HPR provides local offerings

In response to the anti-Hawaii Public Radio rant filled with false claims that it excludes "local" culture ("HPR doesn’t mean community radio," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 27):

The writer must never have tuned in to either of the HPR stations, which provide a far more authentically diverse mix of representative local Hawaiian culture than any other radio station in the islands.

For example, find even one that features a "Hawaiian Word of the Day" or a twice-daily newscast devoted to island-wide, and specifically Asian, issues.

He should take some time to listen before spouting off against cultural offerings that don’t fit in with his fixed idea of what is "local" and what isn’t.

Who knows, he might even enjoy them!

Perle Besserman
Nuuanu

Djou doesn’t represent us

It is so clear that the 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Charles Djou is using a gimmick in an effort to sway Democrats and Independents to vote for him when he renewed his call for the Democratic candidate, Mark Takai, to sign a clean-elections pledge to have each side match outside third-party funds with a donation to charity ("Djou pushes clean-elections pledge," Star-Advertiser, Oct. 26).

Certainly everyone knows our kamaaina favor donations to charity; it’s part of the aloha spirit. However, let us not be fooled for a fraction of a second. Djou represents everything that is anathema to our kamaaina and sides with the Republican agenda — against the middle class, against equal pay for women, against abortion rights, against an increase in the minimum wage, and against the Affordable Care Act.

A vote for Djou would be a vote against these issues that we hold near and dear. Don’t be fooled.

Janet Dagan
Punchbowl

Hawaii needs Djou in House

Regarding your editorial endorsing Mark Takai instead of Charles Djou for Congress, it is obvious that the Honolulu Star-Advertiser editorial board needs to better understand how Congress works, and to put the needs of Hawaii before partisan preferences ("Takai best choice for U.S. House," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 26).

Those who are familiar with how the legislative process works in the Congress know that those who influence decisions most are either in the majority party or have seniority.

Without the seniority held by the late Sen. Daniel Inouye — and with the increasingly likely outcome that Republicans will control the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives — it is imperative that Hawaii be included in the majority party caucus.

Do we really want to be excluded from leadership decision-making on issues related to military spending in the Islands, support of tourism and our Asia-Pacific policies? That’s what will happen if all of Hawaii’s small congressional delegation is in the minority party.

Patricia F. Saiki
Chairwoman, Hawaii Republican Party Former congresswoman, 1st Congressional District (Hawaii)

Religious have right to speak

James "Duke" Aiona is being attacked for being too religious.

In our Constitution, there is explicitly no religious test for public office. This cuts both ways. Religion is not a requirement, but neither is no religion.

There is a kind of anti-Christian bigotry to which this "too religious" attack appeals, a bigotry that treats any publicly Christian talk and belief as, on its face, abhorrent. Are those attacking Aiona prejudiced against Catholics?

The First Amendment says we are free to speak our minds, follow our own religion, peaceably assemble and publish our thoughts. As voters in our constitutional government, let’s adhere to these first principles and give the religious, as well as the non-religious, every right to speak, to run for office, and to be considered on their merits.

We judge on character, not color or religion. That is the American way.

Boyd Ready
Haleiwa

Focus on issues, not personality

Chris Neff is right on point ("Important issues need attention," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 25).

The media need to finally get on board and focus on the really important issues facing our community these days, rather than on individual personalities or who belongs to what political party.

Integrity, accountability and fiscal responsibility, along with a good dose of common sense on the part of Hawaii’s public servants, are more important issues that need closer scrutiny by the media and, ultimately, by individual voters themselves.

The media, Star-Advertiser included, have done little to enlighten and educate voters about the really important issues facing Hawaii today. Sadly, the upcoming election will be no different than those of the past 50 years.

Maybe a few new faces, but it’ll be business as usual all over again.

Frank A. DeSilva
Haleiwa

How much will pre-K cost?

The editorial on ballot question 4 was yet another iteration of the Pollyanna, pie-in-the-sky notions to support the preschool amendment ("Voters should support pre-K amendment," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 27). There also have been a series of commentaries from both sides of the issue, including teachers, captains of industry and unions.

The one commonality of all previous efforts is that none of them have dealt with the most sensitive issue: How much will pre-K education cost, and who will pay?

With no specifics on this issue, voters are faced with emotional arguments, which are never reliable indicators of future realities.

Gary D. Beck
Kakaako

Time to follow Cuba’s example

During the current Ebola crisis, which has the potential to mutate into a global epidemic, there have been two prominent approaches to combat and resolve this impending health calamity.

On one hand, the U.S. — arguably the wealthiest nation on Earth today — has committed to deploy up to 3,000 military personnel. On the other hand, Cuba — a nation of only 11 million citizens and having a GDP of less than 1 percent compared to the U.S. — has decided to send more than 350 doctors and other medical professionals to combat this health crisis.

In doing so, Cuba has shown the entire world community that the future catastrophes of our planet will, must and should be dealt with in a humanistic approach of cooperation, compassion and genuine assistance.

That’s certainly a far cry from Washington’s policy of always leading with its military to try and resolve complex global problems.

Danny H.C. Li
Keaau