Goliath was true kamaaina

Can we all give a collective mahalo to Goliath the alligator ("Oldest captive alligator dies at the Hono-lulu Zoo," Star-Advertiser, May 1)?

His residency since 1953 at the Honolulu Zoo is most impressive and his long tenure there surely rated him as true kamaaina.

We can honor his memory and other animals similarly situated by phasing out the animal exhibits at the zoo and using this unique property as a venue for indigenous and endemic Hawaiian flora.

It’s long overdue and it would certainly enhance our state’s commitment to a growing and continuing Hawaiian renaissance.

Philip Cedillos
Kula, Maui

Canceling rail has side effects

Rail opponents should seriously think aboutthe consequencesifthe projectis canceled:

» The federal government will want its roughly $1.6 billion back.

» Lawsuits will be filed for breach of contract.

» Tearing down all erected columns, raillines and other support structures will cost millions.

» Future traffic mitigation projects may be jeopardized. The federal government will be reluctant to release funds forHonolulu if the people voted for a project and then turned against it.

» Traffic will only get worse. We cannot build any more roads. No room.We cannot set aside bus lanes. This willeliminateexisting lanes.Remember the Zipmobile fiasco? Remember whena crane hit the pedestrian overpass? With future housing projects coming, that’s what traffic will be like 20 years from now.

To the rail opponents, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Robert K. Soberano
Moiliili

More sunshine not HART’s job

Your editorial, "More sunlight needed in who is building rail" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, May 4), is flawed.

You recognize that the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s contracts are with prime contractorsonly.

You note that federal and state law makes disclosure of most subcontractors voluntary. The law must be strengthened, you say.

OK. But the job of strengthening the law is not HART’s, but that of federal and state lawmakers.

HART does not make laws. HART follows the law and is doing that now.

Tracking sub, and sub-sub contractors’ political contributions is high-mindedenough, but the law does not allow that now. Changes would generate micromanagement problems, including more costs.

Your editorial writers appear not to fully understand construction management and accounta- bility processes. What HART is doing now is within the law and is cost-effective.

On May 1 you published an editorial titled, "Keep it simple with rail tax plan" (Star-Advertiser, Our View, May 1). It was elegantly crafted, carefully reasoned and persuasive.

The May 4 editorial was nowhere near as good — unfortunately.

Jim Anthony
Kaaawa

Bakery will be a burden

While I like the bakery, Iam not nearly as excited about the opening of Nanding’s Bakery onCampbell Avenue ("Nanding’s to open third location near Kapahulu," Star-Advertiser, April 30).

It is a very popular local bakery and will be another traffic nightmare for the intersection of Kapahulu and Campbell avenues.

There isvery limited parking available in that area and the building has just a handful of stalls.

The ingress/egress from Zippy’s, coupled withall the other vehicular traffic, already creates congestion for this intersection.

I can just imagine folks illegally parking on Campbell Avenueand at Zippy’s in the morning, thinking they can rush into the store and bounce right back out with their goodies.

The rest of us will be using side streets to avoid that intersection, adding more traffic to our neighborhood.

Does not the agency that grants new business licenses review this to make sure the neighborhood can support it?

Margy Behling
Kapahulu

Hawaiians can support TMT

The stance by Hawaiian activists against construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope is perplexing.

Their Polynesian ancestors were forerunners in understanding the world. With this knowledge they thrived and spread their culture throughout the Pacific at a time when other navigators feared to venture out of sight of land.

To claim the TMT should not go forward because it "desecrates" Mauna Kea seems contrary to this tradition. If any alteration of the physical, scenic or historical uses of the land is considered "desecration," regardless of the resulting benefits, there are more obvious targets for protests.

TMT will lead to significant economic and educational benefits for astronomy, the state of Hawaii, and the Hawaiian people (through the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs).

To object to the extension of knowledge of the natural world seems contrary to the customs and history of Hawaiian and Polynesian peoples.

Roberta Sprague
Manoa

Hawaii dodged a boondoggle

We should count our blessings that we didn’t get the Obama Presidential Library.

I am sure our state would have found a way to spend millions of dollars building it at the expense of the Hawaiitaxpayers.

I think it is very appropriate that the state and city known for the most dirty, corruptpolitics in thenation would get the library.

Carl Bergantz
Kaneohe

Howard Hughes deserves praise

In response to your editorial on the 988 Halekau-wila project, I commend the Howard Hughes Corp. on its proposal to deliver three times more affordable rental apartment units than required, and its efforts to benefit those that need this housing most, as soon as possible ("HCDA should raise bar on rentals," Star-Advertiser, Our View, April 24).

By offering affordable rental units in town to local residents with lower average median incomes, Howard Hughes is providing an opportunity for significantly more people to be able to afford to live in Honolulu’s urban core, reducing commuter hours and traffic, as well as giving people a chance to work toward homeownership.

In comparing the community benefit of for-sale to for-rent units at 988 Halekauwila, the choice to me is obvious.

I’ve been impressed with Howard Hughes’ investments in our local community and believe they are committed to making Honolulu a better place.

Joe Ferraro
Principal, Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd.