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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, October 11, 2008

Letters to the Editor

LETTERS POLICY

The Advertiser welcomes letters in good taste on any subject. Priority is given to letters exclusive to The Advertiser.

All letters must be accompanied by the writer's true name, address and daytime telephone number, should be on a single subject and kept to 200 words or fewer. Letters of any length are subject to trimming and editing.

Writers are limited to one letter per 30 days.

All letters and articles submitted to The Advertiser may be published or distributed in print, electronic and other forms.

E-mail: letters@honoluluadvertiser.com

Fax: 535-2415

Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110 Honolulu, HI 96802

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PRESIDENTIAL RACE

CANDIDATE PALIN WRONG TO SAY SHE IS LIKE US

Sarah Palin says she is like us. Well, Ms. Palin, I have news for you. You are not like us.

Personally, I don't know anyone who uses high-powered rifles to shoot helpless animals or sanctions the killing of wolves from airplanes (an extremely cruel process).

Also, none of my friends would force a young victim of rape and/or incest to the torture of giving birth under those circumstances.

So, Ms. Palin, please do not say you are like us.

Carol Carpenter
Honolulu

ENVIRONMENT

MORE RESEARCH NEEDED ON PAPER VS. PLASTIC

Before any more laws are passed to outlaw plastic bags, I think lawmakers should do some research.

Most research will show that paper and plastic bags affect the environment about the same.

Both bags can be recycled, but most are not. Paper uses more space in landfills and breaks down in a few hundred years. Plastic uses very little landfill space and, depending on the type of plastic, can take thousands of years to break down.

Otto Cleveland
Pearl City

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

LAW SEEKS RECORD OF ISLES' CULTURAL HISTORY

The new state law that requires photographs of all properties 50 years or older before demolition or alternation needs additional explanation.

The intent of the law is to have a full record of the architectural and cultural history of Hawai'i, even as we recognize that some demolition or substantial alteration may be unavoidable. In these cases, it is important to have documentation for future study, historic analysis or to complete the architectural record.

The Legislature, led by the Heritage Caucus, has been thoughtful in working for public policy in support of historic preservation.

But well-intentioned laws are only as effective as their implementation. Follow-up is needed in the form of specific guidelines with the State Historic Preservation Division's expectations for archival photo-documentation, to be clearly communicated and consistently applied. The community of contractors, architects and engineers most affected by the new law should be consulted as the state develops rules that are reasonable and effective.

Most of Hawai'i's citizens agree that historic and cultural sites are being lost at an alarming rate. While change is inevitable, it should not be allowed to destroy the places that define our communities.

If we have to lose the places that matter, we should at the very least have pictures of what has been lost.

Kiersten Faulkner
Executive director, Historic Hawai'i Foundation

HAWAI'I KAI

KAMILO NUI FARM LOTS SHOULD STAY IN AG

Kamehameha Schools trustee Robert Kihune said that Hawai'i needs to be more self-sufficient in producing its own food (The Honolulu Advertiser, Oct. 23, 2005). At present, there are concerns that the farm lots in Kamilo Nui Valley are being considered for gentleman estates.

The Hawai'i Kai community has stated that it would like to keep the open spaces in the valley in agriculture. The Kamehameha Schools strategic plan has five mandates, and one of them is the concerns of the community.

Although the valley is small, it could produce vegetables should there be any future dock strikes. Further, we have not encountered tainted green onions and peppers from our Hawai'i farmers.

I hope and pray that Kamehameha Schools will do the right thing and negotiate reasonable leases for the farmers in Kamilo Nui Valley that will enable them to continue to farm or be able to sell their leases to other farmers.

Tai Hong
Honolulu

PIT BULLS

DON'T BLAME BREED FOR A SENSELESS TRAGEDY

Once again, pit bulls get a bad rap for another senseless killing. I can't even imagine what this poor family must be going through, but enough is enough when it comes to the pit bull.

I own an 80-pound blue pit and a 20-pound Jack Russell, and they have been raised to be the best of friends. Sure, they have their spats, but honestly it all comes down to how you raise these high-tempered dogs.

Yes, they eat Costco chicken for meals, sleep with the family in bed, have freedom to roam, but yet know when to protect.

I belong to the the national Pit Bull Rescue Center, which takes in and protects these dogs after abuse, torture, etc. The dogs are rehabilitated and put up for adoption.

Just one question: You state there were 1,269 dog bites in 2007 (so) how come only the pit bull makes the headlines?

Surely of the 1,269 dog bites, not all were from pit bulls. So let's back off on these beautiful creatures of God and focus on how we can prevent these tragedies from happening again and again.

Kristy Monroe
Honolulu

WAI'ANAE COAST

COMMUNITY PRIDE IN RETURN OF BEACH PARKS

It's always a tough and sensitive issue when it comes to the homeless along our beach parks in the Wai'anae Coast. But just recently I visited Ma'ili Ulehawa Beach Park, and it felt so good to see the park cleaned and getting a face lift.

You can actually see the beautiful beach, the grassy picnic areas and palm trees.

For years, this park area was surrounded by tents, abandoned vehicles and a beach home site for our homeless.

Ma'ili Beach Park, Nani Kai, Surfers Beach and now Ulehawa Beach Park have been cleaned and are now safe for everyone to use.

I thank Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his administration for supporting the community's request and gathering our input proposed by the Nanakuli-Ma'ili Neighborhood Board No. 36 on several other park closures.

It is time to return the beach parks to our 'ohana, visitors and most of all our keiki. By re-greening our coast it will bring back community pride.

Patty Teruya
Chair, Nanakuli-Ma'ili Neighborhood Board