Kahuku Village worth saving

The Star-Advertiser’s Kahuku Village series contained a wealth of information about this troubled community.

The City Council tried to protect residents from forced eviction by unanimously adopting two resolutions I introduced on behalf of the tenants.

One urged the mayor to acquire the land beneath Kahuku Golf Course and the other requested that the city initiate acquisition of the land beneath Phase 5 of Kahuku Village.

Money for the golf course purchase would come from the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund, and money advanced from the Affordable Housing Fund could be reimbursed after residents purchased their properties.

The city’s Department of Planning and Permitting initially ordered homes within the flood zone vacated by 2015, but agreed to my request to extend that date to 2040. This unique plantation community should retain its historic character and self-determine its future. I would like to see Kahuku Village afforded that opportunity.

Ernest Y. Martin
Chairman, Honolulu City Council

State wrongly taking rail funds

I was disturbed to read the editorial, "State owes city millions from rail surcharge" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, Nov. 2).

If Oahu’s general excise tax surcharge was supposed to go to the city’s rail project, but it’s going to projects and programs on other islands, why haven’t Oahu’s senators and representatives put a stop to this?

Those of us represented by legislators from Oahu are not just state taxpayers, we are the ones paying the surcharge for the rail project. Yet our legislators are allowing our money to be used elsewhere instead of on the rail project as intended.

The Honolulu City Council and the mayor should demand the state take only enough of the surcharge to cover administrative costs. Oahu taxpayers must tell their state and county elected officials to use the upcoming legislative session to end this scam.

Jack Legal
Kapolei

Gay couples can be good parents

The idea that there must be one woman and one man to create a good home is not logical.

It’s individuals and their integrity, capacity for love and responsibility who create healthy environments.

I officiated a ceremony for two women who had been together for 10 years. They were raising five "special needs" keiki who were brought into this world by a man and a woman. These loving women made a safe home for these young people, when their birth parents would not, or could not.

Gender does not determine a good or bad parent. Let’s say, "yes and mahalo" to all who want to love and nurture our children.

The Rev. Toni Baran and The Rev. Jerry Le Lesch
Kaneohe

SB1 endangers religious rights

I am 20-year-old citizen of Hawaii and I love this state. It saddens me that the LGBT community feels alienated or rejected. This is the aloha state.

As a Christian, I want to apologize if I or the church was disrespectful of the LGBT community.

However, Senate Bill 1 worries me. We should wait until the Legislature is in regular session. I do not want a sloppy, rushed and vague bill passed.

The LGBT community may be seen as bullies against people’s rights. Churches will not be adequately protected. The religious rights of individuals could be disregarded. Unintentional effects in education, small businesses and other areas of society will be overlooked.

Why is an important bill being shoved and slapped together? I fear the mistreatment for the LGBT community and the church in this ill-handled special session.

Hannah Marquez
Kaneohe

Chow has had enough time

Ithought Bob Nash deserved a shot as head basketball coach at the University of Hawaii due to his Fab Five days and loyalty as an assistant coach. But after three years, the wins were not there and he had to go. Likewise, I felt Coach Norm Chow deserved a chance to be UH head coach.

Even after a bad first year and what I figured would, at best, be another three-win season, I figured if he could reach 6-6 in his third year, that would be OK. I don’t see that happening now.

The basics of tackling and blocking seem to be lacking. Hiring, then firing, an offensive coordinator was a bad omen. It looks like 1998 all over again.

I hope Chow announces now that he will resign at the end of the season, so the athletic director can begin a search ASAP.

Peter Chisteckoff
Mililani Mauka