Barbara Ikeda complained that the Blue Angels’ air show wastes taxpayers’ money and fuel, and creates noise and pollution (“Blue Angels pollute and waste resources,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 15). I wholeheartedly disagree.

The Blue Angels flying overhead is the sight and sound of protecting our many freedoms, one of which gives Ikeda her right of free expression via her letter to the editor.

Lola Arakaki
Ewa Beach

Blue Angels air show glorifies war-fighting

As a retired Department of Defense careerist and son of a World War II veteran, I’m neither insensitive to nor unaware of the military’s positive contributions to the world, our country and our islands.

But the ear-shattering cacophony of the Blue Angels is a horrendous annoyance.

The “sound of freedom”? Nonsense.

Pity the shift workers, infants, elderly and others who need to sleep during the day. It’s just not possible with rooftop flyovers. Animals, too, suffer.

And the nuisance isn’t limited to two days of performance. The team practices for days in advance of the show.

And the “Wall of Fire?” Just what we need on top of all the other disruptions — more Hollywood hype.

I’ve heard all the rationalizations about so-called “education” and “entertainment.” That’s just military PR. The appearance of this stunt team is simply a glorification of war-fighting. And that’s one of the very last things our society needs.

Craig Stevaux
Kaneohe

UH again wastes money settling contract dispute

The University of Hawaii’s settlement to Gib Arnold to avoid a court fight is like a fish bone stuck in my throat (“A former UH men’s basketball coach, fired last year, has his cash settlement greenlighted by the Board of Regents,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 15).

If UH has legitimate reasons to fire him, then it should be strong enough to battle it through — for the sake of justice and the dignity of UH.

For years, taxpayers watched as one high-profile employee after another got paid large sums after being fired. UH has a poor record of hiring good top people and firing these bad ones.

It was disappointing the Board of Regents voted 8-6 to settle, and, like many, I applaud those regents opposed to this ridiculous settlement.

State Rep. Isaac Choy, our Legislature and UH general counsel Carrie Okinaga must find ways to protect and prevent UH from such huge settlements.

Chu Lan Shubert-Kwock
Chinatown

Save rail building costs by cutting some stations

The rail transit route map shows that many stations are too close together and can be eliminated.

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation awarded two contracts for building two sets of three stations.The average cost of each station is $22.6 million.

Don Horner of HART says costs will be inflated by 40 percent in the future. That causes the average cost per station to rise to $31.6 million.

The removal of six stations along the full 20-mile route would save taxpayers $189.6 million.

The following stations have travel times between the next nearest station of only two minutes or less and should be removed: Hoopili, Leeward Community College, Lagoon Drive, Middle Street, Chinatown and Civic Center.

Once the rail is running, the ridership can be closely monitored to determine if some or all of the removed stations should be built at a later date.

Don Voyce
Aina Haina