Finally: stewards committed to the long-term livability and sustainability of our last precious urban community are leading Kakaako.

The new Hawaii Community Development Authority board, led by John Whalen, is doing the right thing in the right way.Members read all testimonies, question testifiers closely and analyze the implications for Kakaako’s long-term future.

HCDA’s recent decision denying Howard Hughes’motion to amend its 2013 permit stopped a request that would have shifted 375 reserved housing units from for-sale to 15-year rentals ("Kakaako high-rise rental plan axed," Star-Advertiser, May 28).

In 15 years, Howard Hughes would have sold the rentals at a huge profit based on significant property-value gains that will come from being next to a rail station. The rental tenants would have been forced to find other housing. The state, left without its for-sale unit equity share, wouldn’t have had the funds to build more affordable housing.

Whalen’s thoughtful explanation of the decision can be read at the HCDA website.

Sharon Moriwaki
Kakaako United

Hawaii filmmakers will tell our stories

There’s a surefire remedy for all of the heartburn being caused by Cameron Crowe’s movie, "Aloha": local people telling their own stories for the screen.

Programs like PBS Hawaii’s "HIKI NO" and the University of Hawaii’s Academy for Creative Media are teaching Hawaii’s young people how to do just that. Films by Hawaii filmmakers are starting to get into prestigious festivals like Sundance.An indigenous Hawaii film movement is on the horizon.

The same happened with literature.Once upon a time, stories about Hawaii were found only in the works of white male outsiders (Mark Twain, Jack London, James Michener).Then along came Bamboo Ridge Press and authors such as Lois-Ann Yamanaka and Kaui Hart Hemmings.

Hawaii’s answers to Cameron Crowe and Alexander Payne are out there. They just need to be discovered by a supportive audience that hungers for the real Hawaii.

Robert Pennybacker
Nuuanu

Visitors can’t access Arizona Memorial

The recent accident that damaged the USS Arizona Memorial’s floating dockmeans our valuable visitors are now being denied access to our state’s most popular attraction ("Ship damages memorial dock," Star-Advertiser, May 28).

As the Navy shuttle boats are unable to land at the memorial, the National Park Service has compensated as best it can by providing narrators on each boat. Unfortunately, the microphones onboard are inconsistent at best, or don’t work at all.

Not only are we depriving and frustrating the thousands of daily visitors, the Navy crewmen onboard are having a difficult time making their announcements about safety and other important topics to their passengers.

Can’t someone in the world’s greatest navy correct this as soon as possible?

Gabe Brady
Ko Olina

Faulty prosecutors try to shift blame

Because the names Jacob Delaplane and Katherine Kealoha keep appearing in news stories about prosecutorial incompetence and misconduct, the public might legitimately ask why those two — and others — continue to be entrusted to perform the duties expected of lawyers representing the people of the state of Hawaii ("Isle inmate’s attempted-murder case dismissed," Star-Advertiser, May 31).

Before moving to Oahu, similar questions arose about Delaplane’s actions on Kauai.

To deflect from their own responsibilities, Delaplane and Kealoha point fingers at defense lawyers, who are merely representing their own clients, and even judges — including former prosecutors — who have the temerity to hold current prosecutors to appropriate legal and ethical standards.

Is the Office of Disciplinary Counsel observing this farce?

How about City Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro? Aren’t they still working for him?

Eric A. Seitz
Niu Valley

Lantern ceremony this year not special

Drones and mermaids spoiled this year’s Memorial Day lantern floating experience for us. The tranquility of the evening makes it so special — but not this year.

Why several individuals felt compelled to fly their drones over the ceremony is beyond me.

It was also dangerous, as the drones landed in the crowds.

Regarding the front-page photo of the lanterns, where did the two mermaids (people in the water with the lanterns) come from ("Lighting the way," Star-Advertiser, May 26)?

Special? Not this year.

Wilma Boudreau
Kailua

Saturday’s letters quite a collection

There were some fascinating Star-Advertiser letters to the editor on Saturday.

The one that said that the sale of Hawaiian Electric Industries would be good for shareholders is interesting ("HEI sale benefits underestimated"). It sounds like shareholders would benefit from increased dividend income — and "that’s before potential dividend growth." I hope that employees and customers get a share of this windfall.

The funniest onesays, "American corporations should know that they cannot bribe government officials" ("Rail votes need to be reviewed"). Of course!

The letter that sums it all up says, "It’s a government of the party and the candidate of the party and their financial supporters and unions that support them" ("U.S. no longer for the people"). A pretty good summation of the state of the union.

Arg Bacon
Kahala