UH doesn’t need presidential library

This is almost beyond comprehension: The University of Hawaii hierarchy has proven time and time again its inability to run a university, yet it has the gallto put in a proposal for the Barack Obama presidential center ("Obama library would mean jobs," Star-Advertiser, June 17)?

Something must be missing here. Has the position of UH president already gone to David Lassner’s head? He needs to concen- trate all of his energy on remaking the university to a position of higher education — a university that we can all be proud of once again — and get away from the attempt to run a sports program, or a library, for that matter.

James Robinson
Aiea

Airports were there before the houses

In response to an Ewa Beach resident complaining about airport noise: Rodgers Airfield, later renamed Honolulu International Airport, began in 1927. Hickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor’s Ford Island airports were added later, in the same area.

Residential home development around this area, including Ewa Beach, came much later. Homeowners either avoided building homes near the airport or somehow enjoyed or tolerated the sounds of piston planes and jet engines serenading them throughout the day and night.

The obvious point is to pick your home site carefully. If you don’t like airport noise, don’t live close to an airport.

It is not feasible nor safe to ask airplanes approaching or departing Honolulu and Hickam to silence their engines, decrease power or even change to unsafe landing/takeoff approaches.

When you can’t move the mountain, you have to move yourself.

Geoff Davis
Aiea

Electric car has met all expectations

I love my Leaf — my all-electric, no gas for 21⁄2 years and counting, never an oil or transmission change, solar-powered car.

When I heard there was an electric car for sale back in 2011, I knew someone in our family had to get one. We had just installed photovoltaic panels and realized the sun was our friend. I didn’t know whether the Leaf would run like a normal car or disappoint as a gimmicky toy that didn’t deliver.

Granted, first-generation Leaf owners must endure driving-range anxiety occasionally (Tesla has figured out battery longevity, apparently). But the Leaf is the perfect car for Oahu’s size. I travel to and from Aiea and Kaimuki and up a mile-long hill twice before recharging. Over to Kaneohe? No problem. Unbelievable pickup, room for five, adequate trunk space and eerily quiet. What’s not to like?

When people ask "Will this be the car of the future?" I answer, "If the sun comes up tomorrow. If not, my bike’s in the trunk."

Jan Pappas
Aiea

Use fees, tariffs to cut power bill

Great news that Hawaii is getting "serious about rising seas" ("Time to get serious about rising seas," Star-Advertiser, Our View, June 14).

Thank you for reporting on the positive steps being taken by the Legislature and governor. We can solve this problem.

Citizens Climate Lobby is an organization of volunteers proposing a national carbon fee and dividend, a gradually increasing charge on oil, coal and natural gas, with all the revenue returned to households, and a border tariff to protect American manufacturers.

This would create millions of new jobs, increase business opportunities and profits and protect our shores, according to new analysis by REMI (Regional Economic Models, Inc.).

More than two-thirds of citizens would get more money back from the government than they would pay in higher fuel bills.

The overpowering control of the energy market by fossil fuel companies discourages competition. A carbon fee would help level the playing field so clean energy and efficiency could compete and give these beautiful Hawaiian beaches and citizens the protection they deserve.

Louise Stonington
Seattle

OurTrain will be a wonder of the world

Thousand Oaks, Calif., is "just" 30 miles outside of downtown Los Angeles.

Kapolei is 14 miles outside of downtown Honolulu.

OurTrain is needed to tie Kapolei to Honolulu as well as Honolulu to Kapolei.The tie now is the lumbering Express C bus, running from Ala Moana Center to Kapolei.

Sound familiar? It is, because OurTrain is designed to do the Express C run and more.

Let’s give OurTrain a chance. Many have attempted to derail OurTrain before it even got its first passenger, including yours truly. I regret that I was against the rail, and although I still have reservations about it, let’s put them aside and build our Hawaiian wonder of the world.

Reginald Nakamoto
Aiea

Woman who killed dog had alternatives

Many thanks to Ginny Tiu for her letter ("Killer of dog got off easy," Star-Advertiser, June 4).

If the dog killer was irritated by the dog’s action, she could have taken the dog to the Hawaiian Humane Society for adoption or to euthanize.

If the dog was dispensable, what makes those who let this woman’s brutal action against a defenseless and most trusting animal go unpunished? What makes them think that she will not be irritated again by the action of another animal, or a human being, or perhaps a child, and go "insane" again?

Our nation is a long way from Mahatma Gandhi’s "greatness" when it comes to treatment of animals. However, here in Hawaii, some of us believe in "bachi." It is a comforting thought for us that it is something that this woman, and those who let her be unpunished for her despicable action, could have.

Hamid Jahanmir
Makiki