Higher power rates not fault of solar

The problem with blaming rooftop solar for increased electricity rates under decoupling is that it fails to parse out all costs incurred by Hawaiian Electric Co. — including lack of proactive planning, sluggish progress in implementing needed grid upgrades, and poor resource allocation in the form of staff and salaries.

The analysis also fails to take into account the fiscal benefits of distributed generation granted to all ratepayers, including the avoided capital costs of replacing deactivated fossil fuel generating units thanks to increased rooftop solar.

This is in addition to the environmental benefits supplied by the 38,758 net energy metering systems currently installed islandwide, which offset the burning of 703,218 barrels of oil each year over a 30-year lifetime.

It’s time for the utility to adopt a new business model in which the utility sees rooftop solar as an asset to our growing green energy infrastructure. This can and must be a win-win.

Leslie Cole-Brooks
Executive director, Hawaii Solar Energy Association

Hawaii and Illinois could co-host library

A recent letter writer claims "Obama doesn’t deserve a library" (Star-Advertiser, Jan. 25).

Actually, the examples cited showcase the same headlines that FOX News has repeated ad nauseam. This political/media tactic tried to elevate government tragedies into major scandals so as to cast all blame on President Barack Obama during his first term in office.

Yes, the Affordable Care Act rollout was a major embarrassment, and I do wish Obama would expand his inner circle of advisers. However, our previous president has a presidential library at Southern Methodist University, despite claiming "weapons of mass destruction" that resulted in a war with financial costs (estimated by Reuters at $2 trillion) and huge human capital deaths (Iraqi and American) that continue even today.

If anything, a library needs to be built just to educate the citizens who appear to be watching one source of news, the bloggers who devote their time to bashing our president, and, most important, the majority of Americans who voted for him twice and put him into office.

I hope a Hawaii/Illinois Obama Library parlay is successful.

Jim Wolfe
Nuuanu

‘Squeaky wheels’ not the aloha way

As the Legislature meets, we are often reminded of the adage that "the squeaky wheel get the grease."

How absurd.What happened to our aloha spirit of mutual respect, live and let live and honoring wisdom and education?

We often praise the isseis and nisseis of all cultural groups that made Hawaii a special place to live and work and to retire. Thanks to their hard work, self-restraint, self-denial and suffering, we now enjoy the fruits of their labor.Yet now we are told to emulate the squeaky wheel to protect our heritage and culture.

With all due respect, and with belief in the aloha spirit handed down to us and to our children, we are loathe to become a squeaky wheel; it is not our way.

Therefore, it is incumbent on our elected officials to be brave and honest and honor our aloha spirit. It is not our way to make more noise than the opposition so you can have an excuse for your actions.

Kenneth Y. Kamiya
Kaneohe

Hawaii losing aura that draws tourists

My wife and I have just returned from what was probably our 10th visit to Hawaii. However,thanks to the demise of the International Market Place and the soon-to-be demolished King’s Village, it may very well have been our last.

Take away some of the area’s icons and keep increasing the daily hotel tourist tax and many will opt for other holiday venues.

We stayed, not for the first time, at the Princess Kaiulani for our annual month. That, and the cost of getting there and back, added up to a king’s ransom.

Then we find the tourist tax had increased from last year’s $19 to $24. This added up to just under $700 at checkout.

The people of Waikiki need another upscale shopping mall for the well-heeled minority like they need a major migraine.

We’re now planning our extended holiday for next year. Our destination? Portugal! Aloha.

Jerry Cohen and Bonnie Cunningham
Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Break down DOE into smaller units

Hawaii needs to get serious about the business of education.

Our single one-size-fits-all school board, tied to the governor and Legislature, hampers innovation, ignores diverse issues and is disconnected from the people.

Small districts, governed and funded by community-centric elections, can spur both action and innovation. What community wouldn’t vote for air conditioning, buses, better curriculum and more flexible teachers’ contracts for their kids?

More important, the citizenship at large needs to accept that the status quo is poor at best. We must willingly accept bold reforms and we enthusiastically pay for our children’s future.

Jeffrey Tillson
Ewa Beach

Bruno Mars was star of Super Bowl

I’m certain I speak for most local football fans: The highlight of the Super Bowl didn’t have anything to do with the pigskin.

Bruno Mars stole the show.

What a proud moment for all of Hawaii. Mars can expect an unprecedented welcome home, when he finally returns for his already sold-out concerts.

As we watched his half-time performance with amazement,I had faith that all of us here in Hawaii were sending our prayers and shared Mars’ sadness for his recently departed mother.

I’m sureshe watched with pride from the best seat in the house.

Phillip Hino
Kaimuki