Hawaii residents on average consume nearly 40 pounds of seafood per capita annually, more than 60 percent of which is imported from southeast Asia and other places.
Since we pride ourselves on fresh, local and sustainable seafood, this is sad. But recent large fishery closures in U.S. waters in the Pacific, including the potential expansion of the Papahanau- mokuakea Marine National Monument, should remind us not of imports but of exports.
Hawaii’s pelagic fisheries, which bring in the fresh ahi, monchong and opah so important to us, are recognized globally for their highly successful efforts to minimize impacts to seabirds, turtles and marine mammals, as well as their track record of fishermen safety.
Every pound of fish that Hawaii fishermen are prohibited from bringing to the islands is made up by fish caught by foreign fleets, which are not held to nearly the same environmental standards.
How could anyone think this is good environmental policy?
Edwin Watamura
Makiki
Magic Island path not in best condition
We exercise daily from Monday to Friday, walking the path at Magic Island that was recently renovated.
We were excited about the renovation initially, happy that the roots of trees that were making the path dangerous would be fixed. However, we are upset with the condition of the pathway. We thank Wally Fukunaga, who was very explicit in detailing the condition of the path (“Improve work at Ala Moana Park,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 27).
The letter from Robert J. Kroning, director of the Honolulu Department of Design and Construction, was most disturbing (“Park walkway seems to be fine,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, April 29). He said he recently walked the entire length at Magic Island after a rain and found “no cracks, potholes or ponding of water as indicated by Wally Fukunaga.”
We noticed the cracks, as well as grass growing at the edges of the walkway because of poor paving, and the pooling of water. Workers placed cones around a hole in the pathway.
After we saw the renovation, I and the other 18 people I walk with, wondered: What happened to the pride in doing a good job?
Betty Shishido
Nuuanu
Better government means less politics
I think most Americans understand the necessity of politics, but the political power-brokering that dominates the business of government is at the root of our disdain for the status quo, as evidenced by the current presidential primary outcomes.
The speaker of the U.S. House, Paul Ryan, leads a powerful body in our government, charged with wielding constitutional powers to check and balance the executive branch. Viewed in this context, his political endorsement of a presidential candidate is problematic.
When Ryan was asked by the media if he supports a Trump candidacy, how refreshing would his answer have been if it was offered in the context of his role in government rather than his political affiliation.
Real change in the system and a return of popular approval of our Congress will require more good governance as designed and a lot less party politics.
John Hansen
Waipahu
Leadership should respect voters’ will
Hawaii’s recent presidential caucus and preference poll results indicated overwhelming support for Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Both ran on an expression of distaste for the status quo.
The results were a surprise to our local party leaders. Yet they expressed rejection of their members’ wishes.
Richard Borecca noted the Hawaii GOP leadership’s concerns about Trump’s popularity (“Dismayed Hawaii GOP holds Trump at arm’s length,” Star-Advertiser, On Politics, May 8). What is so surprising about it?
See the results you will get if Sanders ends up at the Democratic National Convention with the highest vote count but loses the nomination.
The main question should be, “Why waste our time on preference polls and caucuses in Hawaii when the political establishment will make the decision?”
Why do our leaders shun the voices of their voters with such arrogance?
Bob Stengle
Aina Haina
Insurance firms are too powerful
As a recently retired registered nurse, I read with interest about Dr. Calvin Wong’s patient Jerome Fukuhara (“HMSA pre-authorization policy delaying critical tests, some doctors say,” Star-Advertiser, April 27).
Kudos to both these men for speaking out. It was interesting to note that Hawaii Medical Service Association did not respond to the Star-Advertiser’s questions about how many pre-authorization requests it has denied, how much money it has saved, and whether it tracked what happens to patients who were denied tests.
I thought it most unprofessional that HMSA’s attorney, Paul Alston, used threatening and intimidating language in a letter to Wong. While I agree that there are often too many tests ordered, in the case mentioned it was not a frivolous request.
I have lost respect for HMSA and think insurance companies have too much power and that the focus has been lost. I will continue to watch this issue of pre-authorization with interest.
Deborah Aldrich
Haleiwa
