All of Hawaii should oppose wind turbines that threaten native bird species and cause a blight on our landscape (“Public still has say on Kahuku’s 9 wind turbines,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 16).
Contary to statements by Mike Cutbirth, manager of Na Pua Makani Power Partners (“Wind turbines good for Oahu,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 23), we neighbors in Kahuku oppose nine more 500-plus-foot turbines in our community.
For more than four years, the concerns of residents have fallen on deaf ears as Na Pua Makani pursues its project by lobbying and funding groups in the Kahuku area. Some of us are just not for sale and respect our home and heritage far more than greed will ever comprehend.
Margaret Primacio
Kahuku
Community doesn’t want more turbines
As a housewife in Kahuku, I have been to neighborhood meetings and sat on my community association for the last three years, so I’m confident that the majority of our community does not want more wind turbines.
To say that residents have been “overwhelmingly in support of the project” at every step of the approval process is blatant dishonesty by Mike Cutbirth (“Wind turbines good for Oahu,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 23).
Wind turbines cause anxiety and headaches among autistic children with hearing sensitivities, who suffer because of the sound and flashing lights.
Housing values will decrease and the costs to taxpayers will be high.
After the tax credit, our solar panels cost $7,000. They’ll last 20 years and we pay $15 a month. Unlike turbines, they are a safe, effective, affordable and sustainable form of renewable energy.
Thanks to the Board of Land and Natural Resources for giving us a chance to re-emphasize what’s been said in droves for the past three years — no more turbines in Kahuku.
Elizabeth J. Rago-Ka‘ili
Kahuku
Time to bind wounds of difficult election
Compassion, tolerance and inclusion are some of America’s defining values that have inspired the world’s envy. But those values lost their significance when Donald Trump, who ran a campaign that promoted racism, divisiveness and anti-diversity, won the electoral votes. The bitterness of the election has deepened the wounds of racial division.
His ascension to the presidency has created a fearful environment for many Americans who are worried whether they have a place in Trump’s America.
I hope that he will abandon the dark and destructive path he followed during the campaign and govern on behalf of all Americans.
In his victory speech, Trump promised to seek unity. While his conciliatory tone is a positive step, he needs to demonstrate his sincerity by apologizing to this grief-stricken nation for the hateful and hurtful comments he made against women and minorities, so that we can start the healing process and together, we can move America forward.
Rod B. Catiggay
Mililani
Democrats don’t get immigration issue
The Democrats, especially the progressives, are wringing their collective hands trying to figure out why they lost the election.
This is not brain surgery. The simple fact is that they underestimated the pervasive subliminal anxiety of the American people, and tried to swing the country too far left with a seriously flawed candidate.
Voters were fed up with the open-border attitude of the left, as if we don’t now have enough people in this country, enough traffic on our roads, enough homeless people living in the shadows, enough people looking for too few jobs, enough people trying to get health care, enough people on food stamps, and enough criminals in our prisons.
It seems we can’t even take care of our own citizens in need properly, and we want to take in millions more undocumented people.
Art Todd
Kaneohe
Challenge Trump at the ballot box
Anti-Trump protests around the country, especially if violent and continuing on and after Inauguration Day, give President-elect Donald Trump exactly what he wants — an excuse to declare martial law and suspend the Constitution, including First Amendment free speech rights.
The wiser course is to keep the peace. There is no possibility that Trump will deliver all that he has promised. Rational Republican legislators don’t even support him.
Two years from now the Republicans will be voted out during the mid-term elections, when Trump supporters see their lives are unchanged or possibly made worse under a Trump presidency and a Republican Congress.
Democrats re-taking control of Congress can further block a Trump agenda, and in 2020, will be able to win the White House.
Emerence West
Makiki
New Zealanders love Barack Obama
During a holiday in your beautiful island, we felt privileged to witness on TV the wonderful speech of President Barack Obama at the Medal of Freedom ceremony a few days ago. How fortunate you are to have such a terrific speaker and good man as your president. Should he need a job in politics after next January, please send him to New Zealand.
Michael and Jo-Anne Gower-Webb
Port Chalmers, New Zealand
Filmmakers should give tickets to locals
Regarding the abuse of film tax credits with no apparent benefits coming to the state (“Film tax credit abused, audit finds,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 23), there is an easy solution that requires little administration: Require filmmakers to provide two free tickets to all Hawaii residents for each production filmed in Hawaii.
No funds into the state coffers, just direct benefits to the real taxpayers.
Miles Baidack
Hawaii Kai
