HEI sale benefits underestimated

I want to correct misinformation in a letter from Lynne Matusow (“HEI sale bad for shareholders,” StarAdvertiser, May 27).

Matusow focused only on shares of NextEra Energy; she entirely overlooked the additional value HEI shareholders would receive from shares of ASB Hawaii and a special dividend of $0.50 per HEI share.

Assuming 100 HEI shares owned and transaction completion in 2015, shareholders would receive an estimated $150 dividend in 2016 ($50 from the special dividend, $80 from NextEra Energy and $20 from ASB Hawaii) and a $100 annual dividend thereafter — that’s before potential dividend growth.

Over the past 10 years, NextEra Energy has substantially grown both dividends per share and adjusted earnings per share (averaging 8 percent growth annually) and has achieved a 10-year total shareholder return of 300 percent.

These benefits can only be realized if the merger is approved. Therefore, we encourage shareholders to vote today “FOR” the merger.

Jeff Watanabe
Chairman, Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc.

Rail votes need to be reviewed

The article, “Former councilman fined over gifts” (Star-Advertiser, May 28) includes accusations that several City Council members accepted gifts from rail lobbyists.

The approval of the rail transit system by the Council needs to be reviewed and the rail project put on hold until a determination is made whether votes for approval of rail were unethically or criminally influenced by rail lobbyists. The lobbyists are to be

held accountable. If lobbyists are found guilty, significant fines and criminal prosecution need to be applied.

American corporations should know that they cannot bribe government officials.

Ron Hochuli
Ewa Beach

Police could be more educated

The letter, “Police officers meet highest standards” (Star-Advertiser, May 26), should have been headlined “Police officers meet minimum standards.”

That is what state Sen. Will Espero expressed when stating, “You only need a GED to be a police officer. Is that a high standard?”

During open public testimony at the Capitol, Espero also said he believed the Honolulu Police Department officers should be paid more, which I also agree with.

However, if you are to be paid more, that usually requires more education. More education is a good thing.

As for the question of whether a 911 caller wants to get an educated officer or any officer respond to his call for help, the answer is: I’d rather have an educated officer respond to my call, just as I’d rather have an educated specialist surgeon operate on me during surgery, not just any surgeon.

Nancy Manali-Leonardo
Waikiki

Handi-Van system needs to be fixed

I am the niece of Susan Oya, who was recently quoted in an article regarding the failures of the HandiVan (“Riders driven to frustration,” Star-Advertiser, May 20).

It was very upsetting to witness the callous neglect of my aunt, who got passed over by the Handi-Van.

The passing of her husband was an extremely painful time for the family. The Handi-Van failed to show up after the funeral in Mililani and take her to Punchbowl cemetery.

Seeing aunty in tears waiting for the Handi-Van and nearly missing the inurnment was horrible.

Her daughter, the kind funeral directors, and I were able to lift her heavy, mobi-lized chair into our van and tether the trunk. Luckily, my cousin had a low car in which aunty was able to ride.

This is both heartbreaking and infuriating for all these Handi-Van users. They deserve better. What if it were you? The Handi-Van’s system needs to be fixed.

Raelene Shimokawa
Mililani

U.S. no longer for the people

Hawaii County voters should fire Mayor Billy Kenoi and send him to jail.

The United States of America is no longer a country with a government, of the people, by the people, for the people.

It’s a government of the party and the candidate of that party and their financial supporters and unions that support them.

Just listen to the news and read the newspaper. All we are doing is getting our young people killed fighting somebody else’s war.

We really need to ask for just one thing: “God Bless America.”

George Abdul
Manoa