Charging stations need to work

As an electric vehicle (EV) owner, it is encouraging to know that more charging stations, especially fast chargers, will be installed in the near future (“Electric-vehicle swell is underway,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 26).

However, EV drivers in Hawaii frequently experience frustration when we pull up to a charging station and it is out of order. A North Shore resort boasts four EV charging stations that don’t work.

State and county agencies responsible for charging-station policy must ensure that host sites maintain charging stations and face consequences if they don’t.

Daniel Benedict

Waialua

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Desecration on Oahu ignored

Opponents of the Thirty Meter Telescope are reinforcing a prevalent belief that Hawaii is not a good place for businesses or major investments lest they be hindered by the whims of local protesters.

Why is the summit of Mauna Kea more sacred than the flat plain of increasingly devastated Oahu?

Few if any Hawaiians were buried on the mountaintop, while remains are continually unearthed in Honolulu.

Protestors could perform a useful service by turning their energies toward the rail project now devastating the remnants of this once-beautiful island.

Advocating buses or maglev would alleviate traffic and transform Hawaii’s negative business image.

Telescope supporters should not wait silently as the process wends its interminable way through the obstacles in its path.

They should express their feelings to the judges who will ultimately decide the fate of the highly desirable telescope project. Judges, along with their professionalism, are aware of and are influenced by community sentiment.

David Swift

Aina Haina

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U.S., New Zealand wrong on Israel

Two days before Christmas and on the verge of the first day of Hanukkah, New Zealand and the Obama administration put forward a morally perverse, unjust and disgusting expression of anti-Israel animus at the United Nations (“U.S. infuriates Israel with pass on U.N. vote,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 24). Hand-in-hand, both parties acted to deny the historical connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.

The historical connection of Jews to Israel predates by thousands of years British colonial expansion into New Zealand.

Consider that a Jew digging beneath his feet in Israel may well find artifacts of his fathers from the time of Solomon and King David.

The usual abundance of goodwill regularly extended to New Zealand must end for the time being.

It is necessary to boycott agricultural and manufactured goods important to New Zealand’s livelihood — its exports of beef, lamb, fruits, fish, seafood, wine, wools, clothing, cheeses, milks, flowers, lumber and machinery.

Please remember to send New Zealand a firm, tangible message of disapproval.

Charles Kerr

Kalama Valley

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Obama is no Kamehameha

I object to your characterization of President Barack Obama as “the state’s most famous native son” for whom the newly found Hawaiian fish, Tosanoides obama, was named (“Newly found Hawaiian fish is named after the president who expanded its sanctuary,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 22).

Has Kamehameha the Great has lost his No. 1 ranking? I guess nobody asked a Native Hawaiian who is the most famous native son of Hawaii.

Robert G. McCully

Las Vegas

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Surely Hawaii is a coastal state

The Associated Press story you carried Dec. 24 (“As Obama accomplished policy goals, his party floundered,” Star-Advertiser, Top News) said, “After this year’s elections, Democrats hold the governor’s office and both legislative chambers in just five coastal states: Oregon, California, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware.”

Apparently, the AP believes Hawaii is not a state, or is not “coastal.”

Arkie Koehl

Makiki

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Holes a danger at Kapiolani Park

Walking through Kapiolani Park the other day, we noticed that there were a lot of holes in the ground, requiring us to look down to avoid them instead of looking around and enjoying the beauty of the area.

The holes must have been there for some time, because the grass has grown in them, making them hard to see. There are a few large ones and lots of little ones. The city should fill in these holes before someone breaks an ankle and sues.

There are a lot of holes all around Waikiki where diseased coconut trees have been removed, but the holes are still there or the fill has sunk. An example is Sans Souci (Kaimana) Beach Park.

Lani Johnson

Salt Lake