East Hawaii is struggling (“East Hawaii in crisis,” Star-Advertiser, March 11).

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division has had open positions for many years on Hawaii island. Why can’t we fill positions of care coordinators and psychologists? Why is the staff so overwhelmed? Why are caseloads absurdly large?

While I fully support the pilot program in East Hawaii, the problem will require a more comprehensive approach if we are to save lives and instill hope in our youth.

Our state representatives should use some capital improvement money to help these youth. The Department of Health can offer more free training and resources for community members so that they know what to look for and can learn how to help.

This is not simply an issue of not enough staff. This is an issue of learning how to live as a rural island. It will take everyone to help fix this issue.

How will you help today?

Zahava Zaidoff

Kailua-Kona

—

Keep parking at Ala Moana Park

In spite of three different meetings and zero support for his plans at these meetings, Mayor Kirk Caldwell appears hell-bent to take away the oceanside parking at the “People’s Park,” Ala Moana Beach Park. His plan includes doing away with the green strips and trees by the walkway and to lay down more concrete. He apparently wants a wider walkway, which is unnecessary. It will be more like Waikiki. No, thank you.

I am at the park four or five days a week to exercise, and no one supports this idea. What needs to happen at the park is for the roads to be maintained and for better bathrooms and showers. We welcome these improvements, and one bathroom is currently being repaired. There are still lots of potholes.

It would be good, too, if the city would go back to raking the beaches at night.

Jim Quimby

Kamehameha Heights

—

Christians can’t legislate to others

I welcome James Kataoka’s input on the death-with-dignity bill that will certainly become law in Hawaii shortly (“Christians can’t back assisted-death bill,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 9). He as well as others have every right to oppose it based on their Christian values.

For me and according to my humanist and personal- choice values, passage of this law is long overdue. Every person deserves the right to live his or her life in dignity and self-determination unburdened by the imposition of others’ mandates and strictures.

Christians may believe it’s “God’s will” for humans to suffer a slow, undignified and heartbreaking death process, but they have no right to impose their beliefs, take away one’s liberty, and limit others’ personal choices.

If some wish to self-determine how, when and with whom they spend their final days, so be it. It is not for Christians or any other dogmatic group to legislate otherwise.

Jeff Merz

Waikiki

—

14 days maximum for disaster prep

Hawaii residents now need 30 days of self-sufficiency for disasters (“State lays out worst-case storm scenario for ports,” Star-Advertiser, March 8)?

Last year it was seven days, then 14 days. Fourteen days made sense; 30 suggests the state is simply telling the public, “You’re on your own.”

I appreciate and support 14 days because it reflects a balance of what we need to do for ourselves and the responsibility of government. How will families who live paycheck-to-paycheck afford a 30-day stockpile?

The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency needs to work out its differences with state harbors and find solutions, as opposed to just outlining the challenges.

Toby L. Clairmont

Mililani

—

Pedestrians need laws enforced

While watching television coverage of the police participating in a pedestrian safety sign-waving exercise, there was video of a woman in a crosswalk while a car cut illegally in back of her. This was right in front of the sign-waving police.

If the police want to protect pedestrians, enforce the laws. Give tickets to some of the hundreds of people who run red lights every day. Presently there are no consequences for this dangerous practice.

Jonathan Carr

Waikiki

—

Protect parents from deportation

What is up with seizing “illegal” immigrants by the hundreds, including both parents of the family?

Breaking up families and sending the only ones who support the family over the border is a blatant denial of basic civil rights under the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Justice Department knows that the American-born children will have little choice but to self-deport.

We must act quickly to halt any mass separation of “illegals,” especially both parents, from their children.

Cassandra Aoki

Kaneohe