Extreme weather is natural necessity

"The war on climate change," (Star-Advertiser, Nov. 5), was climate change fear-mongering motivated by super storm Sandy.

Sandy was not fueled by global warming.It was officially declared post-tropical before making landfall.The devastating storm surge was wind-driven by a nor’easter formed under two upper-level cold-core cyclones that enveloped and transformed Sandy.

The summer heat wave and drought were also caused by upper-level wind and temperature patterns. These facts are lost onjournalists bent on redistributing wealth from fossil fuel users to politicians.

Climate change assumes man is responsible for extreme weather events (floods, high winds, heat waves, droughts and wildfires).These events keep forests and grasslands pristine by replacing old growth with new and by fighting decay, insects, disease and vermin.

Without extreme weather events, Earth would be a lifeless rock.

Manmade climate change is nonsense.

Ronald E. Hughes
Former commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Aiea

Airport bathrooms an embarrassment

I just returned from a trip to the East Coast. On this trip, I visited Logan International airport, Cleveland airport and San Francisco International. I visited restroom facilities in each airport on multiple occasions. Their facilities were very clean, well kept, always clear of clutter and rubbish, and spotless.

Upon returning to Hawaii, I visited the men’s room at Honolulu International and was most disappointed to see at least two urinals covered and inoperable, paper towels strewn all over the floor, mirrors watermarked and not wiped, and floors with water puddles, not mopped or disinfected. Logan International, Cleveland and San Francisco Interna- tional all have extremely high volume of traffic and operate 24/7, just like Honolulu International.

In a tough economy, when we are trying to attract more tourists to visit Hawaii, we should always put our best foot forward and all our visitor facilities should be a sparkling image of our aloha spirit.

Howard Yoshiura
Manoa

Negative campaigns are like bullying

It is amazing how big companies can use their millions of dollars to put down or tell mislead- ing stories about another person running for political office and seemingly get away with it.

The newspapers and television news stations report the actions of these big companies openly.

If this happened in any of our schools, we would call it bullying and the bully would be punished.

So why is this allowed to happen? What messages are we sending to our youth?

As an educator, I see this as a very serious problem facing us, and I’m pondering how to address this with my students, our children.

Shirley Rivera
Aiea

Rail could facilitate stadium in Kapolei

Thinking about the future 10 to 15 years from now, don’t we have to build a new stadium? If the rail transit system is built, it could open up Kapolei as a place to build a new stadium.

Robert Kure
Kapaa, Kauai

Hawaii needs more transit alternatives

Hawaii residents and visitors are totally dependent on their private or rented vehicles and limited roadways to get from point A to point B. There is no alternative transportation option.

Bus? Taxi?

I’m not aware of any "bus only" or "taxi only" roadways. Sure, you can ride a bike or walk, but, seriously, how many folks consider those options?

Hawaii residents and visitors are totally dependent on all drivers to obey the traffic laws and drive safely. It takes only one careless or unexpected action, day or night, by one driver to tie up traffic on roadways.

Are you confident that your fellow drivers will drive with aloha and keep the roadways clear? Hawaii needs alternative transportation options.

Tim Baier
Aiea

Kudos to Cayetano for opposing rail

This election year has been really dirty. How about discussing the real issue? Will building a railroad that will cost billions of dollars ease traffic congestion?

When I lived in Nanakuli in the 1960s, there was only one road going in and out of the Waianae Coast. The completion of the H-1, H-2 and H-3 freeways, contraflow and zipper lanes did not ease traffic.

How many vehicles can an island hold? On Oahu, it does not matter what time of the day, there is heavy traffic.

I do not always agree with Ben Cayetano, but I respect him for having the courage and common sense to take a stand against rail. Oh, I forgot, common sense is not so common.

Johnny Isidro M. Verzon
Honolulu

Integrity of leaders at UH is suspect

The future of the University of Hawaii begins with leadership — a chancellor, especially for the Manoa campus, with unquestionable integrity who is respected by the community, the students and faculty.

Chancellor Tom Apple’s testimony before the Senate Accountability Committee, which implied that he had letters from all the coaches that they would all resign if Jim Donovan was retained, was completely false.

I’m equally disappointed that the second Senate hearing lacked testimony by the principals — namely, President M.R.C. Greenwood and the chancellor. They were represented by an attorney who refused to answer any questions. It would have been completely different if they had been required to be sworn in.

A clerk with a salary of $30,000 would be terminated for such behavior. Apple, with a salary of approximately $420,000, should be carted off. How does a person of his stature live with himself?

Howard Lee
Waialae Nui Ridge