Don’t abolish solar tax credit

Proposed changes to the renewable energy technology income tax credit via House Bill 2417 HD2 would have a devastating impact on the state’s solar industry.

Among many other negative effects, there are several large-scale multi-year solar projects that are under development. These projects were approved using financial models based on current tax incentive code. Changing the rules mid-project would cause these important projects to fail.

Also, investors and banks would sour on funding renewable energy projects in Hawaii, as we would have shown that our goals are just words and our incentives are not dependable.

Worse, eliminating the large-scale projects would make it nearly impossible to reach the state’s goal of 70 percent clean energy by 2030.

The Senate’s version (SD1) is a superior solution that generates considerable tax revenue, creates jobs and helps the state achieve its energy goals.

Alex Tiller
Chief executive officer, Sunetric, Kailua

Statue brought groups together

I write as a follow-up to your "Royal Colors" article about repainting the Kohala King Kamehameha statue (Star-Advertiser, March 18).

My experience working with the community was transformative. The Hawai’i Arts Alliance helped locate community groups interested in the sculpture. These groups jumped in with many arts projects to promote a two-year discussion on whether to re-paint or re-gild the figure — leading to questioning how people today want to represent the Native Hawaiian past.

I have never witnessed such engagement with a statue conservation project. Local groups included the Kamehameha Day Celebration Committee, the Kohala Hawaiian Civic Club, the Kohala Senior Citizens Club, and the Halau ‘O Ha’alelea hula group.

Glenn Wharton
Art conservator, Museum of Modern Art, New York

Hoping medals won’t be needed

This year marks the seventh year that the Hawaii Legislature presented the Hawaii Medal of Honor to families and friends of fallen service members.

Sgt. Eugene Williams was killed on March 29, 2003, just 10 days after the start of the Iraq war. Now nine years after his death, the state unfortunately continues this yearly ritual of recognizing and thanking families who have given so much.

This year, we presented 24 medals to those killed in the past year. Since Sgt. Williams died, we’ve recognized 308 fallen heroes.

When we created the Hawaii Medal of Honor in 2005, we did so with the understanding that those who get it will have received it on behalf of someone whose life was cut short by a dreaded war a half a world away.

It is my hope that one day these ceremonies will end. The war will end, hopefully soon. However, until then, we continue to honor these heroes because they were great Americans who were part of our ohana here in Hawaii. We honor them and thank their families for their sacrifice.

State Rep. K. Mark Takai
House District 34 (Newtown-Pearl City)

Hospital should revisit mission

The Queen’s Medical Center’s recent refusal to allow the six-doctor Pacific Radiation Oncology group to use its facilities is nothing more than a power play ("Injunction makes Queen’s share its radiation facilities," Star-Advertiser, March 23).

Patients may not realize how critical an accurate reading of X-rays is toget a correct cancer diagnosis, which is just one of the functions of radiologists. Last year, Queen’s was chosen as one of six community-based cancer centers nationwide to increase participation in cancer clinical trials. The diagnoses before and after those treatments are virtually useless without experienced and skilled radiologists to read and interpret the results.

Those on Queen’s board of directors who approved the policy of allowing only employee physicians to use its radiation oncology facilities may wish to review the Queen’s mission statement,its philosophy of care and,most important, the desires of its founders: Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV.

Cindee Fisher
Nuuanu

Don’t aid people illegally in U.S.

Wow, I was amazed when I read the article, "Bill would cut UH fee for illegal immigrants" (Star-Advertiser, March 21).

I had to read it three times because I was sure I had it backward.Did our legislators really do that?Is there something I don’t understand about illegal?

My son was born and raised on Maui. He moved to the mainland a few years ago. If he wants to come home to go to school, he would have to pay out-of-state tuition while illegal immigrants would get to go as residents. Plus, they would be eligible for grants, scholarships and federal student loans.

I don’t get it.There must be some reason behind this that wasn’t explained in the article.Please tell me there is a reason other than being totally unfair and, in my opinion, unlawful.

Carol Gaudey
Kaneohe

More high-rises add to traffic

Who are these urban planners who think building another high-rise condo (400-plus feet) will help any congestion problems in Kakaako?Have they driven there recently?How about on a Friday afternoon?

It would make more sense to prohibit new buildings instead of proposing them. And while it’s creditable to give the landowners and contractors space to discuss their proposed green building, also admirable, their motives remain obvious.

As far as reducing congestion, the project will have ample parking for residents and visitors, as well as the requisite "world-class auto showroom" that actually sells the very cars the city and state are trying to minimize.

Can you say hypocrisy?

Contractors and landowners should admit to the huge impact of congestion a new high-rise brings to a neighborhood and stop with the nonspecific "work, live and play" mantra that all high-rise developers throw in with their proposals.

Pat Kelly
Honolulu

Public schools impressive, too

In the latest news of public schools taking a hit on test scores, absenteeism, teacher contract stalemate negotiations and possible funding loss in federal grants, there is something positive to report:

» The recent state spelling bee winner, who is a public school student ("Taggart Nakamoto, 12, is champion speller," Star-Advertiser, March 26).

» Farrington High School’s 6th Farrington Film Fest, which will showcase the videos of students in the Kalihi complex and highlight their language and critical-thinking skills, discipline-learning concepts and organization ability.

Sometimes we accentuate too much on the negative to garner attention on our public schools, especially in areas like Kalihi. We tend to overlook the tremendous effort, passion and dedication that our schools undertake in highlighting student success in underprivileged areas.

Randall Ng
Kapahulu