Diamond Head can be dangerous

Congratulations on your recent articles emphasizing the safest way to climb our famous Diamond Head Crater ("Tons of trekkers," Star-Advertiser, June 29).

Just looking at the outstanding profile of the wide crater as often photographed from Waikiki and farther points westward can be a warning, since the great width indicates rock-shattering explosions to geologists.

Serious injuries and even deaths have occurred to reckless visitors who attempted to climb the crumbly loose rock outside the crater instead of the safer, recently reinforced trail inside.

During current warm weather it is very helpful to go as early as possible. The automobile gate opens at 6 a.m.

Edward Angelo Arrigoni
Honolulu

PUC should OK HECO solar deals

Gov. David Ige took the positive step for Hawaii’s future by signing the 100 percent renewable energy law.

This law is good for the people and it is for the good of Earth.

"Malama honua" is not just a saying, it is a way of life. However, it takes all of us to practice and perpetuate "malama ‘aina"; we can only do so much.

The state Public Utilities Commission has the power to make the changes that could affect and support the state’s transition to clean energy. Ige has the vision, and now the PUC needs to approve the power-purchase agreements for the low-cost solar energy projects as proposed by Hawaiian Electric Co.

Mahalo to all those who serve on the PUC. They carry the responsibility to continue on the path for the people of Hawaii today, tomorrow and the tomorrows to come.

Diane M. Kanealii
Executive director, Kailapa Community Association
Kawaihae, Hawaii island

Doi was a friend of marathons

I knew Nelson Doi for years and he was always a class act in every sense of the word, not only as a politician but as a human being ("Politician championed the people over party," Star-Advertiser, May 20).

While he was in Honolulu, he would faithfully attend our Honolulu Marathon Clinic, basically unannounced although we all knew who he was.

He would enjoy and compliment the camaraderie of the group, and this was important in those days because the Honolulu Marathon Clinic had just gotten started.

He enjoyed running marathons; I enjoyed working with him in this regard and I remember watching him at the finish line one of the years that I ran the Hilo Marathon.

In many ways, Nelson could be considered one of the patron saints of running at that time. Therefore, it goes without saying he will be missed at many levels.

Jack H. Scaff Jr.
President, Hawaii Sports Foundation

Cable service in Kaaawa stinks

At what point does the state Public Utilities Commission step in to protect the average homeowner?

We have cable service with the largest provider in Hawaii, and we have had nothing but trouble for the past four months.

In our windward area of Kaaawa, we have outages continually, and it is depressing to have an important program interrupted maybe 10 times in an hour.

Good service for 10 continuous minutes is the exception.

We have had service calls and resetting of the cable box many times but the problem still persists. Phone help has lasted to over an hour — with minimal results.

To whom do we turn to for help when a service can’t correct its problems?

Ted Green
Kaaawa

KIKU TV signal has disappeared

Recently, at least here in Moiliili, KIKU TV’s broadcast signal, which tended to be a little more erratic than all the other stations, vanished.

Previously, the signal could be attained, like the other stations, by moving the home antenna around, but no longer — at least not on University Avenue.

KIKU must now feel like a lost child whose playmates no longer can find it — a loss to the Japanese and Filipino community due to a small station’s lack of technical know-how.

Mel Chiya
Moiliili