The lengthy article, “Wealthy homeowners are endangering Hawaii’s beaches” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 6), makes a rather obvious attack on owners of oceanfront property, laying the blame of beach erosion at their doorstep. The fact is many of these “wealthy” people have inherited this erosion problem and, the article suggests, now should be forced to let their property be destroyed by the ocean or magically come up with “long-term plans for their homes,” which are not revealed.

There is no long-term plan legally available to keep oceanfront homes from eventual destruction. The city and state plans are simply to let nature run its course.

The solution is expensive. A plan and funding to construct the following are needed: Breakers, barrier walls, jetties, groins and re-nourishment of sand. These are the only fixes. Blaming homeowners does nothing to solve a problem no one wanted or foresaw.

Garry P. Smith

Ewa Beach

Don’t point fingers at other Dem leaders

How many decades has Hawaii been run by the Democratic Party? Quite long enough (since 1962) to be able to point to progress, accomplishments, success.

However, the former vice chairman of the party blames those Democrats who are not to the left enough (“2022 starts now: No more DINOs in state Legislature,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Dec. 3). He also blames our woes on the largest employers on island, the companies that provide jobs and benefits to our local population.

As a lifelong Democrat, I am disturbed and somewhat embarrassed by this shifting of blame. If our local politicians merely do their jobs, we would be able to point to significant progress. Instead, we see the inability to pay unemployment claims; make consistent planning/permitting rules and abide by them; manage lands dedicated to Native Hawaiians; avoid scandals; address the homeless issue; respond logically and consistently to the pandemic; plan and build a 20-mile rail system; and plan and execute real education programs.

Who are our leaders who are not real Democrats? And what specific accomplishments can we point to after nearly 60 years in control? Remember, when you point your finger at others, three fingers point back at you.

Joel Brilliant

Hawaii Kai

Israel has sordid history of assassinations

I cannot properly express my anger after reading the New York Times story in your paper (“Bold killings show Iran’s vulnerabilities,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 30).

Using the terms “bold” and “audacious,” with no hint of condemnation of the arrogant, illegal and criminal violation of a nation’s sovereignty, is way inadequate. All indicators show that Israel, with the primary or indirect complicity of the U.S., is the perpetrator. Israel has a sordid history of assassinations of the sort covered in the article, and impunity is routinely granted to it.

It is past time for us to disallow Israel from driving drunk. Condemnation of Israel in this case is essential on any level of law, justice, morality, international comity, etc.

Since the article failed to address the issue, the Star-Advertiser should have offered a sidebar doing so.

Judith Comiskey

Aiea

Hawaii residents need state-funded health care

I fully agree with Paul Pomerantz (“Health insurance system fails isle hotel workers,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 4), that we need to shift away from employer-provided health insurance. As a pharmacist, I’m getting more and more calls from my patients requesting that I “fill all my medications now; I’m losing my health insurance at the end of the month.”

This is tragic on so many levels: the employee losing his job, losing health insurance (as Pomerantz points out, in the middle of a pandemic, no less), and the employee’s family members losing their health insurance as well.

I hope work already has started toward a state-funded health insurance program that covers all residents. Throw in state-funded child care also, and now we’re talking!

Anne Wheelock

Nuuanu

Keep inmates separate in Oahu COVID counts

I wonder about Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s logic in including the prison population in the number of Oahu’s daily new COVID-19 cases. It’s not like inmates will be going to bars, restaurants or family gatherings. I would propose that they have their own category apart from the general population.

This would be a more accurate number to use when evaluating how and when we can advance to the next tier safely.

Gregory Mau

Makiki

City, state should offer free K-95 face masks

If Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell care so much for our safety that they want a mandatory mask law in Hawaii — and fining people who don’t wear them — wouldn’t it be reasonable for them to supply free masks for all communities? With all the jobs lost and thousands trying to make a living on unemployment, I don’t think it is reasonable for them to have to buy K-95 masks with their unemployment income.

I’m guessing it’s the same old rhetoric when election time comes around — what I’m going to do if you vote for me. Nothing.

Paul Wong

Salt Lake

Kapiolani Park runners pass close with no masks

OK, so if you can’t social distance outside, you have to wear a mask. But the majority of runners in Kapiolani Park do not wear masks and do not social distance when they are passing other people while sweating and breathing heavily. This is just darn rude and dangerous. They think they are privileged characters and the heck with everyone else.

Sue Kachiroubas

Moiliili

COMFORT AND JOY

2020 has been a whopper of a year: the COVID-19 pandemic, economic hurt, politics and elections. But surely there is much to appreciate, much that brings joy.

In the spirit of the season, we are accepting letters (150 words max) and essays (500-600 words) with uplifting messages to share during this holiday season; the deadline is 5 p.m. Dec. 16.

Email to letters@staradvertiser.com; or send to 500 Ala Moana Blvd. #7-210, Honolulu 96813, c/o Letters.