NOAA funds help monk seals

We have a very serious problem in paradise: Four Hawaiian monk seals have been intentionally killed since November.

The Hawaiian monk seal — ilio holo i ka uaua, or dog that runs in rough water — has inhabited these islands for thousands of years before humans. They are one of the most endangered marine mammal species in the world with a current population of about 1,100.

I understand that there will be monetary cutbacks to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

I urge all members of Congress to not let this happen, as it would be disastrous to the programs whose aim is the preservation of this endangered species.

Bart Cahoon
Round Top

Pro Bowl has lost some luster

Negotiators on both sides of the table are probably too young to remember why the Pro Bowl was moved to Hawaii.

Prior to the move, players, their families and fans had no interest in attending a Pro Bowl in a mainland city. Many players also came up with real or imagined injuries to pass on the Pro Bowl. With the move to Hawaii, the players, and especially their families, were all in favor of the move.

With the Pro Bowl now preceding the Super Bowl, we do not get the opportunity to see the top players from the Super Bowl teams. Therefore, we are not seeing the best that the NFL has to offer, and thus we should pay a lot less to the NFL.

Harry H. Matsuno
Honolulu

U.S.’s Asia focus goes way back

The article, "Return to Asia: It’s not (all) about China" (Star-Advertiser, Feb. 19) spoke of America’s "idea of focusing on Asia" as if it began no further back than the presidency of George H.W. Bush.

This ignores the fact that, apart from fighting Japan in World War II, the U.S. after the big war continued to focus on Asia in numerous ways, including:

» Deploying 50,000 U.S. Marines in August 1945 to support Chinese Nationalist troops in the Chinese Civil War.

» Intervening militarily in the Korean civil war.

» Pushing U.S. troops to the Chinese border with North Korea, in an attempt to unify Korea by force.

» Deploying the U.S. Seventh Fleet for 21 years to prevent Communist China from taking Taiwan.

» Fighting an eight-year war in Vietnam.

Other acts with the purpose of encircling Communist China with U.S. military power included establishing U.S. military bases in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.

Oliver Lee
Aina Haina

City should fund rail opponents

Former mayor Mufi Hannemann spent millions of taxpayer dollars to present his side of the rail project. Now Mayor Peter Carlisle says, "I think we need to stir up the pot … and if it requires change in the way we’re essentially getting the information out, then we need to go through that change" ("Cayetano holds off other mayoral hopefuls in poll," Star-Advertiser, Feb. 13).

Does that mean another $1 million of taxpayer money, really just to save his job?

If he’s serious about fair distribution of information, then he should allocate the same amount to the opposition to distribute its information. That’s only fair to the taxpayers.

Nancy Nagamine
Kailua

Now is the time to build rail

People who have lived in an area with rail transit say two things: People complained about the cost and need until it was built. Now they love it and can’t live without it.

Some have said maybe now is not the right time. Work on rail has already begun and we have the promise of federal funding. Gas is at an all-time high. Construction workers are out of work right now, draining our social services and not paying bills.

If now is not the right time to continue a project we desperately need, then when is?

Joseph T. Bussen
Kailua

Best poll on rail is election day

Your front-page headline, "Rail support falls," was as reliable as a flat tire (Star-Advertiser, Feb. 12).

Your cockeyed poll was conducted among only 549 registered voters. Oahu has more than 450,000 voters; this is a measly tiny percent of the voters.

This poll questioned voters on the windward side of the island, who have no desire to use the rail at any time because their traffic problems don’t come close to the Waianae-to-Pearl City traffic, which is unbearable.

The only way to get a true poll is on election day at the polls.

Eugene Cordero
Pearl City