Lanai wind farm won’t last forever

In deciding whether any controversial project should proceed, we should keep our priorities in mind. All benefits have costs.We should not stop an overall desirable project because of its undesirable aspects.

Regarding the Lanai wind farm project, do the benefits of the project (cleaner air, slowed global warming) outweigh the costs (marred views, smaller hunting areas)?

Let’s remember these windmills are not forever. Coming technological advances will render them obsolete, at which time they will be dismantled.

Ben Kaya
Hawaii Kai Lanai High class of 1975

Canoe races need safety protocols

Race conditions at the start of the Na Wahine O Ke Kai race were unsafe; look at the jarring photos and videos on the Internet. One paddler was hurt and a canoe was damaged. The potential for more injury was high with 30 or more women tossed among loose 400-pound canoes and crashing 15-foot waves. We are lucky no one else got hurt.

I hope the paddling community works together to improve the safety at this event. Recommendations include postponement of the race until wave heights subside; race officials with clear views of the surf directing canoe traffic; identification for crews of safer points of exit from the harbor; and cancellation of the race if safety is an issue.

Ideally, sound protocols can be created to allow for safer canoe races in the future. Let’s avoid injury and property damage or more serious consequences.

Stephanie Dean
Kailua

Greed is the issue, not one’s success

Larry Wilson is mistaken ("Stop condemning successful among us," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 25).

Wealthy people borrow money to start a business. The employees play an integral role in its success. Successful companies used to reward every employee, from the CEO to the floor mopper.
Motivated employees worked harder with pride and more quality goods went on shelves (or higher quality services), which increased demand, which created the need to hire more workers.

Companies now give all profits to the CEO and shareholders. Raises are falling behind inflation.Salaries for the many continue to decline for the greed of the few.

He says "life is not fair," but the rich made it unfair by milking companies for every last penny, hiding their money in Swiss or Cayman Islands accounts to avoid taxes, shipping jobs overseas and firing employees responsible for their success.

We’re not condemning success; we’re condemning greed.

Vern R. Lentz
Salt Lake

Obama rails against rich who fund him

The war against millionaires and billionaires is one of the many hypocrisies of President Barack Obama. The hypocrisy of the president’s war against the wealthy is that many of his big-time donors are the very entities he is waging war against.

And by attacking successful men and women, the president is out of step with what it is to bethe countryof equal opportunity for success. He threatens thisnation, which was established on the principle of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

America is the only nation in the world wherethepeoplehave equal opportunity to pursue their dream to become successful. This nationdoes not deny the rights of Americans to strive for the best they can be, but encourages the very best in all.

Drew Kosora
Moiliili

Neighbor islands good for doctors

As a third-year medical student, I certainly cannot blame physicians for their reluctance to relocate or start their practices on the neighbor islands. Lower salaries, fewer occupational prospects for their spouses, fewer educational outlets for their children and fewer technological and medical resources for advanced procedures are significant and unarguably logical.

I had the opportunity to rotate through one of the medical clinics in Hilo for a month. I recall the face of Mr. N., whose weight and diabetes prevented him from engaging in many activities, shaking my hands and thanking me for encouraging him to exercise. The image of a smiling Ms. L, who teased me to keep pestering her to quit smoking, and Mrs. T, who jokingly urged me to come back to Hilo to dress her bandage. The patients didn’t view me as just another healthcare provider, but rather as a part of their community.

As a former skeptic on potentially practicing on the neighbor islands, I found my reasons to already miss this place.

Adrian Jacques Ambrose
Ala Moana

Make Donovan AD and let’s move on

Enough of the back-and-forthgnashing of teeth and the wastefulinvestigations at the University of Hawaii. Let it go already. Bring an end to all of this finger-pointing andlooking for someone to blame.

It was established that Rich Sheriff and Jim Donovan did nothing wrong, so place Donovan backin his athletic director positionand let’s move on. Use the time and effort for more important matters.

Lono Lauahi
Kaneohe

‘Limits’ on speech are slippery slope

Be careful what you ask for — you may get it!

Sarah Chayes outlines how U.S. courts have determined what speech can or cannot be protected by law ("The limits of free speech," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 20). She adds, "Under the narrower guidelines, only speech that has the intent and likelihood of inciting imminent violence or law breaking can be limited."

Limited? That is quite a jump from using guidelines for court-protected speech to using them asguidelines for limited speech. Limited speech means suppressed speech.

Look out! In today’s polarized world, any speech concerning abortion, marriage, religion and countless other issues might be deemed subject for limitation by one side or the other.

Robert Henninger
Foster Village