Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
DOT listening to the public
For 15 years, the state has recognized the need for expanded shipping cargo facilities to sustain Hawaii’s growing population, since nearly 80 percent of all goods arrive here by ship.
The proposed Kapalama Container Terminal at Honolulu Harbor will add approximately 90 acres of space for cargo shipping and handling.
The public was informed of the state’s plans through a series of public meetings. This included written notices to the tenants of the former Kapalama Military Reservation site. Also contacted were the Hawaii Harbors User Group, commu- nity leaders, public officials and government agencies. Input was sought through the state environmental impact statement (EIS) process and project website.
We acknowledge Mr. Enos’ comments and concerns ("Planners too often ignore the public," Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 10). Through the public- outreach process, issues concerning noise, air quality, marine resources and traffic were identified. In response, we have redesigned the vehicular circulation plan to minimize impacts of large trucks in the neighboring community.
Other mitigation measures are being considered before the project moves forward in 2014.
For more information, please go online to www.KapalamaEIS.com.
Glenn Okimoto
Director, state Department of Transportation
Bombs ranked higher than arts
There is something so wrong with the priorities given to the national budget.
Why is it OK to allocate millions upon millions of dollars for bombing the daylights out of regions across the globe, and quibble over funding for public television, which has some of the only decent and educational programming for our children, and for arts and music organizations that add to our cultural heritage and knowledge?
Are we equating Big Bird with Big Bombs?
I think not!
Lori Arizumi
Ewa Villages
Porter report not definitive
The Star-Advertiser misused the Porter report to justify the rail project because the report is limited to specific issues and does not consider those that pose the greatest threats to rail ("Transit will require careful adjusting of city priorities," Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 9).
Although the report recognizes the recent state Supreme Court decision to halt construction, the report does not assess its impacts on the project.
Although the report concludes that the cost estimate is consistent with the project as described in the final environmental impact statement, the report does not assess the adequacy of the FEIS itself. There is no recognition of the case in federal court maintaining that the FEIS is inadequate, which may result in a further lengthy delay.
Although the report includes a cost risk assessment, it does not include a political risk assessment. Mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano has pledged to discontinue the rail project.
John Kawamoto
Kaimuki
Cayetano plan has own faults
Common sense tells us that former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s plan to add more wheels on the road (buses)on our already overloaded highways will further aggravate our critically congested roadways.
The federal government has approved the rail and will provide funds once the people again vote for rail via the mayoral race favoring Kirk Caldwell over Cayetano.
There is no guarantee that the Cayetano bus plan will ever be given monies now dedicated for rail. That means that the people of Oahu will have to suffer another 20 years or more of highway gridlock before funding may become available.
Another consideration is the possibility that Hono-lulu is visited by a tsunami like the one that inundated the east coast of Japan in 2011. The tunnels that Cayetano plans would be under water, whereas the elevated rail would weather such a calamity.
How would Cayetano contend with this possibility?
Roy S. Tanouye
Waipahu
FAST plan lacks transit expertise
In regards to the article "Caldwell and Cayetano spar over transit plans" (Star-Advertiser, Oct. 10), former Gov. Ben Cayetano’s answers show a lack of transportation knowledge.
Cayetano’s FAST plan proposes tunnels under Kapiolani Boulevard. This would require tunneling through one of the most beautiful corridors in Honolulu.
In addition, tunneling might cause traffic tie-ups andcause businesses along Kapiolani toface financial hardship during construction. Transportation experts agree that tunnels negatively affect businesses and residents and can be expensive.
Cayetano says rail will require major construction on our highways. This is nottrue. Only minimalconstruction for rail along the highways would be needed, because the highways are already there. In addition, the city selected the rail project to start in East Kapolei, because that is where residents who live on the west side can access the rail system. It is also the logical location to start the project, compared to the urban core.
Stuart Mori
Hawaii Kai
Fully baked plan not working out
I had to laugh when I saw the campaign ad on the front page corner for Kirk Caldwell. It said, "We need serious traffic solutions, not half-baked plans."
So with the fully baked plan, we get $500 million already spent so far, millions of dollars in delay charges and change orders, and construction completely shut down by the state Supreme Court.
Mayor Mufi Hannemann called bus rapid transit a half-baked manapua, referring to his opponent’s plan to replace rail with a BRT. Should we buy into the half-baked but workable BRT at $1.5 billion or the proven unworkable full-baked $5.27 billion rail plan?
Marge Akana
Ewa Beach
Canoe racing is overlooked
I don’t paddle canoe, never have; but I do recognize the importance it plays in the past and present cultures of those throughout Polynesia.
Every year we are blessed to witness the apex of the canoe paddling world — the women’s and men’s race from Molokai to Oahu. This is akin to football’s Super Bowl, baseball’s World Series, tennis’ Wimbledon, soccer’s World Cup, sailing’s America’s Cup, and car racing’s Daytona 500.
Why is it, then, that every year this pivotal and incredibly important event is subjugated to the 5th, 6th or 7th page of Monday’s sports section?
I have watched this year after year, and I keep hoping that you’ll get it right, see the incredible value that this sport plays in our state and get coverage of the races on the front of the sports page. Unfortunately, once again, this is not the year.
C’mon, wake up! It’s all here — sport, culture, history, excitement — right in our backyard.
Kevin Butterbaugh
Kailua
How to write us
The Star-Advertiser welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (~150 words). The Star-Advertiser reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number.
Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@staradvertiser.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813
|