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I have been backpacking into Kalalau on the Na Pali coast of Kauai for more than 20 years. Over the last two decades, I’ve witnessed an alarming increase in tour helicopters overflying the Na Pali coastline from Kalalau to Ke‘e beach. The noise from the helicopters has become intolerable.
Local residents and visitors from around the world hike the rugged 11-mile Kalalau trail in search of a pristine Hawaiian wilderness experience, only to find the peace and tranquility completely destroyed by the barrage of helicopter traffic. There are laws prohibiting “disturbing the peace” in all 50 states. Helicopters undeniably disturb the peace along the Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park.
A simple solution would be to create a no-fly zone over the northeastern half of the the Na Pali coast from Ke‘e Beach to Awaawapuhi Valley. Helicopter tour companies would still be able to overfly the southwestern half of the Na Pali coastline from Polihale Beach to Awaawapuhi Valley. No-fly zones already exist over other Hawaiian wilderness areas, including Haleakala National Park crater.
Dave Osborn
Kapaa, Kauai
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Ige should see Campbell’s woes
Gov. David Ige promised the voters of Hawaii a more transparent and accountable state government when he ran for office.
Really? An elected official had to file a lawsuit to get Ige’s attention about the longstanding problems at Campbell High School (“Suit aims to ease crowding at Campbell,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 28).
In response, the attorney general requested that the suit be dismissed because “plaintiffs have no fundamental due process right … to demand the particular type of school facilities and services — e.g., permanent additional cafeteria and toilet facilities, cooler and quieter classrooms, increased extracurricular opportunities, etc. — that they deem desirable.”
I remember Ige promising some of that for all classrooms. Maybe the governor should quit hiding behind others who speak for him and spend a day on the Campbell campus and in their classrooms. I’d be curious to know what his definition of “desirable” would be then.
Robert Kee Chong
Kaimuki
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DOE’s lack of action forced suit
State Rep. Bob McDermott is like David fighting Goliath in his lawsuit against the state Department of Education to get it to correct the appalling conditions of overcrowding and lack of air conditioning and proper toilets at Campbell High School in East Kapolei (“Suit aims to ease crowding at Campbell,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 28).
If the do-nothing bureaucrats of the DOE had done their job, he would not have had to go to court in the first place. But now the state attorney general’s office, which is apparently as clueless as the Board of Education, lamely claims that McDermott and his allies simply have no legal basis to make the state do its job.
What other recourse do they have in the face of such willful dereliction of duty and intransigence?
Edward D. Lasky
Hawaii Kai
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Ward could treat homeless better
My neighbor, state Rep. Gene Ward, R-Hawaii Kai, recently formed a very unpopular “homeless task force (HTF).” The purpose of the HTF is to make Hawaii Kai a safer community.
Ward stated that the homeless are not welcome in Hawaii Kai, and provided a map showing where the homeless people are staying and giving specific information regarding their medical conditions (“Lawmaker issues map of Hawaii Kai homeless,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 27). The ACLU said this could be unlawful discrimination or unconstitutional.
I am worried about whose safety Ward is protecting. If he really is worried about the safety of the homeless people in our area, his task force could refer them to community facilities such as churches, shelters and food banks. He could assist with job placement or affordable housing. There also are homeless keiki living in those tents who cannot fend for themselves.
Let’s spread a bit of dignity, empathy and compassion into 2017, not more fear and hatred. Maybe our lawmakers need a reminder that poverty is not a crime.
Karyn Herrmann
Hahaione Valley
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Solar beneficial for taxpayers
In her article, “State paid $112M in renewable energy tax credits for 2014” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 25), reporter Kathryn Mykleseth discusses the tax credit costs to the state and Hawaii taxpayer, with no mention of the dollar value of benefits of a solar system.
Over the last 20 years, studies have shown that not only does a solar system installer receive a near risk-free rate of return, but the state and therefore the taxpayer receive a stream of dollar benefits exceeding the credit costs over the life of a system, due in part to the federal tax credit, a direct infusion of money into our state economy.
Thomas Loudat
Kaneohe