Vacation rentals do benefit state

Zero-impact vacation homes like Fanger Estate comprise 80 percent of the 2,000 unlicensed rentals on Oahu (”;City cites Hauula property owner allegedly running illegal rentals,”; Star-Bulletin, Aug. 21).

Traffic and parking are minimal. Noise and disturbances may be easily abated as was done by the two Waikiki bars (”;Panel declines to place limits on bars,”; Star-Bulletin, Aug. 21).

There has never been a complaint of a fight or beating at any B&B or vacation rental. There are no public safety concerns.

These eco-friendly lodgings promote the general welfare of our community, providing jobs, taxes and homes for local families. They help satisfy visitor demand for alternate accommodations. They don't reduce ag lands or take away beach access.

Let's not pass new laws. Honolulu would be better off with no licensing for B&Bs and vacation homes.

There is nothing but good travel news from the Big Island, where no license is required. Visitors are not displaced, jobs are not lost and Hawaii's image is not tarnished by senseless vacation rental closures like on Maui and Oahu.

Long live Kim's work for peace

In my meeting the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, former South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung, in 2004, he agreed that early U.S. failure to recognize North Korea and to conclude a Korean War peace treaty contributed to the North's atomic bomb program and has impeded progress toward peaceful reunification. One lost opportunity was in 1991 after both Koreas entered the U.N. preceded by Russian recognition of South Korea in 1990 and followed by Chinese recognition in 1992.

President Kim contributed a foreword to the 2007 Korean translation of my book, “;Nonkilling Global Political Science.”; He wrote: “;In the history of humanity in the 21st century, in the history of progress toward nonviolence and peace, this book will make an extremely valuable contribution.”;

May his legacy of freedom and peace for Korea and the world live on.

Jesus reference gets a reaction

I just had to laugh. The opening sentence in “;Everyone deserves Medicare”; (Star-Bulletin, Letters, Aug. 25) is “;Jesus would be in favor of Medicare for all.”; This is a weird example of the way we twist a Bible passage to fit our purposes. I, too, am familiar with the whole passage (Matt 25:31-46). Jesus never said that the Sanhedrin, or even the Roman government, should supply care for the people. The writer should have added that, if Jesus would want us to have Medicare, he would also be in favor of government-supplied food, water, clothes, housing and better-run prisons. The letter writer should read that passage again; Jesus puts the onus directly where it belongs — on us. And Jesus also tells us the personal consequences of ignoring these problems.

Sovereignty seen in motto

Let me take this statehood moment to enlighten people about our state motto.

“;Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono”; was spoken by King Kamehameha III in 1843, on the day the British left Hawaii. It was in response to a question of how sovereignty could be preserved. In the Hawaiian dictionary, the No. 1 definition of “;ea”; is sovereignty, rule, independence. Clearly sovereignty is what he meant, not life. It is the opposite of statehood.