Find better way to pay for buses

Thanks to the Star-Advertiser for speaking in favor of Hawaii’s historic billboard ban ("City bus ads just not worth it," Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 28). Rolling billboards on buses are just as bad as the roadside billboards the Legislature got rid of almost a century ago.

On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council is scheduled to take up the idea of selling billboard space on all of Oahu’s buses. It should reject this bad idea and get serious about finding money elsewhere in the budget to restore the ill-advised cuts that were made in Oahu’s bus service.

The cost to restore bus service is a fraction of a percentage of the city’s budget. The mayor and Council have the wisdom to budget for basic services without selling out to advertising clutter. Bus advertising violates Hawaii’s scenic values.

The proposal for bus billboards wouldn’t produce the revenue envisioned. The city would quickly be in court for violating free speech because it plans to limit ad content.

Kathy Whitmire
Haleiwa

No to mainland bus advertising

I ride the bus Monday through Friday to go to work and to do errands on Saturdays. There are many spaces available inside of our buses for companies to advertise their products and services.

So to save money, or before our City Council thinks of spending money that our city does not have, take advantage of what exists. Use what’s available.

We are not part of the mainland. Yes, we are part of the U.S.A., but we are on an island out in the Pacific. We are in paradise, so leave out that mainland look. Our buses look fine as is. The main thing is that we have funds to continue to keep our buses operating properly.

Alexis Mililani Liftee
Nuuanu

Solar experience not so speedy

I would like to know in what area of KailuaGene Dashiell lives ("HECO and city worked quickly," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 3).

He said he got his net metering agreement in a week, then was able to start his installation and complete the job, including sign-off, in a few weeks.

We applied for permission to start solar and get approval fornet energy metering back in November 2013 — six months ago.We are still waiting for a decision on if we will even be able to proceed.

After inquiring about our status in February 2014 — three months after we started the process — we were told in a generic e-mail there would be no decision until a technical review for our area was completed. That was supposed to happen by the end of March.

Well, now it’s May and we are still waiting, and no decision and no PV — just astronomical Hawaiian Electric Co. bills.

Barbara Germann
Kailua

Cabanilla lacks ethical sense

Rida Cabanilla has again demonstrated how ethically challenged she is ("Legislators give $100,000 grant to group run by fellow lawmaker," Star-Advertiser, May 1).I recall a few years ago an episode involving her status in the United States Army Reserves and the wearing of a uniform in a campaign ad, a violation of regulations.

Legislators should not be choosing grants-in-aid awardees in the first place. Someone should be checking all applications for compliance, and then an independent committee should score and choose recipients based on those scores.

Capt. Thomas "T.J." Davies Jr. (Ret.)
Kakaako

Tests don’t show actual abilities

This is in response to the commentary by Danielle Douglass ("Testing and mandates replace creative learning in schools," Star-Advertiser, April 24).

I am employed by a large public high school on Oahu and have seen several instances in which students who met proficiency on the Hawaii State Assessment tests struggled in the classroom, were assessed, and found eligible for IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) services due to low reading-comprehension scores. This reinforces the point several people have made that we are teaching toward passing the test and not for the overall benefit of our students.

I am very sorry that Douglass is leaving the profession, and am one of many who know through extensive experience that this has got to stop if we are going to move forward in the field of public education.

Brandon ‘Oia‘i‘o
Palolo

Developer helps local community

Developer Peter Savio once again displays why he is outstanding both personally and in business ("Perseverance of the Pagoda," Star-Advertiser, April 27). This local boy consistently provides an honorable legacy while providing jobs for locals, maintaining Hawaii’s heritage and ensuring that average residents have a dignified place to live.

His values and practices are a stark contrast to current speculators. While adjacent Kakaako developers compete to deplete all natural beauty and regulations, Savio’s projects preserve what makes Hawaii special.

Pagoda founder Herbert Hayashi would be proud of Savio’s compassion. Successful business leaders like him are rare, and he should be applauded for his policy of favoring redevelopment for locals over unlimited greed. Character and success are not incompatible.

Barbara Feather
Ala Moana

No sympathy for murderer

It’s shameful to see how much news space has been given over to the "botched" execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma, yet so little mention has been made of the horrible things he did to get himself on death row.

Those who know the whole story have no sympathy for him at all.

Michael Miller
Niu Valley

Bullying carries into adulthood

Bullying has been a major problem in school for a long time. It is a well-known fact that those who bully as children continue that pattern later in life. Children in elementary schools are now being taught how to identify bullies, and those who are doing the bullying are being educated why bullying is bad.

Sexual harassment and abuse has been a major problem in college and the military. It is a known fact that those who sexually abuse and harass women started that behavior as children.

Children in elementary school need to be taught how to identify sexual harassment, and we need to educate children that sexual harassing and abusing is not acceptable behavior.

Wim Blees
Mililani

Gov should help fix homelessness

On the homelessness problem, mini homes would help. I, too, think the shipping containers are a great solution. I even wrote to the governor with an enclosed picture of a modified container as shelter.

His office wrote back and passed the buck, saying it would have to be looked at by some other agency.

Auwe.

Bernice Mattingly
Mililani