OUR SCHOOL LIBRARIES SHOULD NOT BE CLOSED

Hana Public and School Library has two of the reasons it should not be closed: It is a school library and it's remote, about as far from the neighboring library as can be. 'Ewa Beach Public and School Library serves four schools besides the general public. School libraries should not be closed.

Our children need them and they are important learning tools. If staffing is a problem, let the libraries ask for volunteers. Many of us would like a chance to help!

Georgette Nishimi | 'Ewa Beach

STATEHOOD

CHICKEN-SKIN CELEBRATION MISSING

Just back from Alaska. Compared some similarities with locals — "except in Alaska and Hawai'i," no $5 footlongs, a big decline in tourism — then talked of celebrate and commemorate. Many seemed perplexed.

I wish I had Mr. Shapiro's "It's a shame we can't celebrate statehood" column (July 15). It would have provided me more time to enjoy Alaska's natural beauty and buy commemorative "We're In!" T-shirts while providing locals a greater insight into the debate.

Alaska folk really enjoy their fireworks and parades especially related to the 50th. And from Michael Tsai's recent article ("Statehood panels will look to future," July 13) we're doing it Hawai'i style with a one-day conference with "in-depth discussions on where Hawai'i is headed over the next half-century."

Predicting the future is tricky, but I predict that no chicken-skin moments will be had anywhere near the convention center on Aug 21. How ironic is it after all the yearlong scholarly, political talk officials will end with nostalgic 1950s feel-good bands. Maybe it's possible to be both empathetic and feel good about statehood at the same dance. Next time let's do fireworks.

Richard Broadhurst | Honolulu

ILIKAI HOTEL

VISITORS HAVE LONG ENJOYED LANDMARK

As an annual Hawai'i visitor for the past several decades, I was very saddened to learn of the closure of the Ilikai Hotel.

Although there are rumors and word has it that there is a tentative agreement with the unions to keep the Ilikai open, the fact remains the Ilikai is slated for closure.

The Ilikai, like the Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Hale Koa, has been a landmark I have enjoyed for years. This is a sad testimonial and the sign of our times, as more and more landmarks and businesses become victims of our faltering economy.

I would only hope that someone somehow can revive and save this magnificent hotel for Hono-lulu, and the visitors who have enjoyed it would like to continue to enjoy it for years to come.

Al Eisner | Wheaton, Silver Spring, Md.

DOG KILLING

SENTENCING IN PET DEATH OUTRAGEOUS

"Outrageous" is the word that came to my head immediately after learning about the sentencing of Caddy's killer. These two guys should be sentenced to the maximum and do community service at the Humane Society or other no-kill animal shelters.

I cannot believe that in Hawai'i, the land of aloha, people can get away with murdering other people's pets. To many of us, pets are family members, and to kill one of them is to kill a family member. I wonder what would happen if this incident happened to the judge's pet, if he or she has one.

Rosita Sipirok-Siregar | Makakilo

ANN KOBAYASHI

QUOTED OPINION WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT

In reference to Al Harrington's July 16 letter, which quotes my opinion of Ann Kobayashi, I believe some context is in order. I made that statement in response to the question asking what it was like working with Ann when we were colleagues in the state Senate.

My comments were not an endorsement of her candidacy for mayor last year, but simply my opinion of the Ann I knew in the Senate. Those memories have not changed. However, the situation has, because of the tragic loss of another friend of mine, Duke Bainum.

Today, Ann and I are competing with 12 other candidates for the City Council. The winner of this race must be able to collaborate with other council members and the mayor to get things done.

I am disappointed that Ann's campaign continues to use my quote out of context on her Web site, even after we requested its removal. Further, Mr. Harrington's letter implies that I endorse the policies and political activities she has adopted after she left the Senate.

I hope that in the future, my former colleague and longtime friend will exercise the kind of judgment in her campaign that she exhibited in the Senate.

Matt Matsunaga | Candidate, District 5, City Council

HOMELESS

OFFICIALS SHOULDN'T ENCOURAGE PROBLEM

With a little less effort to make homeless, able-bodied drug and alcohol addicts well-fed, warm and cozy here, Honolulu could improve to No. 1 in the country in discouraging chronic homelessness.

Please, public officials, do not work any harder on having Honolulu become the friendliest homeless haven in the nation.

Shelly Brown | Honolulu

HEALTH REFORM

GOVERNMENT-RUN CARE QUITE EFFICIENT

I must disagree with several points in Robby Field's July 13 letter relating to health-care reform. He states that the wait for a doctor's appointment will be longer if we have a government-run option. This hasn't proven to be the case in France or the Netherlands. A 2008 Commonwealth Fund study found that the Dutch and French were able to get same-day appointments with their physicians 60 percent and 42 percent of the time, respectively. Americans get same-day appointments only 26 percent of the time.

A 2007 study by the same group found that only 9 percent of Dutch waited two hours or more to be seen in an emergency room; 31 percent of Americans waited that long.

Medicare, the current government-run program, is quite efficient. It has less bureaucracy attached than many other health plans, and pays providers faster than almost all other plans. Choice in health insurance greatly adds to the cost. Hospitals, doctors and other health care providers must maintain a large staff and expensive computer programs to register patients, determine benefits, and bill and collect fees from various health insurers.

Additionally, many of the dollars paid for health insurance premiums pay for the insurance companies' advertising costs, high salaries, and profits — not health care.

The health care system in the U.S. needs an overhaul. We can't afford to continue down the current path.

Pauline Osborne | Kailua