Oahu’s treatment of the U.S. surgeon general, Vice Adm. Jerome M. Adams, is an embarrassment for our island and state (“U.S. surgeon general and aide plead not guilty,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 3).

The surgeon general oversees the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps of our country. He visited our islands in that capacity and brought needed support to our islands, fulfilling the USPHS mission “to promote, and advance the health of our nation.”

Adams’ visit to Hawaii to support our state’s efforts in combating the virus demonstrated his commitment to his mission as a public health leader. I am sending him my personal apology for how this matter was handled by our island leaders and thank him for his personal service by visiting our state and island.

Ernesta Masagatani

Kailua

Warnings fail to stop Halloween gatherings

Our local leaders once again confirm they’re all talk, no action. After warning everyone about not having large gatherings for Halloween, no arrests were made after police had to respond to about 70 complaints. We still don’t know if any citations were given out.

The U.S. surgeon general surely must be shaking his head. I know I am.

Matt Hee

Ala Moana

Don’t use shampoo, soap at beach park showers

I swim almost daily at Ala Moana Beach. Sometimes I swim through soap suds-like substances.

Almost every time I rinse off at the outdoor public shower, I see people scrubbing themselves with soap or washing their hair with shampoo. In spite of the embedded notices on the shower floors against the use of soaps or shampoos, people continue to ignore the signs.

The water from the showers drains directly to Ala Moana Beach water. Chemicals such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the soap and shampoo reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen gas in the sea water. This dissolved oxygen is necessary for the marine animals to breathe and live.

The soap and shampoo can also contain microbeads that are harmful to these creatures when ingested. Seek out more information on the internet.

Please respect our ocean environment. Rinse off at the beach and wash at home.

Carol Ching

Ala Moana

Enforce ban on animals at Ala Moana park

Over the past year or so, more and more people are using Ala Moana Regional Park as a dog park even though there are many signs prohibiting animals.

Families picnic on the sand and on the grass and swim where these dogs urinate and defecate.

When dog owners are reminded of the prohibition, they often get belligerent. Why doesn’t the city enforce this ban so people can truly enjoy this bit of heaven?

Sylvia Bergman

Hawaii Kai

Fisherman with no place to fish downtown

I’m retired and I spend a lot of my free time doing what I love and that is fishing. I live in Chinatown, and one of my favorite places to fish is a short distance from my studio, at Piers 5, 6 and 7. While I was fishing last Friday I was approached by a Department of Transportation employee who informed me that his crew is posting “No Fishing and Swimming” signs in the area.

Needless to say I was surprised and very concerned that the state would do something like this without letting the public know in advance that they were considering taking this measure.

I know I speak for numerous fisherman who have used this fishing spot for generations.

I know that Hawaii Pacific University has been against public utilization of the area ever since it took over Aloha Tower Marketplace. I’m sure that it has its reasons, but it forgets that this is a public recreational area for people who live in Downtown Honolulu.

It’s a sad day that we have lost another fishing area due to selfish reasons or what they call progress.

Russell Suga

Chinatown

Leaders fail to act on diversifying economy

For decades our leaders have been talking about diversifying our economy, yet their cumulative decisions have left us with an economy that is dependent on 10 million people travelling here yearly in carbon-dioxide factories and overwhelming our roads, neighborhoods and natural resources.

New $122,400 taxpayer-funded bureaucrats, central planners picking winners and losers, and bills to micromanage the recall of hotel workers will not diversify our economy (“Hotel workers bill before City Council reduced to resolution,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 3).

Leaders making good decisions will.

There is a plant on Hawaii island ready to hire hundreds of local workers, provide 18 megawatts of reliable power rain or shine, and replace imported oil with locally produced renewable energy (“Former Hawaii governors support Big Isle energy project,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 23).

The money we spend on its power would mostly circulate in the local economy and produce badly needed tax revenue rather than being sent to overseas oil companies.

Decisions like keeping this plant shuttered will ensure that our economy remains completely dependent on tourism.

Mark Hildebrant

Kailua

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