Bill 11 recognizes Kailua’s zoning

The view of the Star-Advertiser is not the same as the view of Kailua residents ("Give weekend ban at Kailua a chance," Star-Advertiser, Our View, May 14).

The Star-Advertiser is blind to the overuse of the beaches, ocean and offshore islands; the traffic snarls and ocean search-and-rescues that cost taxpayers a bundle each year; and the insidious commercialization of beach parks by food vendors and others in what are zoned as residential neighborhoods.

Bill 11 does not target kayakers — although they are the most numerous and obvious at the moment. Bill 11 calls for the ban of any commercial activity at Kailua and Kalama beach parks.The City Council sees what we see and voted affirmatively at its second reading.

What part of "no" do the city parks director, Gary Cabato, and the Star-Advertiser not understand?

Alex Wade
Kailua

Aikahi sewage plant beyond its capacity

Sadly, the news article on the $200 million Windward sewage tunnel does not include the vehement opposition to this project by the Aikahi Gardens, Kalaheo Hillside and Healani Gardens communities, and the Kalaheo High School Parents Community Network ("Construction of $200M windward sewage tunnel gets the green light," Star-Advertiser, May 12).

It should be quite obvious from the frequent complaints by Aikahi residents about the overwhelming stench emitted from the wastewater treatment facility, and the concern for the elementary school children in close proximity to the plant, that the facility is already beyond its intended capacity.

There is no mention that the tunnel route has numerous lava tubes, and that recent rains required work crews to put in a full day clearing the rock slides that fell on Mokapu Boulevard near the intended tunnel entrance. The city will be expected to accept full legal and financial liability for any damages, injuries, deaths and financial losses.

It’s time to stop irresponsibility by governmental agencies.

Rudy Yap
Kaneohe

PUC also to blame for electricity rates

I agree with Bernice Mattingly concerning the price of electricity ("Electricity rates pad HEI executive’s pay," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 14).

However, the state Public Utilities Commission should share in the blame since it authorized the rate increases that allowed Hawaiian Electric Industries to pay several of its executives multimillion-dollar benefits and allow it to spend millions buying lucrative businesses such as American Savings Bank.

Back in the day, utilities were supposed to only make a modest profit in exchange for being granted a monopoly. So a big auwe should also go to the PUC.

Earl Batteen
Aiea

Executive salaries at UH are a racket

The story titled "Regents to vote on next Manoa leader" (Star-Advertiser, May 14) noted that if he is chosen to be the new chancellor for the University of Hawaii-Manoa, Tom Apple will be receiving $439,000 — a $102,000 raise over what Virginia Hinshaw received.

Wasn’t Hinshaw being paid enough?

This is totally irresponsible, especially when we at Manoa see students unable get the classes they need because of lack of resources and our physical plant on campus is rapidly eroding.

Top executive salaries at Manoa have become a racket. They need to be drastically cut and the money invested in our young people’s education.

Noel Kent
Kaimuki

Bonus proposal works only 1 way

Let me see if I understand this correctly ("Principals offered $10K merit bonus," Star-Advertiser, May 14). Some teachers and principals are against evaluations that are based in part on student performance because student outcomes are affected by circumstances over which educators have no control.But educator bonuses for notable performance by students are OK as long as there are no negative consequences for poor student outcomes?

Michael Ho
Moanalua Valley

Voters at fault if rail allowed to fail again

Back in the ’70s, we had the opportunity to build a rapid transit system during the Fasi administration. Our elected officials lacked the foresight to see the benefits of this system.

In the ’90s, the City Council voted against the rail transit system. Again our officials lacked foresight.

If we elect Ben Cayetano mayor of Honolulu — and he has stated he will do everything in his power to stop rail from happening — then we will lack foresight.

Let’s build it because 20 years from now, when traffic increases 30 percent, when gasoline costs $10 a gallon, when the commute from Central and West Oahu takes three hours, we will look back at 2012 and say we had a chance to build a rapid transit system. Unfortunately, we elected a mayor who stopped it.

Whom do we blame? Our officials? Nope. It was our fault.

Robert K. Soberano
Moiliili