I don’t understand why the governor is opening up international arrivals from South Korea and the Philippines (in addition to Japan), even with COVID testing prior to arrival.

The Philippines is highly reliant on the Chinese vaccine, which has been shown to have far less efficacy, putting Hawaii residents at risk. Additionally, no country should be put at the front of the line without reciprocity, i.e., allowing Hawaii residents the same privilege to enter their countries with similar COVID testing restrictions. It’s not like we need the additional tourists.

Craig Meyers

Aiea

Trask was forceful voice for indigenous rights

The recent passing of Haunani-Kay Trask is a profound loss not only for the Native Hawaiian population but also for the whole state of Hawaii.

Haunani-Kay was a forceful and unrelenting voice for native rights and social justice, especially on Hawaiian sovereignty issues. She had a very powerful intellect and a formidable presence on the public scene. I learned a lot from her writings and just listening to her public presentations in her usual cogent and compelling style.

She was a relentless writer of books, articles, poetry, essays, commentaries and was the author of a popular book that was widely read and admired: “Notes from a Native Daughter.” She personally gave me a copy and I’ve kept and treasured it as one the best of her numerous writings. It is considered by most as the definitive book on the Hawaiian sovereignty movement.

It will take a generation or more to produce another Haunani-Kay Trask, if at all. She seems irreplaceable, and she will be sorely missed by everyone in her beloved Native Hawaii.

Belinda A. Aquino

Moiliili

Door-to-door campaign won’t sway anti-vaxxers

I am surprised by the number of people I meet who are not vaccinated. I’m more surprised by the reasons they give. It comes down to distrust — of Big Pharma, the government, the president, the vaccines. The government will soon be knocking on everyone’s door to “educate” them to get vaccinated.

If I was already suspicious of government motives, credibility and/or truthfulness, that would certainly hammer that last nail on the coffin. Some folks just don’t want to get vaccinated, despite knowing that the majority of those who get infected with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated, and that the majority of those needing hospitalization and are at risk for death from COVID-19 are those who caught the virus unprotected by the vaccine.

So if the American public already knows these facts, its decision to not receive the vaccine will only be emboldened by the feds knocking on their doors insisting they know better. This is all very sad to me.

David Easa

Manoa

Herd immunity leaves virus few places to go

Despite reports of vaccinated people being infected, vaccination is still considered the best protection against serious disease and death, which is the intent of the vaccine.

With tourists flocking back, unvaccinated, infected visitors will slip through the cracks despite our best screening efforts. Visitors are unlikely to mask up and distance, increasing the chance of infection spread.

There is only one way to stop this pandemic: Reach herd immunity. Once reached, the virus will not have enough hosts in which to replicate and will die out. What’s the best way to reach herd immunity? Get vaccinated.

It’s easy to get vaccinated at your pharmacy. If you are still uncertain about being vaccinated for yourself, at least be socially responsible. Get vaccinated for keiki too young to be vaccinated. Get vaccinated for those in our Hawaii ohana who can’t be vaccinated for health reasons. Step up to the plate — help Hawaii get to herd immunity.

Anne Wheelock

Community pharmacist

Nuuanu

Lockdowns offer lessons on animal confinement

If nothing else, I would hope that this pandemic and the resulting lockdowns have taught us something about the mental suffering of confinement.

I read the recent news about Lutalo and Gayle (“4 female, black-footed penguins to join male penguins at Honolulu Zoo,” Star Advertiser, July 9), and am only saddened to think that they will forever be in lockdown. Their lives will be nothing like they would have been in the wild.

Life is about more than just breeding, whether we’re talking about penguins, giraffes or monkeys. Zoos teach us that it’s OK to control, dominate and confine. That’s wrong.

As I write this, I must acknowledge that all hope is not lost. Also recently reported was that three elephants from the U.K. will be rehomed to a sanctuary in Kenya. I look forward to the day that will come, as the public turns away from desiring to go and stare at caged animals, when Lutalo and Gayle and all the others can leave their lives in lockdown for lives of freedom.

Zelic Baker

Diamond Head

United States shouldn’t be blamed for slavery

Why is the United States blamed for slavery? America was a British colony and slavery was entrenched as part of society for 100 years before the United States was born. Many of the founding fathers knew that slavery was wrong, but they also knew that banning slavery would mean no United States.

As proof of that, it took over 700,000 American lives in the Civil War to eliminate slavery. The United States had a huge problem and she should be celebrated for dealing with it, and not condemned.

Warren Fukushima

Pearl City

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