Kevin Dayton’s report on the call for an audit of the hangar for Hawaiian Airlines was very informative and full of unbelievable things that happened on this particular project (“Lawmaker wants audit of airport hangar project,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 31).
The cost was originally $74.43 million but went to $120 million. A consultant was hired for $4 million to oversee the project (another million should have been thrown to someone else to oversee the consultant). A 12-foot door that can only accommodate 9-foot objects. Walls that do not have the necessary electrical wiring, and more.
The facts seem to have come from “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not!” Then again, this is Hawaii state government, which has a history of bungling things and then laying the cost of their foolery at the poor feet of Hawaii taxpayers.
The Star-Advertiser must continue reporting on this project to find out and report on who owns DCK Pacific Construction LLC and their relationship with people holding the state’s purse strings.
Florencia Aczon Ranchez
Ewa Beach
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Rescued sailors irresponsible
From the recent Star-Advertiser article about the two women rescued at sea, it is appalling to see them completely naive about the expense from their flagrant use of government services (“Lost sailors never activated emergency beacon,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 31), and to create a fake media wave by admitting to not only not using several rescue signal devices but mentioning their endangerment from a storm that weather satellites cannot even confirm.
They were well-stocked with food and water and were not sick or injured.
Any form of rescue services costs taxpayers hundred of thousands of dollars each year. Then to soak up any media attention is pathetic. I’m very glad the Star-Advertiser showed the truth to this childish “cry wolf” attempt by the two boaters.
Han Song
Kaneohe
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Astros bring joy to flooded Houston
The Astros win (“Houston, we have a title,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2)! The agony and the ecstasy of living in Houston with the huge floods and now the World Series Champions. Wow. What a year!
Stacy and Jim Delmonte
Hawaii Kai
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Suspicions raised by monster houses
The article about the 17-bedroom house where once there had been a modest older home made me first wonder: Who approved the permit? And on what basis? It’s a small hotel (“The monster next door,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 30).
Multi-generational housing is nothing new. Nor is the rant about vacation rentals that often mean fewer cars and occupants who don’t stay long. It’s all been said before, along with the assumption that operators of illegal vacation rentals aren’t paying their taxes. Ask an owner of one.
My own neighborhood has a “multi-generational” house with a foul-mouthed and often drunk group of relatives. We’d take a vacation rental in a heartbeat.
This new kind of housing, however, takes it to a new level. Something just smells fishy to me.
Deborah Aldrich
Haleiwa
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Some vacation rental owners pay taxes
As a vacation rental owner, I would like to respond to the statement in your editorial, “Let public review Airbnb tax deal” (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 2), that short-term rental owners “do not pay the same transient accommodations tax as conventional hotels do …”
My wife and I own a one-bedroom condominium on Maui, and are speaking solely for ourselves: We pay the TAT and the general excise tax, as well as a portion of the property tax on the complex.
When we bought our condo six years ago, we set the price so that people of moderate means could enjoy a vacation in Hawaii. These people spread their vacation dollars around local businesses and so do we, when we stay there. Any profit we make goes to our own vacations.
Certainly, existing laws must be enforced, but let’s be careful of broad statements that suggest all vacation-rental owners are tax dodgers.
Drew Snider
Sooke, British Columbia, Canada
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Let homeless stay at quarantine facility
Where have all the homeless relocated?
Since many have refused government or private shelters because of their rules, an alter- native is the state quarantine facility at Halawa. The facility has utilities, security and privacy, and is pet-friendly. The homeless could use the facility, and if they become disruptive, they would be asked to leave or be evicted.
Rules will be less stringent to accommodate those with addictions, emotional needs or other concerns that cause them to be homeless or to refuse offered shelter. Not everyone needs a closed shelter. This provides an alternative and a new approach to the homeless situation.
Leonard Leong
Manoa
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Trump can restore Hawaiian Nation
If President Donald Trump believes peace is achievable in Israel’s hostile environment, he can certainly provide a solution to restore Hawaii.
By issuing an executive order, he’d rival Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Despite naysayers, Trump has proven anything is possible.
Restoring the Hawaiian Nation is viable. Biblical principles are culturally appropriate for land distribution, governance and integrating peoples. It includes criteria for supporting resident aliens, protecting property and dual citizenship.
In November 1917, Queen Liliuokalani died. Her faith in God to restore Hawaii lives on.
Liliuokalani’s book concludes: “As they deal with me and my people, kindly, generously, and justly, so may the Great Ruler of all nations deal with the grand and glorious nation of the United States of America.”
Michele Lincoln
Lahaina
