Letters: Public Service Criminals Should Lose Their Pensions; KCC offers training here for nursing candidates; Better Than Expensive Vacation Rentals in Waikiki

Here we go again: More city workers charged with Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s dysfunctional reign (“Kealoha settlement rushed to Honolulu Police Commission,” Star-Advertiser, January 18). We are lucky that the federal government cleans up our municipal mess. Our own municipal departments seem too corrupt, involved or lethargic to do so.

Can we end this once and for all? Can we pass a law that says any a city or state employee convicted of a job-related crime loses all pensions and benefits? Taxpayers are so tired and frustrated of having to subsidize the retirement of taxpayer funded criminals.

A quarter of a million here, a quarter of a million there – who could ever be against a law like this? Pass this law and maybe, just maybe, it will prevent the rampant abuses of power that have plagued our city for the past decade.

pat kelly

Kaimuki

Kealoha is unlikely to repay what it owes

You gotta give Loretta Sheehan all the credit in the world for standing up to the Honolulu Police Commission by voting against former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha’s $250,000 golden parachute (“The Kealoha settlement rushed to Honolulu Police Commission”, Star-Advertiser, Jan 18). She was right all along. The courage of one makes the majority.

We’re talking big bucks here. How could Kealoha repay when he has been in prison for seven years? And why should he pay it back? I know I wouldn’t if you threw me in jail. I really doubt he will ever refund the full amount. Topping up your pension can take years.

If you gave me an unsecured loan of $250,000, you can bet the family ranch will be in Brazil the next day. If you want your money back, come find me.

Melvin Wang

Kakaako

KCC offers training here for nursing candidates

“Training more nurses in Hawaii” (Star-Advertiser, Our View, January 15) is an excellent editorial on the state of health care needs in Hawaii, focusing on the shortage of nurses.

One thing he failed to mention was the associate of science degree from Kapiolani Community College in preparation for nursing. After graduating from this program, students can take the National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN) exam and, upon successful completion, are eligible to work as registered nurses. This program allows graduates to further their education by earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree at the University of Hawaii while working as a registered nurse.

I worked at UCLA Medical Center for 30 years. My nurse manager, Susan Johnson, started her nursing education at KCC, then went to UH-Manoa to get her BSN, then got her masters in nursing at UCLA. She started as a staff nurse and retired as the director of intensive care nursing. She attributed her success to a great start at KCC, which laid the foundation for her nursing career.

Lisa Michaelson, RN

Marina del Rey, California.

Better Than Expensive Vacation Rentals in Waikiki

Shiyana Thenabadu’s comment was good, but it didn’t go far enough (“Neighborhoods need rentals longer than 30 days”, Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, January 12).

Tourists who have been to Oahu once recognize that staying in a hotel in Waikiki is very, very expensive beyond the price of the hotel room. A vacation rental outside of Waikiki offers so much more.

Thenabadu blamed Bill 41 on the wealthy, hotel lobbyists and some politicians. She forgot the unions. Probably for the first time in history, management and workers have agreed on something: stop vacation rentals.

Tourists who rent outside of Waikiki bring money back to Hawaii and have a much better experience. A more robust permit system is needed. Establish clear, fair and realistic criteria and apply them. Don’t let wealthy NIMBYs, hotel owners or unions dictate against common sense.

I know of a family that owns two tandem units available for vacation rental, with ample parking, the owner (not me) living next door, with a full ocean view 100 yards away. They can’t even get a permit.

John Henry

Kaneohe

‘Affordable rentals’ in Waikiki a joke

Thanks to Dan Aregger for his letter regarding the article “Affordable Rentals Available in New Waikiki Skyscraper” (Star-Advertiser, January 10). He expressed how many of us felt about these supposedly “affordable” rentals (“New Waikiki studios really aren’t affordable,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, January 13).

It’s really a joke.

Jo-Ann Kawakami

Ala Moana

The UH football team needs a seasoned leader at the helm

Over the next three to four years, the revenue streams that will make or break the University of Hawaii football program will be large donations, peak attendance at Ching Field, and an upsurge in merchandise sales.

Neither Norm Chow, Nick Rolovich, or Todd Graham (due to COVID-19 reasons) could reverse falling attendance, attract major donations, or build a brand to elevate merchandise sales to June-era peaks. Jones.

With UH athletics on life support, few would think it wise to choose a third-year medical student over a seasoned doctor who knows the program’s ills, let alone a seasoned doctor who doesn’t know the program. In the week ahead, we’ll see if those responsible for the future of UH athletics are made of the right stuff.

Roy Kamisato

Niu Valley

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