Put efforts behind cheaper energy

"We’re not interested in more renewable energy. We’re interested in cheaper renewable energy. Unless it has lower rates, we will not support it." — Big Island Mayor Billy Kenoi, in West Hawaii Today, Aug. 17, 2012.

We are glad to see an elected official finally doing the math. It took long enough.

Expensive energy is not sustainable.

Our energy policy should be cheap energy. That is sustainable.

On Hawaii island, geothermal is the cheapest source available, and it is both renewable and local. We need to go there, and nowhere else, as soon as possible for the entire island. Everything else is more expensive, and makes folks suffer as a result. It is time to end the crony Public Utilities Commission-protected energy industry and its patrons that benefit at any cost, while everyone else has to pay for their inefficiencies.

Edward Gutteling
Vice president of the Conservative Forum for Hawaii Hilo

Stabber should be ‘guilty but insane’

Benjamin Davis was acquitted of attempted murder because he is insane.Then in just three years, he is allowed by a judge to attend classes ("Victim decries stabber’s OK to go to school," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 9). While his victim is still recovering from the inflicted wounds, Davis is being allowed to go on with his life.The only thing insane about this situation is it may go a long way to explain how our judicial and political institutions are in the mess they are.If you are going to use insanity as a defense, the plea should be "guilty but insane."Let us hope that this decision does not have an adverse outcome.

Gregory Poole
Mililani

Davis enjoys luxury of attending college

I read in the Star-Advertiser that Benjamin Davis, who stabbed two people, is having an escort for his classes. Now he is having the luxury of going to college, and even an escort to keep an eye on him. My question is: Who is footing the bill for this person? I presume it is us taxpayers. He is getting a reward for attempted murder. What a travesty of justice.

WilliamKapaku
Nanakuli

McMurdo reformed state Legislature

As an "independent" at the 1978 Constitutional Convention, I agreed with citizen leaders like Mary-Jane McMurdo that Hawaii needed the power of initiative in the state Constitution. Later I encouraged Mary-Jane to run for elected office, but was unsuccessful at getting her to run as a Republican. Mary-Jane continued to be a strong outspoken senator for the Sandy Beach initiative and keeping the convention center out of Fort DeRussy.

I will also remember her for encouraging an end to alcohol-laced opening-day parties at the Legislature. In the old days there were many lavish receptions and a few went on into the wee hours. After Mary-Jane railed against these festivities, the open houses became shorter, simpler and generally non-alcoholic.

Gone are the days of dozens of bouquets, leis, plateloads of food, crowds and busloads of tourists. Opening Days have become more work-oriented. Thanks to Mary-Jane we have 60 legislative days, not just 59.

Rep. Barbara Marumoto
R-Kalani Valley, Diamond Head

Schoolbooks too big for young students

My 10-year-old grandson recently missed the school bus and had to walk the 1.5 mileshome. He barely made it: He weighs 67 pounds and his backpack weighed 20 pounds! Kids can barely lift this much.The people at the state Department of Education have absolutely no common sense and concern for the students. I looked inside and there were two books weighing 5 pounds each, one at 3.9 pounds and his binder at 4 pounds. Everything is so monstrous. Why can’t the DOE order smaller books and make everything more reasonable? These books could easily be made half the weight by dividing them into volume one and two, if needed. Even when I went to high school, my backpack did not weigh more than 10 pounds.

Volker Hildebrandt
Kaneohe

Music education needed in schools

There have been many studies that show music enhances learning. A short article in Wednesday’s paper said that a child who receives some instrumental lessons "shows evidence that his or her brain has been changed in ways that improve mental function" ("Music lessons reshape keiki brains," Star-Advertiser, Aug. 22). The report states that even with just two or three years of lessons, the musical training "showed a more robust brain response" as long as six or seven years after the lessons had stopped.

How much more evidence do we need that music education in the elementary school is as important, if not more so, than the 3 Rs? Why haven’t the "educated" leaders of this state realized this, and make music, including learning to play an instrument, a required curriculum in the elementary school?

Wim Blees
Mililani

Thanks to Carlisle for his service

Regarding Mayor Peter Carlisle’s thank-you advertisement in the Star-Advertiser on Aug. 22: You are welcome, Mr. Mayor!

I’d like to say mahalo to Mayor Carlisle, and to tell the readers about the man he is. I have had the pleasure of driving with Mayor Carlisle in many parades (although he tended to jump out of the car and run across Kalakaua Avenue and greet people, leaving tourists to think that my husband, who was driving, was the mayor). Mayor Carlisle is one of the kindest people I have ever met and always remembers who I am. Mahalo for your service to Honolulu.

Sandy Gebhardt
Kaneohe