of that freedom to your health?

The article, “Dialysis clinics stalled waiting on certification” (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 31) on the number of dialysis centers we now need and will need in Hawaii is truly terrifying.

The human cost of diabetes in the U.S. is incalculable. Read the Harvard School of Health’s “Simple Steps to Preventing Diabetes” to learn how not to become a diabetes statistic.

Let’s produce more doctors armed with research-based information to advise patients on nutrition and physical activity.

Let’s have more discussions on prevention (always more cost-effective) rather than treatment. Let’s start now.

Jan Pappas

Aiea

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Democratic Party has lost its dignity

My late father used to tell me with pride that he was a card-carrying Democrat because his generation brought the party to prominence upon its return from World War II. Sadly, I told him that the Democratic Party that he once knew no longer existed. It has lost its vision, honesty and, sadly, its dignity.

The Democrats have been in power far too long. Our state and city are far too generous with social-benefit packages. Why would anyone work with such generous benefits?

When I was discharged from the Army in 1971, I had an opportunity to apply for unemployment and welfare, but opted instead to work at a job that paid $2 an hour. I was simply too proud.

I got married and raised a family. My kids have grown to become contributing members of society, and so I proudly say that they are my proudest achievements in my life.

I believe in MAGA (Make America Great Again) and hope that everyone believes that hard work and sacrifice will result in a better life. God bless the United States of America.

Gary Suzukawa

Moiliili

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Remind president who was born here

I think it would be appropriate to have signs to greet President Donald Trump during his visit on Friday: “Welcome to the birthplace of Barack Obama.”

Dorothy D. Mason

Makiki

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Rethink plans for Kaanapali resort

Despite near unanimous community opposition to the Kaanapali redevelopment project, the state Employees Retirement System forges ahead with its plan to carve up the resort.

Hour-and-a-half and longer drives to the west side of Maui are common. A recent five-fatality accident caused highway closure for six hours, with all traffic rerouted through the resort. Beach erosion and sea level changes further threaten the one road to the west side.

Infrastructure must improve before another project of this magnitude is considered. Kaanapali is overbuilt now. The toll of more construction, noise and detours for many years cannot be quantified. The beach for Maui canoe clubs, parking and access will be affected.

High school golfers will lose the course their relatives have played for decades, and green space will disappear. Another biased environmental impact study won’t tell us about long-term effects. With only 0.2 percent of the ERS portfolio in Kaanapali, ERS needs to do some soul-searching.

Gary Weiss

Lahaina