I found the headline, “North Korean missile launch raises stakes for Hawaii defense planning,” troubling (Star-Advertiser, Top News, Nov. 28).

If one proceeds on the assumption that North Korean President Kim Jong Un really intends to dispatch nuclear-armed missiles to Hawaii, Guam or the U.S. mainland, I believe that there is no meaningful defense against them at the local level.

If Kim is merely flexing his military muscle to prove to the world that North Korea must be taken seriously as a nation, why the sounding of sirens? Sirens to warn us to do what?

I would hope instead that every effort is made to arrive at some diplomatic solution that satisfies Kim’s ego as well our president’s ego.

Ed Sullam

Aina Haina

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Don’t blame Trump for Korean conflict

Nicholas Kristof’s article was an excellent look into North Korea (“Inside North Korea,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, Dec. 3).

Kristof wrote that he was disappointed in the lack of North Korean interest in a freeze-for-freeze.

But please, this is not the time to cast blame on President Donald Trump. It took many years for North Korea to do the research and build those missiles. When North Korea reminds us, as Kristof reported, that “Iraq and Libya had made the mistake of giving up their nuclear programs; in each case, America then ousted the regime,” remember that it wasn’t the Trump administration that ousted the Iraq and Libya regimes.

As the secretary of state in 2011, Hillary Clinton pressed the Obama administration to intervene militarily in Libya. And the U.S. was not the first to overthrow Iraq. We have never been North Korea’s ally and only a miracle can bring peace, so one suggestion is to pray for the right solution to a very difficult long-standing problem.

Cynthia Lebowitz

Waikiki

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Severely injured child denied justice

If Peyton Valiente had been older than 17 months in 2015 and could have identified his abuser, the state Attorney General’s Office would have charged either Manuela Ramos or her daughter Theresa because it is agreed they were caring for Peyton the day he was severely injured (“Mother dismayed no one will be charged in son’s assault,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 7).

Because both Manuela and Theresa took the Fifth Amendment (so as not to incriminate themselves), they get off scot-free. What is wrong with this picture? A toddler was severely injured and the apparent injurers get off scot-free? Where is the justice for Peyton?

This is not fair and not just.

Janet Dagan

Makiki

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Recycling still needed on Oahu

Recycling is required for Oahu’s future, no matter how many studies have been paid for outlining where a new landfill could be located (“City wants to extend landfill’s life,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 28).

Haven’t our city leaders tried many solutions to dealing with garbage, from storing it, burning it, burying it, shipping it and selling it? To what end?

A recent article shared some of the dirty secrets about the city’s recycling efforts (“Auditor urges city to get some cash for its trash,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 27). It could have said, “What a stinking mess our city leaders have made.” Yes, taxpayers must once again pay while holding their noses.

Isn’t a major portion of trash generated by our biggest financial benefactor, tourism? Our city leaders celebrate tourists spending day in and day out — just accept tourism as critical to our economy, based on years of studies with few alternatives. So it follows that tourism is paying for the huge loss of money we spend to recycle.

Grin and bury as deep as possible.

Greg Schmidt

Hawaii Kai

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Navy failed to show at board meeting

Rear Adm. Brian Fort said that the Navy welcomes “requests for briefings to community groups, including neighborhood boards” (“Red Hill 4 years later: Drinking water safe,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Dec. 5).

I feel this is misleading and disingenuous.

The Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5 invited the Navy to give a Red Hill presentation to the board in September 2017. The Navy did not show, despite being on the board’s formal meeting agenda.

This community gets a portion of its drinking water from the two water wells closest to Red Hill.

If the Navy wants to honestly hear and address the community’s concerns about the safety of our water beneath the Navy’s aging and leaky fuel tanks, I feel it should at least show up when it is placed on the board’s agenda.

Linda Wong

Member, Diamond Head/Kapahulu/St. Louis Heights Neighborhood Board No. 5

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Parking lot privilege has been abused

I have a concern about the use of the Magic Island parking lot. The Toys for Tots organization, which I think is a very good cause, recently reserved the use of the parking lot.

Organizers of the event need to be monitored closer. The permit holders need to know that the handicap stalls must be accessible by all people with a placard, unless there is a sign specifically allowing exclusive use of these stalls.

I am also concerned about the moving of the reserved signs by event organizers to take up more rows of parking than I believe they were allowed to occupy.

Ala Moana’s Magic Island parking lot is one of the most heaviest used on the island, and some of these events organizers are abusing their privileges, giving other park users a bad impression of their organization.

Kenneth Lee

Liliha