I am a fully vaccinated 84-year-old who didn’t cry “freedom” when the government demanded an eight-year military commitment from me when I reached 18. I served.

I am overjoyed that my parents didn’t cry “freedom” but got me vaccinated, protecting me against the polio virus that was ravaging the country in the 1950s.

I can only hope that those parents who cry “freedom” today against the proven effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, risking the health and lives of their children, do not have their children suffer any consequences from their “freedom” cries (“Vaccine-or-test mandates in Hawaii spur protest rally,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 10).

James Hildenbrand

Waialae Iki

Listen to experts, not ambitious politicians

I understand people feel it is their right to choose whether or not to get vaccinated. I agree that we all have a choice, but it is disheartening to hear some of the reasons why people are choosing not to get vaccinated.

All the misinformation about the vaccine from some politicians and social media are leading to people dying. If an auto mechanic tells you your brakes need repair but a politician tells you it’s not necessary, who would you listen to? If a dentist tells you your toothache is caused by an infection and it needs to be repaired, but a politician tells you it’ll just go away on its own, who would you listen to? So why are so many people listening to politicians about the vaccines instead of doctors and scientists?

It’s obvious that some of these politicians are more concerned about their political future than the health and well-being of the people they are supposed to be representing.

Randy Kobayashi

Salt Lake

End military’s leases on Hawaiian lands

I support retired colonel Ann Wright’s opinion (“Military should return Hawaii lands,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 8).

America’s military action has not settled any disputes, only imposed undue hardship and destruction on other cultures and our own military personnel, while destroying Hawaiian land.

I looked at beautiful Makua Valley, and thought: How can there be any justification for the shelling by the military? That goes for any area of our islands.

Peace and diplomacy are the only avenues with other countries. Stop polluting our land, oceans, air and the environment with unnecessary military training. No more leasing of Hawaii land to the military.

Patricia Blair

Kailua

Question Army’s plans to renew land leases

Speak up, Hawaii! The military has retained leases on 23,000 acres at Pohakuloa Training Area on Hawaii island, 4,370 acres at the Kawailoa/Poamoho Training Area, 1,170 acres at the Kahuku Training Area and 760 acres at the Makua Military Reservation for 65 years, with the state charging only $1 for each parcel (“Secretary of Army supports training ground lease renewals,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 10).

It’s far past time that the people of Hawaii question this, and now is the time, with the leases running out in 2029. The U.S. Army is seeking public comments by Sept. 1 on the environmental impact statement (EIS) concerning the re-leasing proposal. Email comments to: usarmy.hawaii.nepa@mail.mil, or use the online form at home.army.mil/hawaii/index.php/oahueis/project-home. Comments may also be mailed to: Oahu ATLR EIS Comments, P.O. Box 3444, Honolulu, HI, 96801-3444.

A public hearing today from 6-9 p.m. at Leilehua Golf Course will be live-streamed at www.youtube.com/usaghawaii/live.

Mele Stokesberry

Kula, Maui

Shapiro enlightening about Blangiardi

Thanks to Dave Shapiro for his latest column (“Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi rides money train to big campaign fund payday,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Aug. 8). We now know who Rick Blangiardi is.

Harvey Chibana

Kaimuki

Give more information about water main breaks

I live in Kalama Valley and we didn’t have water Sunday due to a water main break (“Water main break in Hawaii Kai cuts service, clogs traffic, closes Hanauma Bay and Koko Head Shooting Complex,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Aug. 8). The water came back Monday at 4:30 a.m. We celebrated. We lost water again due to another water main break in the same area.

I understand that these things happen when you have an aging pipe system. My request is that the Board of Water Supply have a system to inform everyone in an impacted area with updated information. A text would be nice.

People need to plan around the availability of water, a needed commodity. We’re kept in the dark on why it happened, when the water would return and if the quality of the water was impacted. Unless you call them, you would never know. Who’s in charge?

Chuck Cohen

Kalama Valley

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