McKinley High quite impressive

Kudos to Lee Cataluna’s journalism on McKinley High School and the fine writing by Mike Gordon (“McKinley’s supporters keep roaring, praying, Star-Advertiser, Sept. 13; “Honolulu school celebrates a landmark year,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 4).

McKinley’s administrators and students do it well. My daughter joined its junior varsity cheerleading squad, which resulted in our going to football games, leading to my learning more about the school. Its novice cheerleaders are accomplished and acrobatic beyond their years.

And what about McKinley’s massive band? It looks and sounds like something out of the Big Ten Conference.

I’m even impressed with its outmatched football team. It isn’t in the game, but it tries hard. We’ve read about other schools recruiting out of Kahuku. Recruiting for high school!

And after years of paying for private schools overseas, I doubly appreciate McKinley.

Lewis Hitchcock
Waikiki

Honolulu streets disheartening

Having just returned from California, I was so very disheartened by the vast difference in the maintenance of the streets and freeways between there and our beloved city.

As soon as you get out of the Honolulu Airport parking lot, here we go: bumpy off-ramps, rattling freeways with dim lights overhead at night, and the freeway lanes almost invisible, especially when it rains. When can we see good and well-maintained freeways?

Forget about the street conditions in town, such as Dillingham Boulevard, Chinatown and Bishop Street. I would love to see my taxes at work and not at play. Are we to wait until the railway is complete to have a smooth ride?

Rosita R. Sipirok-Siregar
Makakilo

Tofu company will be missed

I was absolutely stunned to learn about the closing of the Honda Tofu business (“Pair forced to shut the family business 98 years after start,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 28).

I’ll never forget those days when Mr. Haruo Honda delivered freshly made tofu right in front of our house early in the morning on a weekly basis.

My mother-in-law, who passed away at the age of 103, had nothing other than Haruo Honda’s tofu.

I also became so spoiled right after tasting that medium soft, sweet freshness, just melting in my mouth.

My heart is so broken just knowing that there won’t be any Honda Tofu from now on.

I genuinely thank them for their love and continual hard work they gave all of us customers throughout the years. We’ll always remember the enjoyment they have gave us. They made our Wahiawa very proud!

Grace M. Hayashi
Wahiawa

Energy report seems unneeded

Hawaiian Electric Co. customers periodically receive a report called the “Home Energy Report.” It sounds great, but who is paying for this?

Indirectly, the customers are paying for this. The report compares apples to oranges and thus is not really valid to the average individual.

Some people work and are not home all day, so their usage is lower. Those who are retired most likely will use more electricity, especially during the hot days of summer.

All neighbors probably include those with solar power. Also, there is dwelling size. Meanwhile, renters have little choice but are included in the report.

Comparing energy usage from last year to this year shows the effect of El Niño.

Although well intended, this report seems to be unneeded, since individual customers receive the information each month in their electric bill.

John P. Gallagher
Ewa Beach

Trump evokes mirth and myth

Watching Donald Trump in action evokes mirth and myth. There is the tale of “The Golden Fleece” in Greek history.

Perhaps if Trump could separate his golden hair during his bombasts, who knows? We could call him Donald The Golden Fleece.

He already is an expert on the fleece aspect.

Joseph A. Cammalleri
Hawaii Kai

Owner of roads should fix them

It was such a shame to see a photo of people protesting on a deteriorated curb in Kakaako where iron rods are exposed (“Upkeep of Kakaako roads ends, rubbing businesses wrong way,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 2).

It’s ridiculous that street fighting exists due to street ownership.

The legal issues regarding repairs and maintenance to five private streets should have been discussed and settled in 1986 between the city, the state and Kakaako Land Co. when the private company took ownership. If this had been done properly, this street war wouldn’t exist.

In 2014, Kakaako Land generated about $100,000 in gross rental income from the roadways alone.

Research has shown that the city is not responsible in road/sidewalk maintenance for the five private streets. Therefore, Kakaako Land should be held liable.

Safety issues should always be a top priority. People’s lives shouldn’t be jeopardized anymore.

Alexis M. Liftee
Nuuanu

Current rail cost $18K per family

To understand the true cost of rail, subtract the $1.5 billion federal subsidy from the $6 billion total cost and divide by the roughly one million residents of Oahu.

The result is $4,500 per person, or $18,000 per family of four, most of whom will never use rail.

Admittedly, there is a multiplier effect on the economy when construction workers spend their wages, but that is a poor way to judge a project.

To see why, note that the multiplier effect would be even greater if we spent the $4.5 billion paying local workers to dig holes and fill them in; all the money would then be spent in Hawaii instead of going to distant corporations.

Neil Frazer
Kailua

Russia welcome to help fight ISIS

We all have a common enemy in Iraq and Syria: ISIS and al-Qaida.

I welcome Russia in Syria to bomb the heck out of ISIS and al-Qaida.

I hope they don’t bomb our four or five U.S.-trained fighters (who cost us $500 million) before they give their weapons away to al-Qaida-affiliated fighters.

Next time we try and bring democracy to the Middle East, let’s start with our allies in the region — Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Lots of luck with that.

Andrew Kachiroubas
Moiliili

Humans actually answered phone

I recently renewed my memberships to the Honolulu Museum of Art and Hawaii Theatre by phone.

Amazingly, humans answered the call on the second ring and handled everything in the old-fashioned manner. These organizations should be commended for having this old-time service.

I didn’t have to press “1” for English or hear how important my call was. Communication is improving!

Scott Clarke
Kapahulu