PUC pointing finger in wrong direction

I agree with Orson Moon that it is finally time that the Public Utilities Commission puts a stop to the Hawaiian Electric Co.’s madness ("Kudos to PUC for HECO stance," Star-Advertiser, June 7).

However, what he fails to mention is that the PUC chided HECO for its high rates at the same time it approved an increase in the fee HECO receives to do what it is supposed to do.

Does it not seem ironic for the PUC to berate the utility for the high rates that the PUC supposedly has approved over the years? I don’t remember many instances where a HECO rate increase was not approved; they may not have gotten all they wanted, but they got an increase.

I really wonder if a public utility monopoly should be owned by a for-profit conglomerate; the only thing worse might be government ownership.

Harley Hartung
Kailua

Compromise could rescue Kakaako

For many people, the future Kakaako is a vision of hell, with huge towers continuously rising up from the depths covering every speck of land.

For the developers and profit-makers, it is a vision of financial heaven, with buckets of money raining down on them for decades to come.

Perhaps by balancing these two visions with reasonable commercial growth and the rights and desires of all the people for some unspoiled land, a better plan for Kakaako can be made.

Nancy Wond
Aiea

HCDA ignoring threat of tsunamis

On Tuesday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg revealed a plan to protect the city from rising sea levels and powerful storm surges by building a network of flood walls, levees and bulkheads to guard the coastline.

This is partly in response to superstorm Sandy, which devastated the city last fall. The plan seeks to protect a food distribution center, hospitals, power plants and transportation systems.

Meanwhile, the Hawaii Community Development Authority, aware that the same conditions exist here in Kakaako’s tsunami evacuation zone, instead wants to build 700-foot towers and house thousands more residents in an area already plagued with floods and sewage in the streets during heavy rains.Never mind the need for infrastructure improvements first.

The notes to the tsunami evacuation maps say, "The evacuation zone is a guideline and should be considered the minimum safe evacuation distance. These maps do not consider the destructive effects of a locally generated tsunami."

Welcome to Honolulu’s twilight zone.

Lynne Matusow
Downtown Honolulu

Critical thinking most valuable skill

In response to Betty White’s column, "Initiative helping isle teachers develop newly evolving skills," (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 11): The new technology integrated with classroom instruction is all well and good, but will our kids really develop critical-thinking skills and problem-solving techniques with the new iPhone, iPads and social networks like Twitter and Facebook? Will this generation have the discipline to develop writing and spelling skills, do independent research in the library or even think critically, or will technology do it for them?

Randall Ng
Kapahulu

‘Silver wave’ could wipe us all out

As a recent baby boomer retiree, I found "Navigating the ‘Silver Wave’" particularly timely (Star-Advertiser, Insight, June 9).

My father chose to reside in a retirement community in Hono-lulu, but my friends are taking care of aging parents while juggling full-time jobs and other commitments. The physical, emotional and financial issues confronting them are real and ongoing.

One friend said she and her siblings worked out a system to take turns caring for their invalid father; it was stressful but they honored his desire to stay in his own home. Another friend, a widow, does the Herculean task of working full time and serving as the sole caregiver for an aging mother.

Navigating the silver wave is manageable with financial means, cooperative family members, hard work and luck. But this wave will become a tsunami for the current generation facing retirement if the family remains the primary caregiver.

Finding community-based solutions to this complicated issue should be a public priority.

Marian Okada
Makiki

Helmets maybe not cool, but too bad

Without question, skateboarders under 18 years of age should be required to wear helmets.

It is immaterial whether wearing a helmet is "cool." Most laws, rules, and regulations are generally not "cool" to the younger generation. Fortunately, we allow the wisdom of age and experience to make the rules for the safety ofchildren.

In a related matter, the Hono-lulu Police Department issued 412 citationsand 378 warnings to skateboarders on the sidewalks in Waikiki in 2012. A helmet requirement would draw more attention to these violators and possibly reduce the numbers we now encounter daily.

Roger D. Van Cleve
Waikiki

Writer about drones was voice of reason

Congratulations on publishing Amarjit Singh’s commentary on drones ("Drones are effective — and necessary," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, June 2).

His is the voice of reason, and I wish to congratulate him for telling it like it is. We need more positive-thinking voices like his.

Giveon Cornfield
Hawaii Kai