Return of sign earns gratitude

To my dear friends in Hawaii: Thank you very much for your tremendous support in returning the sign of Tanohata village housing ("Japanese sign floated here by tsunami sent back to village," Star-Advertiser, July 25).

The sign, which we have been eagerly looking forward to, recently arrived at Tanohata village. Now, with the real sign in front of us, we ponder anew the fact that, with your effort, the sign has been brought back over the waters again after washing up on the shore in Hawaii.

More than three years have passed since the disaster, and people of Hawaii are still paying attention to the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami-hit area. This fact alone fully encourages us. Without your continued consciousness toward us and your effort, the return of the sign would have never materialized.

In treasuring the memento and reminding ourselves the lessons learned from the tsunami disaster, we are serious about passing down how your compassion has helped us overcome the disaster and get on our feet.

I sincerely wish this incident will reaffirm the "kizuna" (bond) between Japan and the U.S., and will be remembered as a significant event that connected the two countries far into the future.

Hiroshi Ishihara
Mayor of Tanohata, Japan

Beach supposed to be dog-free

For the past year, I’ve noticed a significant increase of people bringing dogs to Ala Moana Beach, sometimes unleashed.

People don’t even pick up the dog waste.

I’ve called the mayor’s office, the Honolulu Police Department and Ocean Safety — to no avail.

This is a "no dog" park, yet this goes on in plain sight in front of city employees. I really hope something can be done soon. Especially with all the development in Kakaako, the problem will only get worse.

Rae Deen Karasuda
Honolulu

Small businesses mostly insured

A recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial ("Hopeful shifts in Connector fix," Our View, Aug. 22) correctly noted that Hawaii has a relatively small population of uninsured residents, which makes it difficult for the state’s online insurance marketplace, the Hawaii Health Connector, to survive.

But the editorial, which pointed out that the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) won’t offer plans in the exchange’s small-business marketplace in 2015, also said, "This leaves only Kaiser Permanente serving the small-business market — which is where many of those currently uninsured are found."

Actually, the Connector’s small-business market, or SHOP, is where most of Hawaii’s insured are located. The Hawaii Prepaid Health Care Act mandates small businesses to provide health plans to all full-time employees.

The need in Hawaii is helping an estimated 70,000 residents who are uninsured. They need coverage through the Connector’s individual marketplace. HMSA will continue to offer ACA plans for individuals through the Connector in 2015.

Michael A. Gold
President and chief executive officer, HMSA

Public wants GMO labeling

Hawaii Farm Bureau President Christopher Manfredi misses the mark in his commentary ("Misguided policies hurt farmers, ranchers and isles’ food security," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Aug. 17).

His basic premise is that all us stupid people should just shut up, trust the GMO companies and eat their products with big smiles on our faces. Sorry, but this isn’t likely to happen.

Manfredi makes the false argument that GMOs promote self-sufficiency in our islands. The vast majority of the GMOs produced in our islands is seed corn, which is shipped to the mainland.

Also, it’s shocking that he doesn’t even see the irony in his statement that the "market should be the ultimate arbiter of what people want." That’s what the vast majority of the people of Hawaii have been saying for years, but Manfredi and his cronies at the GMO companies have been blocking labeling efforts at every turn.

How about a trade: We’ll stop pushing for bans when they step up to the plate and support the labeling of GMO foods.

Tyler Johnson
Kahala

Biomass energy more reliable

Long ago there was a plan to convert the old bagasse-burning Puna Sugar Mill into a biomass generator burning local wood chips. That idea was halted to save the trees.

Two weeks ago, many of those saved albizia trees fell onto homes, roads and electric lines. The cut logs are being pushed to the sides of the roads where they may fuel future forest fires.

The renewable Puna Geothermal plant shut down when fallen trees brought down the electric lines. Windmills shut down in high winds for safety, and solar panels don’t work when it’s overcast or dark.

In the future, when 70 percent of Hawaii’s electricity is renewable, will blackouts during and after storms become the new normal? Is this really sustainable?

Gordon Kitsuwa
Kaimuki

Rallies for Gaza weren’t covered

After reading Pat Gee’s report of last week’s pro-Israel rally ("Isle group rallies support for Israel," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 23), I wondered why the Star-Advertiser has failed to report on any of the five demonstrations recently held to protest Israel’s war on Gaza.

As much as we would want peace and security for the state of Israel, these can never be achieved until it ends its occupation of the Palestinian people living in the West Bank and Gaza.

The state of Israel must also end its discrimination against its own citizens who are Palestinian. Palestinians living in the Holy Land are an indigenous people. They have a right to their own land. Now is the time to set aside the ideology of Zionism, both Christian and Jewish, and set our sights on justice for all Palestinians.

Without justice for them, there will never be peace and we will witness a continuing cycle of violence in the Holy Land.

The Rev. Neal MacPherson
Nuuanu

15 is a good age to start driving

Why do legislators think that age is a major factor when it comes to driving or drinking?People can act stupid at any age.

As a professional driver, I think 15 is a good age to get a driver’s license. Those drivers would have three years tobecome skilled drivers, so after graduation from high school they are fully prepared to enter the job market or move to any part of the country or the world.

As for increasing the drinking age above 21, check the DUI listings in the newspaper.There are people above 40 and below 21 who get cited for DUI.All this is going to do is create more underage drinking.

Aren’t there other things that the Legislature could do beside trying to run people’s lives and change the cultures and traditions that we have been living from generation to generation? The family environment is what makes people the way they are — not age.

Children become what their parents do.Don’t blame it on something else.

Henry Kahula Jr.
Paia, Maui