Show aloha for the word ‘aloha’

The state film commissioner complained that the filmmakers didn’t ask permission to use a sacred word, "Aloha," as the title of their film ("Local participants say the movie ‘Aloha’ deserves its name," Star-Advertiser, May 26).

Aloha is a beautiful word with wonderful meaning. But it’s commonly used and abused.

You can soak your Aloha tofu in Aloha soy sauce and wash it down with an Aloha beer or some Aloha water. You can head down to the Aloha storage facility where you’ve boxed up your hundreds of aloha shirts, take them down to the Aloha Stadium swap meet and sell them with the thousands of aloha T-shirts and backscratchers.

There’s a page and a half of businesses named Aloha in the phone book; I wonder if Aloha Sexual Health & Happiness sought permission.

So let’s calm down and enjoy the movie — and hope that it’s successful and that other filmmakers will want to feature our islands, employing hundreds of local folks.

Ken Kessler
Waianae

HSTA board set bad example

I am a junior at Kalaheo High School and I can’t believe that just because the Hawaii State Teachers Association board doesn’t like the outcome of the vote, they get to do it again.

This is biased because the board is favoring the HSTA board that is already in power. Would you let me retake an exam if I didn’t like the results? How many elections will they hold until they like the outcome?

If I was a teacher, I would make sure my outrage was felt, and vote them out. That would be good retaliation.

Joshua Bailey
Kailua

Kalakaua might have nixed TMT

Bob Gould restates a frequent argument that, while generally true, doesn’t address the real issue facing Hawaii currently: Does science always take precedence over Native Hawaiian cultural beliefs ("Hawaiians always embraced science," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 25)?

Gould speculates: What would the ancients do and what would be the fate of dissenters?

It’s not definite that King Kalakaua would approve of the Thirty Meter Telescope on Mauna Kea, as Gould suggests, because the king restored hula, which had been banned because of the protests of American missionaries. We are the beneficiaries as a contemporary society because of Kalakaua’s open vision and respect for ancient beliefs.

The task at hand is that we, as a society, must decide the merits or demerits of a pristine Mauna Kea and the intrinsic worth of any future cultural benefits.

Raplee Nobori
Waikiki

Don’t raise bar for felony theft

Gov. David Ige should veto Senate Bill 569 that would raise the amount for felony theft from $300 to $750 ("Senate bill raises bar on felony theft," Star-Advertiser, May 24).

This bill will affect not only businesses, but individuals who are ripped off as well.

Kat Brady, coordinator of the Community Alliance on Prisons, seems to be more concerned about the thieves than the victims.

Thieves spend time in prison because, well, they are criminals. Does Brady think these thieves are caught the first time they steal?

As it is, the public is spending millions of dollars in Hawaii every year to pay for retail shrinkage. Now the Legislature wants to increase that cost.

What I know for sure is that during the average 31⁄4 years that a thief is in prison, he is not ripping off my friends and family. Better he is convicted at $300 than $750.

Pam Smith
Ewa Beach

Electricity costs a big unknown

Which is reality — the story about increasing electrical costs necessitating the rail needing $13 million more ("Rail operating cost rises by $13M," Star-Advertiser, May 25?) or the Hawaiian Electric Industries/NextEra claim that electricity costs will decrease?

When will enough be enough?

Teresa Mary Tugadi
Mililani

Kapaau kind to honor its vets

A heartfelt thanks to the people of Kapaau in North Kohala on the Big Island for honoring their hometown veterans at the North Kohala Civic Center.

My grand-uncle Tsugito Kajikawa is one of the hometown heroes who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team made up of Japanese Americans willing to sacrifice everything for their country.

I did not know my grand-uncle because he was killed in action before I was born. As an adult I realized that Uncle Tsugito was truly an American hero.

I recently visited Kapaau with three generations of my family, including my 7-year-old son, who has learned that his great grand-uncle is an honored war hero.

We are proud of Uncle Tsugito, who gave his life for his country and family. The community of Kapaau is gracious to acknowledge its hometown heroes so we will never forget their ultimate sacrifice.

Leslee Yasukochi Matsushige
San Diego

HEI sale bad for shareholders

On Thursday, I received a letter from Hawaiian Electric Industries Chairman Jeff Watanabe noting I had not voted and asking me to vote for the merger with NextEra.

Watanabe explained that if the merger is approved, shareholders will receive 0.2413 shares of NextEra stock for each HEI share.

What he does not say is if the merger goes through, each 100 shares, which yield $124 in annual HEI dividends, will be reduced to $73.92. That is a big dent in the pocketbook for shareholders who count on the dividend to pay daily expenses.

If shareholders do not vote, it counts as a no vote. So do abstentions. This is a bad deal for shareholders. Like me, they should just not vote.

Those who voted yes, including shareholders of record as of March 23, 2015 who subsequently sold their shares and voted yes, can ask to revoke their ballot, thus changing it to a no vote.

Lynne Matusow
Downtown Honolulu

Come back with reusable bags

We have just returned from visiting our sons in Mahomet, Ill., and are reading Star-Advertiser issues we missed during our trip.

Vicki Viotti’s article on "Banning the bag" (Star-Advertiser, May 10) reinforced our decision when shopping for the traditional omiyage gifts to bring home to family and friends.

We decided to purchase reusable grocery/shopping bags from stores there that are not found here in Hawaii.

They are lightweight, easy to pack, colorful, practical and affordable, and best of all, have zero calories.

Thus, reusable bags from Menard’s, Aldi’s, Trader Joe’s, IKEA, Russell Stover and Staples may be seen around town, perhaps even before July 1.

Drusilla Tanaka
Kaneohe