Pesticide rules don’t cover all

As an agriculture practitioner in Hawaii since 1973, I agree with your analysis of developments on Kauai ("GMO action begs better state policy," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Nov. 19).

However, I have to point out that the large agricultural companies on Kauai account for only about 13 percent of all restricted-use pesticides used on the island. I think it would be safe to assume that this may actually also reflect the percentage of use for all non-restricted-use pesticides on the island.

Why are the large agriculture companies the only ones bearing the brunt of the legislation? Wouldn’t it follow that all users of restricted-use pesticides should, likewise, be held to the same reporting requirements for their use?

If individual health is potentially compromised by exposure to these pesticides, then it would be good to know what, when and where the other 87 percent of RUPs are applied.That is, of course, unless reporting is not the real goal of the legislation. Otherwise it doesn’t make any sense.

John McHugh
Mililani

School talk on gays not pono

The comments of state Reps. Karl Rhoads and Roy Takumi indicate their lack of awareness of what is currently being taught through the state Department of Education ("Marriage equality law won’t affect schools," Star-Advertiser, Letters Nov. 24).

The Pono Choices sex education curriculum being taught in some of our schools may not teach about "marriage," but sixth- to eighth-graders already are being exposed to discussions of a variety of sexual relationships, including a boy kissing a boy. This is not pono as I see it.

Mary Waialeale
Moiliili

Kennedy death a sad memory

Fifty years ago I was in grade school when a nun interrupted our class to announce that the president of the United States had just been shot and killed.

The girls in the class started crying uncontrollably. For the first and only time in my Catholic school experience, the hard lessons that we were subjected to came to a grind- ing halt.The recent network anniversary specials brought back all of the sadness and despair that I felt that awful day so long ago.

I cannot imagine how someone of so little consequence could "destroy" someone who was so dynamic, charismatic and effective as a leader.

I wonder if, at the time the assassin was about to shoot, he could have felt the immense sorrow he was about to unleash upon the world. Would he have still squeezed the trigger?

Lan Aloud
Makiki

Alaskan natives fear oil interests

Regarding "Alaska oil separates Hanabusa and Schatz" (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 24), I’ve traveled to Alaska for 25 years and know a different story.

The Alaska Native corporations are different from the village residents of Kaktovic and native villages along the Arctic. The corporations often represent Big Oil, and the board members and families have conflicts of interest, being employed by energy companies or receiving campaign donations from them.

The Inupiat have been openly fighting oil development to preserve their culture and way of life. A Kaktovic petition shows the majority of residents don’t want oil development. The Alaska Inter-Tribal Council and Inupiat villages along the Beaufort Sea such as Point Hope are solidly against off shore oil development.

Villages are fearful that gas and oil development will permanently pollute and destroy their land, ocean, subsistence and culture. U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa’s positioning of conservationists, Alaskans and Native Hawaiians against each other is wrong.

Lance Holter
Paia, Maui

Kahuku meeting wasn’t a sham

In response to Joshua Noga’s letter on Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Kahuku town hall meeting ("Town hall meeting was just a sham," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 24), we asked people to write their questions to the mayor to make the best use of time.I sorted through them, and the mayor read them aloud.

We received more than 100 questions that night and tried to get to as many as we could.Those we didn’t get to will receive an answer if they included an email or street address.

The mayor and Cabinet always stay late after the meetings to talk one on one with residents.We make the effort to go out and meet with communities because we want to hear their concerns.

We will be out in Wai-anae on Dec. 5, Hawaii Kai on Dec. 10, and we’ll do a social media Twitter town hall on Dec. 9.

Georgette T. Deemer
Deputy managing director, City and County of Honolulu