I agree wholeheartedly with U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa over suing the federal government to demand more support for Pacific Islanders who immigrate to Hawaii under the Compact of Free Association (“Hanabusa and Ige debate immigration and environment,” Star-Advertiser, July 3).

It’s about time somebody has the gumption to sue the feds. This situation has been going on for decades without anyone with the guts to do anything about it. I’m sick and tired of the state having to foot the bill while the feds get a free pass without anyone in our chief executive’s office doing anything about it.

That’s one of the many reasons I support Hanabusa for governor — she has guts!

Art Frank

Makaha

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Protection of ocean sanctuary is vital

Colleen Hanabusa opposed the expansion of Papahanaumo- kuakea (“Hanabusa and Ige debate immigration and environment,” Star-Advertiser, July 2).

The Papahanaumokuakea National Monument area includes the chain of tiny islands northwest of Kauai. In 2016 President Barack Obama approved the expansion of the surrounding waters from 50 miles to 200 miles of these islands to protect and sustain the amazing marine life and cultural sites that are of great importance to Native Hawaiians.

This monument is the second- largest Marine Protected Area on the planet, and MPAs help to protect the ocean from the effects of climate change. It is this vital expansion that Gov. David Ige supported in his letter to Obama.

Hanabusa opposed this expansion, which demonstrates her lack of vision in the protection of our aina in the Pacific Ocean for future generations to come. It is no wonder that the Sierra Club endorsed Ige.

Czar C. Tedios

Kaimuki

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Kailua parade gives veterans much aloha

Thank you, Kailua.

On July 4, I had the honor to participate in your local community parade with a dozen fellow members of the Military Order of Purple Heart riding on a flat-bed float. Along the route, we were greeted, cheered, saluted, thanked and appreciated for our service and sacrifice to country. Your enthusiasm for us and other members of military organizations in other floats was as patriotic as I’ve ever experienced.

Alongside toddlers and teens, babies and grandparents, you all displayed the true American spirit of celebrating the beginning of this amazing country.

Mahalo for your warmth and hospitality and making us proud to have served you and our country.

Joel Brilliant

Retired U.S. Navy captain, Hawaii Kai

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‘Lowly’ military man is really U.S. hero

I stand with James Kaleohano who said he “will stand for the flag” (“Veteran will stand for the flag, anthem, Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 2), refuting another letter from a soldier who said it would be OK to kneel with protestors during the playing of the national anthem (“Taking knee doesn’t disrespect anthem,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 12).

But I take exception to the way Kaleohano described himself as “a lowly infantry sergeant.” Anyone who’s been exposed to military training knows that sergeants are the ones who run the show. The officers and the brass may be the architects, but without sergeants, there is no execution of plans on the ground.

Moreover, there is a word for people like Kaleohano, who served in Korea and Vietnam, and for people like him, no matter what his or her duty station was, whether cook, clerk, transport or most importantly, infantry: carrying a rifle, representing the United States in a combat zone on foreign soil.

And that word is “hero.’”

Chip Davey

Downtown Honolulu

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Trump erodes help for environment

While most of the dismay over President Donald Trump’s policies rightly focuses on direct negative effects on people, he also is rapidly removing crucial environmental protections.

As ocean scientists, my colleagues and I are particularly upset that Trump recently abandoned the United States National Ocean Policy developed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Each former president, through executive order, outlined and refined ocean management guidelines for a sustainable future, then passed responsibility for implementation to coastal states, including Hawaii.

Now, the focus is entirely on short-term economic benefits to the exclusion of environmental safeguards. In the guise of streamlining bureaucracy, the new policy ignores marine conservation and climate disruption. As former NOAA Administrator Dr. Jane Lubchenco puts it: “The [new] policy reflects a shift from ‘use it without using it up’ to a very short-sighted and cavalier ‘use it aggressively and irresponsibly.’”

Mark Hixon

Manoa

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Invest in policies for better U.S. future

Gary Suzukawa pointed out the disparity between his generation and the current one (“Privileges should be earned, not given,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, July 1).

All of us appreciate his service to our country, but times have changed so much that our middle class is undermined by extreme debt that deters people from getting a higher education, starting families and starting businesses, among other endeavors.

We as a nation need to invest in our young people. With single- payer health care, people can freely move to any state that offers good-paying jobs. With free higher education, upon graduation people can move to jobs without the crushing debt that stops younger people from moving the economy and country forward.

I am from Suzukawa’s generation, but I don’t see people calling for these programs as communists. What these policies do is invest in the younger generation, an investment that pays off well into future generations. Taxpayers do not object to paying higher taxes as long as they see a benefit to themselves or future generations. Let’s invest in future generations.

Sandra M. Barker

Hawaii Kai