We need more low-cost homes

It was so disheartening to see all the people lining up at 3 a.m. to purchase multimillion-dollar condos ("Buyers await their shot at luxe Ala Moana condos," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 10).

While those who earned their wealth are certainly entitled to spend it in any way they see fit, it’s salt in the wounds to the many homeless and those living hand-to-mouth in our midst.

We do not need more luxurious or even "affordable" homes.What we need are low-cost homes and low-cost rental units.

Park Lane Ala Moana now joins the elitist Ala Moana Center, where Macy’s has now become the new Sears, the only quality and easy-on-the-pocketbook store we locals can afford.

Gwen Char Heliker
Makiki

Decentralized power is better

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s recent rolling blackouts call into question the wisdom of relying on large electrical generating facilities, for which prospective acquirer NextEra already has stated a preference.

If one large generator goes down, the system can handle it. However, if three have problems, the grid is in trouble.

Alternatively, the grid is less likely to experience problems if a few of many smaller, distributed generating facilities happen to fail together.

Many customers already participate in HECO’s demand-reduction programs, which help control peak demand by turning off non-essential loads when necessary.

Customers with storage (such as battery backup systems) represent another opportunity for demand management; they could go offline until the base generating capacity is back up and running.

Our electric utility should embrace both distributed generation and distributed storage. Then there will be no need to interrupt our football games.

Albert Perez
Mililani

GOP bigwigs finance losers

Like Charlie Brown running to kick the ball held by Lucy, the Republican Party is eagerly galloping down a path toward certain Electoral College defeat.

Big money-bundling GOP establishmenttypes are wasting no time generating media buzz about stale "moderates"like Mitt Romney, Chris Christie and Jeb Bush.

Why the preemptive action? To soak up available campaign money now that later might go to U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, and to those with executive experience like Texas’ Rick Perry, Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Louisiana’s Bobby Jindal — all of whom, like the tea party, are loathed by GOPbig shots who would rather lose elections than risk their influential big-shot status.

Here’s some advicefor conservatives instrumental in delivering Republican congressional majorities in numbers not seen since the 1920’s: If you don’t want to be dumped again — as you were in 1996, 2008 and 2012 — take an active role in the campaign now. Otherwise, steel yourselves to endure another Clinton.

Thomas E. Stuart
Kapaau

Flashing lights could save lives

Robert Gould is right about flashing lights at crosswalks ("Crosswalks need flashing lights," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 11).

I am from England and there we have yellow beacon lights flashing on both sides of the road where there is a crosswalk. This alerts both drivers and pedestrians that they must be careful because of the crosswalk. This idea, surely, could save lives.

Toby Allen
Hawaii Kai

Old Puuloa looking great

As a longtime resident of Ewa Beach, I wanted to acknowledge the city’s efforts at paving our streets.

I have never seen the major roads of old Puuloa (Ewa Beach, Fort Weaver, Pohakupuna and Papipi roads) paved and striped and in excellent condition all at the same time.

It’s nice to see tax dollars actually working. Well done.

Scott Gier
Ewa Beach

Mariota’s light shining brightly

Lights out, really ("Lights out," Star-Advertiser, Jan. 13)!

Here is a man that lit up our state in more ways than one, who is proud to be from our state and mentions that every chance he gets, a mentor to our children of the islands, a leader.

Losing a football championship does not put his lights out. It might put others’ lights out, but not Marcus Mariota.

He shines even brighter because of his graciousness and humbleness in his loss.

Violet A. Uemoto
Kailua-Kona