The mayor’s recommendation to halt the rail at Middle Street makes no sense at all.

To stop the rail short of Honolulu’s urban center would certainly be a huge fiasco and source of embarrassment for Oahu and the entire state.

If it costs $6.22 billion to complete the first 16 miles and only $8 billion to complete the entire 20-mile system, why not spend $1.78 billion more to complete the entire system?

The city already “missed the boat” years ago when it declined Mitsubishi’s offer to showcase its state-of-the-art magnetic levitation rail system here in Hawaii in exchange for development rights around the rail stations. Please do not make the grave mistake of short-circuiting the rail route now and losing ridership crucial for continued federal funding.

While current city rail management and leadership leave a lot to be desired, realistically we are far past the point of no return for completing the 20-mile rail system.

Ed Uchida

Hawaii Kai

We should respect all national anthems

Kudos to Gary Johnson (“Students’ behavior was disrespectful,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 20) for criticizing disrespectful students in Laiana Wong’s article (“E ao Hawai‘i, mai puni ia Maleka!”, Star-Advertiser, Kauakukalahale, June 18).

One must stand up and respect all flags and/or national anthems when played. That’s what civilized people do. To not stand up is rude, disrespectful and ignorant.

We in Hawaii are always proud of our aloha spirit, which includes respect for all. To praise the contrary is a shame.

Although I am not of Hawaiian ancestry, I stand up every time I hear “Hawai‘i Pono‘i” is played and we should expect the same when our national anthem (or any other anthem) is being played. We need to instill this in our younger generation.

Until the state of Hawaii becomes an independent country and has its own government, please be respectful of our anthem. The anthem and the flag are what unite us all as Americans.

Rosita R. Sipirok-Siregar

Kapolei

Need cheering up? See ‘Finding Dory’

I was thrilled to the gills when I saw that the movie, “Finding Dory,” was the box office leader by an almost two-to-one margin. Here is a delightful Disney animation about a lost blue tang named Dory, who is befriended by an octopus named Hank — a snarly and grumpy old cephalopod.

It was a welcome sight to see how we Americans spent our entertainment dollars last week, choosing a fish story over the other features about guns and violence and witchcraft — all showing at the same time “Finding Dory” was playing in the same multiplex.

Perhaps we needed a 105-minute breather from Orlando, Brexit and presidential politics, and “Finding Dory” was just the diversion our country needed.

I plan to see “Finding Dory” again, and maybe even again after that. It was that good — and I’m 71 years old.

Richard Dinges

Hilo

Capitol sit-in elicited social media vitriol

Gov. David Ige is worthy of praise for passing important reforms to Hawaii’s gun laws, including one bill that will promote safety by disqualifying stalkers and violent rapists from gun ownership (“Ige signs adoption, gun measures,” Star-Advertiser, June 25). The legislators who supported these bills also should be commended.

However, when I publicly stated my appreciation of U.S. House Democrats who staged a sit-in at the U.S. Capitol to point out the absence of any meaningful assault-weapon legislation since the last mass shooting, I received some very distasteful and insulting responses on social media.

The current election is a tremendous opportunity for voters to stand up to a political establishment that responds to cogent and thoughtful political action with vitriol and hate.

Patrick K. Shea

Maunawili

Divert GEMS funds to save Falls of Clyde

RIMPAC 2016 is starting today and a 138-year-old vessel with a long history in Hawaii, the Falls of Clyde, is given 30 days to get out of Pier 7.

Isn’t there protection provided under the state’s Historic Preservation Division?

Why not think akamai, “outside the box”? The state charges Hawaiian Electric Co. customers an additional fee each month to pay for a GEMS (Green Energy Market Securitization) program for low-income people who want to install solar energy devices. Approximately 99 percent of this money has not been used and the deadline was for November 2016 to use it.

Why not divert these funds to keep the Falls of Clyde from falling to a watery grave?

Chris Jansen

Mililani

Clamp down on overly loud vehicles

There comes a time when one must say enough is enough.

I’m referring to the noise pollution that is way out of control.

First, we have the motorcycles that are altered to make as much noise as possible. That makes them illegal to be on our streets and highways.

Next are the mopeds that make more noise than other motor vehicles. Mopeds should be licensed and insured to be on our streets and highways. They are motor vehicles and are in heavy traffic as well. Then, of course, we have vehicles with those loud boomboxes with the volume so high they rattle windows.

Honolulu police should clamp down on the operators of these illegal vehicles.

Howard Francis

Kinau