Regarding the main headline on the Nov. 27 Local section cover, “Substance abuse fatalities on the rise,” the implication is that Hawaii must have a huge problem and it’s increasing! Actually, the problem is misleading news reporting for sensationalism.

The actual report where these data come from states that Hawaii’s drug, alcohol and suicide rate could increase by 39 percent. That doesn’t mean it will. As a matter of fact, Dan Galanis, the state Department of Health injury epidemiologist, is quoted in the article stating: “I don’t think we’re going to see the projected increases, at least in the area of drug overdoses or drug-related deaths.” And Hawaii’s current substance abuse death rates are quite low compared to other states. The exception is suicide.

Under the sensational headline noted above, Galanis is quoted as saying “the general public probably isn’t aware of the scale of it,” referring to Hawaii’s high suicide-specific related death rate. However, the article incorrectly takes his statement out of context and claims that this quote is about all three: drug, alcohol and suicide death rates in Hawaii.

Please try and get it right, not just sensationalize an issue.

Ann Pobutsky

McCully-Moiliili

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Cast vote for tax bill to see if GOP wrong

With all the rhetoric being thrown around about how good or how bad the GOP tax cut bill is, I have a simple solution: Why don’t our two U.S. senators from Hawaii vote for the tax bill and prove unquestionably who is telling the truth.

If the “average” middle-class income drops or taxes go up, the Republicans would lose both houses of Congress next year. If our taxes go down and income goes up (and the economy takes off), then we’d know the Democrats lied. We all know they lied about the Affordable Care Act, as all of our medical costs went up when it took effect. Our senators need to prove that the GOP is wrong by voting FOR the tax bill.

Gary Fuchikami

Ewa Beach

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Good use for majestic pine dries her tears

I cried. As the saw began its noisy cut, I cried.

The majestic pine tree on the lot, soon to be a park on Aloha Drive and Royal Hawaiian Avenue, slowly bore the buzz of six more cuts. I cried.

She was laid to rest on a flat bed truck, her pine needles slowly drooping like a weeping willow. I cried.

But then I spoke to the crew taking her away and was told she was going to a Hale in Kapolei to be dressed in the finest Christmas style to please the children, parents and neighbors in the area.

I dried my tears.

After 43 years on Aloha Drive, I will welcome the new park.

B. J. Dyhr

Waikiki