No variances? That’s amazing

Amazing. No variances to city development rules, including height limits, are necessary for the new Ala Moana condos ("New Ala Moana condos will raise luxury bar in isles, developers say," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 15). How refreshing.

Meanwhile Kakaako developers, operating under looser Hawaii Community Development Authority rules, can’t comply.

There is something wrong with this picture.

Perhaps the MacNaughton, Kobayashi and Black Sand team can train HCDA and those wanting to develop properties in Kakaako on how to do the job correctly.

Lynne Matusow
Downtown Honolulu

HCDA deserves more respect

A recent letter to the editor contained another attack on the much-maligned Hawaii Community Development Authority ("HDCA doesn’t really listen to the people," Letters, Star-Advertiser, Dec. 17).

This agency is continuously under assault by anti-development factions on Oahu, whose only wish is to protect view planes or refuse the rights of others to improve the island by better and more suitable construction and development of mass transit to offset the need for more vehicles on the roads.

I’m thinking thatmuch of the hostility toward HCDA is led by a loud minority, and that, in reality, the governor and the HCDA are doing more toridus of roadblocks, that have always stopped projects in the past, than any other entity.

Gordon Wolfe
Waikiki

‘Zero-base’ idea bad for Hawaii

News that some Hawaii legislators are considering adopting zero-based budgeting should strike fear in the political hearts of our citizenry ("Lawmakers to test zero-base budget plan," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 17).

This form of governing is one of the items promoted by the America Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), whose purpose is to diminish the size of government in favor of private and socially conservative interests.

Zero-based budgeting requires evidence of program success and failure that states do not have, resulting in constantly revisiting program funding on the basis of the current political trends.

Don’t let ALEC have a foothold in our state.

Paul R. Brandon
Kahaluu

We need visitors here to stay safe

After recent tragedies, ocean-safety education needs a new approach.

Could the Hawaii Tour-ism Authority educate visitors with a video shown on airplanes or ships before arrival?

Years ago, surfing legend Rell Sunn made an outstanding video routinely shown in safety presentations at Pearl Harbor.She was filmed at popular swim and surf spots, talking about the currents and rip tides; gave advice to surfers; discussed how to recognize dangerous ocean and weather conditions; etc. Information on preventing shark attacks could be included as well.

Our islands are unique and beautiful, and tourism is very valuable to us. We need visitors to stay as safe as possible, and cannot afford national and international news stories that make Hawaii sound like a dangerous place to visit.

Joan Navales
Aiea

Actress’s remark was over the top

I take serious offense to the comment made by actress Daryl Hannah during an anti-GMO rally held in Haleiwa last Sunday.

She stated that the marchers were "laying their bodies on the line."

Give me a break — they were marching down the streets of peaceful Haleiwa.

I know a nice, 21-year-old Marine who has been wounded in Afghanistan and who has personally watched his buddies die as a result of combat. That is "laying your life on the line."

Please keep the dramatic verbiage limited to Hollywood.

Dee Montgomery-Brock
Mililani

‘Five-0′ episode was meaningful

Last Friday’s "Hawaii Five-0" was one of its best episodes and definitely the most meaningful.

The Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor attack scenes, the incarceration of an innocent Japanese family, the internment camp re-enactment, the use of the racial slur on Japanese, and the remembrance of the 442nd "Go For Broke" Regiment, were gut-wrenching to all of us in Hawaii and to any American of Japanese ancestry.

However, it’s too bad they had to plug Punahou School and Barack Obama. It would have made more sense to highlight McKinley High School, which was probably one of the largest schools with students of Japanese ancestry at that time. Then they could have honored Dan Inouye.

John Tokunaga
Kapahulu