SAND EROSION CAUSED BY SWELLS, NOT WIND

We were amazed to read that "experts" think that the erosion on Kailua Beach is due to the wind. If the experts walked the beach as we do every day, they would know that the wind has very little to do with the movement of the sand.

While El Niño may indeed be a factor, a search of ocean swells will undoubtedly show that the past several years have delivered an unusual number of east swells. That seems to be what takes the beach away from the boat ramp end of Kailua Beach.

All the north swells we've been having this year have brought the sand back onto the beach. It never went far, was just out there under the waves.

I wonder how much money the taxpayers have paid for these "expert" opinions?

pam soderberg | Kailua

HOMELESS

SOLUTIONS NOT EASILY FOUND FOR PROBLEM

I commend The Advertiser for bringing attention to the plight of the homeless. Unfortunately, that is the only significance of that editorial. As is commonly seen, the suggestions of criminalizing homelessness, or utilizing law enforcement to harass the homeless into compliance have been tried in other jurisdictions and while these tactics have achieved short term success, the success is always short lived.

It is inevitable that advocacy groups will challenge these laws/tactics in court and even more restrictions will be placed on those dealing with this problem. In Hawai'i we cannot even get lawmakers to pass laws targeting the homeless, let alone have them stand up as constitutional in our courts.

Do I offer a suggestion? No, but I am enlightened enough to know that the answers have not yet been found and suggestions based on misinformation do not move us any closer to real solutions.

walter ozeki | Honolulu

ROD TAM

STATEMENTS, EXCUSES ARE JUST FULL OF HOLES

After listening to and reading about Rod Tam's excuses as to why he can't do fuzzy math or remember anything about a meeting, I think he should definitely qualify as a national spokesperson for Swiss cheese, as his statements have as many holes, if not more, than a block of Swiss cheese.

mike eberle | Honolulu

FORMER SENATOR WAS BIG HELP TO LIBRARIANS

Rod Tam never took me to dinner, but I'd be happy to chip in $20 to a "misplaced hospitality" city replacement fund.

Back when Rod was chairman of the Senate Education Committee, he spoke to our little group of dedicated professionals with master's in library science.

He had good advice. "Most of my colleagues don't really know what you librarians do," he told us. "You need identity."

He then proceeded to come to two more meetings to help us think "out of our box."

The final result: Libraries Nourish: (think) RICE. Recreation Information Culture Education. And that is what libraries provide.

So thank you, Rod Tam, friend of libraries and librarians.

Sylvia C. Mitchell | Newsletter editor, Librarians Association of Hawaii

TSUNAMI

BEING TOO CAUTIOUS CAUSED LOST PROFITS

It was nice to have civil defense warn the people of Hawai'i to take the necessary precaution to prepare for the potential tsunami 13 hours ahead of its scheduled arrival. Safety should always be paramount.

But with all the modern technology of today, it seems that we were overly cautious and that put everyone in a inconvenience. Business lost productivity as well as profits.

We should use the experience of Feb. 27, 2010, as a reminder to plan better for the next episode.

michael nomura | Kailua

PROPERTY TAX

CO-OP APARTMENTS BEING RECLASSIFIED

Under the new law it appears that long-time resident owners of co-op apartments are being classified as "nonowners" to obtain excess property tax revenue from this form of ownership, unless the co-op owners can prove that every apartment in the building is occupied by a resident/owner.

Although ostensibly still retaining their resident exemptions, the new law would classify even long-time owner residents as non-owners and therefore subject to a higher property tax. Shibai!

anne clarkin | Honolulu

HEALTH CARE

RUBIN'S COLUMN 100% CORRECT

Kudos to The Advertiser, for printing Trudy Rubin's column "It works in Europe, why not here?" (March 10), about Europe's health care system.

There has been so much negative publicity on this subject that I was very surprises to read such an enlightened column.

By personal experience, I must agree 100 percent with the writer.

In 2006, I came down with the shingles of the right eye while traveling through Austria. I had to spend five days in a hospital in a city called Zell am Zee, and I would have called it a five-star hospital.

I almost died, not from the shingles, but from worrying about how I was going to pay for the hospital bill because I was without coverage.

In Austria the health care system is based on points. The lower the point factor the smaller share of the fees you owe. Austrian citizens have a very low point factor, while tourists have a high point factor.

But even with the "high point factor," five days in this truly luxurious hospital, including the doctor's fees, cost me only about $4,500. That is just unbelievable.

Al SILVA | Honolulu