Take honest look at costs of Army

While the Army is looking at the possibility of downsizing its Hawaii footprint, a series of articles from its cheerleaders have run in the newspaper. A petition of support is being promoted by the Honolulu mayor.

When programs are supported by taxpayer money, there is usually a healthy and accepted public skepticism — except when it comes to the military.

Is it treasonous to ask for an objective accounting of the impacts (including the cost) of the Army’s presence on Oahu?

There are issues such as environmental toxins, the health implications of depleted uranium and the incidence of domestic violence that should be considered. And there are many financial costs never discussed, while the financial benefits are repeatedly trumpeted.

The Army will hold Hawaii’s community listening session Jan. 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki.

It’s time to finally have some honest reflection on our situation.

Nancy Aleck
Manoa

HEI brass profit, ratepayers suffer

I was disgusted to read about the huge individual profits being made on the backs of public utility ratepayers ("Lau to receive $10 million upon HEI’s purchase," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 9).

Any profits from the sale or merger of our only source of electricity should be for the relief of all ratepayers, and reinvested in the company for the benefit of all of Hawaii, not Hawaiian Electric Industries’ individual company officers.

The state Public Utilities Commission is tasked to regulate our utility companies and entities engaged in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy here in Hawaii. Where are they?

How can HEI CEO Constance Lau receive $10.66 million in compensation when this is a public utility? Add to this another $6.5 million for CFO James Ajello and general counsel Chet Richardson. Lau’s compensation as CEO is more than obscene already, as is that of others on HEI’s board.

We ratepayers and electricity users in Hawaii deserve underground lines and an improved infrastructure before any more profits are given away.

Mary J. Culvyhouse
Kaneohe

Keystone benefits U.S. and its ally

Canada currently produces a large amount of oil that either will be shipped through the Keystone pipeline to Environmental Protection Agency-regulated refineries in the U.S., or through Canada’s own pipeline that it would build to the West Coast. From there, the oil would be loaded onto tankers and shipped to unregulated refineries in China.

With the Keystone pipeline, Canada, our most trusted friend and current coalition ally in Afghanistan, will be the recipient of the monies for the oil instead of Venezuela, Iraq, Iran, or Algeria, who all despise us, or Saudi Arabia — the chief funder of Osama Bin Laden and Islamic terrorists, and the birthplace of the men who destroyed the Twin Towers.

In addition, the oil will be used in the U.S. to increase the supply and decrease the cost of energy for Americans and keep hundreds of thousands of jobs in the U.S. by inexpensively powering our manufacturing plants.

Gary R. Johnson
Kaneohe

Ala Moana serves only the wealthy

Whoever allowed the permits for the Park Lane Ala Moana should be run out of town on a surfboard. The already messed-up shopping center had turned into a complete abomination.

Since it was built, Ala Moana Center was always a great place for Hawaii residents and tourists alike to visit. Now it is a nightmare and, with very few exceptions, is and will become a place to shop only for the wealthy.

How much longer do you think there will be such stores there as Long’s? How many Guccis and Pradas can there be? With the Kakaako and Ala Moana developments coming up, the Hawaii we once knew will be gone forever.

Shame on the state and the City and County of Honolulu for approving such monstrous projects.

Loretta Falls
Waikiki

Readers want news, not gossipy filler

The Star-Advertiser’s selection of what constitutes important news continues to astound and disappoint me.

France had just experienced a horrific terror attack with serious implications to freedom of the press — yet the front page headline told us that Hawaii is not experiencing a serious problem with influenza ("Red, white and flu," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 8).

This has become the norm, with local trivia taking the place of real news. Page 2 has become celebrity gossip. Is this really what you think we readers want? We deserve better.

News of national and international importance should trump gossip-column-level fillers.

Stephanie Gieseler
Aina Haina

Hawaii not ready for hurricanes

So we had a fast storm with below-hurricane-strength wind and some rain. There were trees down all over the place, docks torn loose from their moorings and after 24 hours, there were still places with no power.

What would happen if a hurricane hit widespread areas of the islands? I don’t think the state is hurricane ready.

Kathy Bentley
Kahaluu