Ellison representative sounded insensitive

I just needed to vent regarding the front-page story, “With Lanai tourism in doldrums, an unwelcome serenity pervades,” (Star-Advertiser, Dec. 7).

The quote by Kurt Matsumoto, a representative of Larry Ellison in Hawaii —“In the fullness of time, this is a brief moment” — caused me to uncharacteristically spew a stream of unprintable expletives at his blatant insensitivity and total lack of empathy for the suffering local small-business owners on Lanai.

Not seemingly suffering are the construction workers who are provided with lodging and three meals a day while “redoing” the Manele Bay Hotel.

Ellison and Matsumoto both seem to be quite comfortable and certainly not hurting economically.

Does Ellison hope that the locals move away so he can bring in his own businesses?

Sue Young

Makiki

Editorial on HPOWER misdirected blame

The Star-Advertiser’s editorial, “HPOWER needs stricter oversight” (Our View, Dec. 16), incorrectly blamed the Caldwell administration for the mishandling of contracts for the waste-to-energy installation.

The audit states that the two contracts in question were issued in May and July of 1985. The audit makes clear that the review was conducted for a period prior to the year 2013.

City Auditor Edwin Young confirmed this fact to Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Pang, stating that “the audit report covered the period before Mayor Caldwell and his ENV department director took over.”

This letter attempts to correct the record, and I would hope that the editorial page would also correct this serious misimpression.

Lori Kahikina

Director, city Department of Environmental Services

City should embrace court’s Kyo-ya ruling

A big mahalo to attorney Linda M.B. Paul for her commentary (“City seeks end run around court’s Kyo-ya ruling,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Dec. 16).

The Hawaii Supreme Court decision in the Kyo-ya case, in which citizens sued the city and Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts over the improper issuance of a partial variance, was a big win for the public interest.

The court concluded that city Planning and Permitting Director David Tanoue issued a variance without Kyo-ya having satisfied a single one of the three requirements that must be met for the issuance of the variance.

Rather than the city feeling remorseful and apologizing, it has the temerity to try to change the law to more easily accommodate the desires and interests of developers. What blatant contempt and disregard for the protection of the public interest.

Let’s hope the city will re-think its maneuver to weaken our environmental laws and instead make sure the laws are enforced and misuses of power not repeated.

Ursula Retherford

Kailua

We are getting exactly the schools we pay for

You get what you pay for, and public education is no exception.

We are getting exactly the schools we pay for. Educator dedication to students means taxpayers get good value for our education dollars; but, without better funding, it won’t get better.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association proposes a 1 percentage point general excise tax increase to fund 10 important research-based initiatives to create “The Schools Our Keiki Deserve.”

Some worry the government won’t direct new funds where they belong, and perhaps that’s true, but when the steerer misdirects the wa‘a, you don’t starve the paddlers; you retrain or replace the steerer.

As voters we can retrain or replace government officials if they steer us wrong.

Derek Bok said, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance” — and the cost of ignorance is borne by the individual and our entire society. We all benefit from excellent public schools.

If we want better, we must somehow pay more.

David Negaard

Lahaina Intermediate teacher

Wailuku

DOE’s problem is not lack of funding

Mike Landes’ letter advocating an increase in the general excise tax is a perfect illustration of the utter insanity and gullibility of the typical Hawaii voter (“Better schools for kids worth a tax increase,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 13).

With a $1.9 billion budget for 2015-2016 there is plenty of funding for education. The problem is lack of coherent leadership, lack of accountability and a failed structure.

The typical liberal Democrat answer to everything is to dig into the pockets of the overtaxed citizenry for more money in an attempt to “fix” the problem.

This time it is for the “keiki” and people like Landes will fall for it every time. Landes says he will gladly pay more taxes. I say, send the Department of Education a check.

I want my money back in the form of a voucher to help pay for my child’s education.

Robert Thurston

Haleiwa

FROM THE FORUM

“Use of pCards by Council members halted”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 14:

>> This is great political grandstanding in the light of Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi’s indiscretions. Paperwork and one attempt to breach the process is not a reason notto use pCards. Improve the process, maximize efficiency and move forward. Taking away pCards is akin to a parent taking away the phone from a teenager. Silly.

>> With all the evidence that was collected, why is it taking so long to convict Kenoi? It’s been eight months already. Perhaps the attorney general is just going to give Kenoia slap on the wrist and tell him he shouldn’t do it anymore.

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“Astronomers hope builders will not abandon TMT plans”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 14:

>> The protectors have learned to use the laws to their advantage. All they have to do is keep delaying it and Thirty Meter Telescope will go someplace else. Parts are alreadybeing built; they will have to store them away for years.

>> I hope the TMT people stay committed to seeing the telescope built. Take the time to get all legal permitting and legal aspects taken care of and build the telescope.

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“Gov. Ige wants stadium maintained, not rebuilt”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 15:

>> Unless a private entity comes forward to build a new stadium, taxpayers cannot afford another rail-like debacle.

>> Well, I, for one, would be inclined to be in favor of rebuilding the stadium long before any new tax to supplement an already bloated, wasteful state Department ofEducation. At least a new stadium, minus all the behind-the-scene shenanigans that are sure to take place, would be something to show for an added fleecing of our taxdollars.

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“Niumatalolo jumped the gun?”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 15:

>> Ken is a winner and will be one heck of a coach at BYU, if he accepts.

>> Maybe he should have kept it under his belt for another week, but ultimately if he is offered a better deal, he is gone.

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^

“Native vote called off in reaction to top court”Star-Advertiser, Dec 16:

>> There will still be legal hurdles for any process coming out of this organizational mess. As I understand it, the Interior Department requires an election for establishmentof a tribe … if that’s what these folks end up supporting. (Many Hawaiians have felt all along that this was the ultimate intent anyway.) No credible election, no fake Indiantribe. Second, if they are still using OHA (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) grant money for their convention, that might be problematical as “fruit of the poisoned tree,” i.e., usingstate money for a race-based process. Why don’t some of these Hawaiian notables who so loudly support sovereignty put their money where their mouth is and donate somecash to do this?

>> Last I heard, freedom of association was still guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution. And by the way, the money being spent is ceded lands revenue, Hawaiian dollars,not general public taxpayer dollars. I say the money is better spent to meet and discuss rather than to pay the D.C. lawyers.

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“HEI CEO: NextEra’s ‘desired’ goal is to acquire other utilities”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 16:

>> Whether they use the metaphor of “snack” and “buffet” or some other, makes no difference. This memo just states what was already obvious: Hawaiian Electric and theunique problems of Hawaii are not a matter of great interest to NextEra. We are just a small piece of a large conglomerate they are putting together. It would be foolish toexpect anything from them other than what we have gotten, saying whatever it takes to acquire the utility, and then doing whatever it takes to make a profit from us.

>> NextEra is done in Hawaii. Bring on the local co-ops. Kauai is leading the way.

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“Don’t fly over Obama’s area, FAA cautions hobbyists, pilots”Star-Advertiser, Dec. 17:

>> It isn’t “his” area. He’s just visiting. On our dime.

>> Every top leader deserves to be protected in the highest way possible.

>> Then he should stay at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe; it’s easier to secure than Kailua and there would be minimal inconvenience to the town.