Kahuku besieged by big windmills

A recent Star-Advertiser "Big Q" asked readers if they supported another wind farm facility in Kahuku, and the majority of responders voted "yes."

A better question would have asked readers if they support a wind farm facility in their neighborhood.

I reside in Kahuku, where we have a 30-megawatt facility that I can hear now as I type. It is a little over three-quarters of a mile downwind from my residence.

There is another 45-megawatt facility proposed for Kahuku that will abut the existing facility. The majority of those 50-story-tall monstrosities will be upwind, and some will be less than a quarter-mile from our schools and community.

If this foolish proposal goes through, our community will be surrounded on three sides by these noisemaking, bird- and bat-killing eyesores.

Just say "No" to windmills in close proximity to private residences. Just say"No" to proponents of "passing bad wind" in our residential neighborhoods.

Kent Fonoimoana
Laie

Refund payers into storm fund

I see in the Star-Advertiser that the governor is boasting about an $844 million surplus in the budget.

Why is no one asking about refunding the Hurricane Relief Fund to the people who put into it?

Not everyone did — only those who refinanced or took out a new mortgage during those years, since it was linked to new mortgages.

This is exactly why my wife and I left the islands after 35 years: overspending, corruption, overtaxing.

This money should be refunded to the people who put into the fund. The legislators have raided it, gained interest on it, and used it to pay the bills, which were a result of poor money management and overspending.

And the people who paid it gained no benefit except to pay another tax.

Shame on the governor! Shame on Hawaii!

Gino Pinnicchia
Las Vegas

Let public see all Pono Choices

The state Department of Education announced a hold on the Pono Choices teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention program, funded by the federal government and developed by the University of Hawaii-Manoa Center on Disability Studies (CDS), until the CDS addresses public concerns about the learning that takes place in the classroom.

CDS’ Kelly Roberts expressed her sincere belief that Pono Choices is the best choice to educate all of Hawaii’s middle school youth ("Isle youth learn about pono sexual choices," Island Voices, Star-Advertiser, Dec. 8).

But my suspicions are aroused after finding no curriculum details beyond a topic outline on the Pono Choices website.

Roberts touts local community agency involvement during development, but my suspicions deepen seeing a lean list with Planned Parenthood of Hawaii at the head; apparently absent are any that are faith-based.

If the DOE and CDS are sincere about addressing concerns about sex education, and if Pono Choices has nothing to hide, it seems simple enough to educate us by making the 9.5 hours, federally funded scripted content open and available for public review.

Dave Beers
Waipahu

Fishing rules poorly enforced

A recent letter regarding fishing regulations raises issues that need public discussion about one of Hawaii’s most popular recreational activities.

Unfortunately, no amount of regulation will help without stricter enforcement, which has been sorely lacking in Hawaii. We can debate catch limits, but without enforcement, we cannot expect our fishing stock to improve.

In Washington state, where I frequently fish, enforcement and penalties are strict. Monetary fines and confiscation of all equipment are frequently imposed, and the knowledge of likely punishment promotes compliance. Public education about the reasons for regulation is also stressed. As a result, fishing stock is plentiful and the public benefits.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources must ramp up enforcement, or we will witness the loss of one of our greatest natural resources and recreational activities, not to mention survival of subsistence fishing for many Hawaiians.

Francis M. Nakamoto
Moanalua Valley

Waves would be cleanest energy

I see in a full-page newspaper ad that the League of Conservation Votershas declared U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz "a leader in creating clean energy jobs and a leader in wind energy production."

It shows him in front of a windmill, and mentions tax credits to develop offshore wind energy.

If the senator is going offshore to generate "clean energy," why not tap a source of clean energy withnearly 800 times the potential power output of a blowing wind: the massive 24-hour-a-day surges from the deep Pacific?

In key offshore underwater locations, selected by experts, install large neutral buoyant gates hinged at the bottom to heavy concrete pads and hinged at the top to drive arms pushed back and forth by the incoming and outgoing surges to drive electric generators onshore.

The bottom line is that water is 784 times more dense than air — and unlike air, can’t be compressed, creating even more efficiency.

Bruce Dunford
Ewa Beach

Hawaii had part in Mandela fight

Despite my intense sadness over the death of Nelson Mandela, I would like to share a little-known connection between work accomplished here and Mandela’s South Africa.

I was a member of the steering committee of the Hawaii Committee for Africa in the late 1980s and early 1990s, an organization focused almost exclusively on pushing the state Employees’ Retirement System to divest all investments from companies doing business with South Africa.

Finally, incredibly, success! The divestment turned out to be one of the five largest in the United States: $1.1 billion. Two weeks after that divestment was announced, Mandela was released from prison.

A connection? Who knows? But we in the anti-apartheid movement here fantasized that South Africa’s apartheid leaders were saying, "Man, if that little island floating in the middle of the Pacific can do that, it won’t be long before everybody does. Let’s release Mandela!"

Joel Fischer
Waialae

Wahine played great volleyball

Mahalo to all the University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball players for a great, entertaining and exciting season. I wish the seniors the best of luck in all their endeavors. As for the returnees, I hope to see them all again for another great year.

Ray Horita
Palolo Valley