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Of all the wonderful gifts that nature has bestowed on Hawaii, one that stands out in the science world is Mauna Kea as an astronomy site. Our low latitude, high mountain and clear air comprise a precious gift to Hawaii and the world.
Since we still have one of the best astronomy sites, we should be doing all we can to assist the astronomers in building and using telescopes, and replacing them with more advanced scopes, as the science of astronomy evolves.
But unbelievably, Gov. David Ige wants to tear down some of the existing telescopes, as though the science on the mountain was over and done with.
How wrongheaded can a politician be? Ige should be leading a charge of government, business and community leaders to get the Thirty Meter Telescope for Hawaii, and to help replace or upgrade existing telescopes.
John Roney
Hilo
Unions backing Djou is hard to understand
The five unions that recently endorsed Charles Djou for mayor have me scratching my head (“Djou receives union backing in race for mayor,” Star-Advertiser, June 28).
Djou is a diehard Republican, and the Republican Party is notoriously anti-union.
What were they thinking?
Richard Taylor
Mililani
Rail planners have sold us a bill of goods
A national study of traffic on Oahu revealed that the maximum improvement in traffic congestion would be less than 2 percent with rail transit.
Many people do not just go to their jobs and return home. They drop off and pick up children for school and activities. There are errands to run. Many people work second jobs. And it’s obvious that many jobs and activities are not on the rail route.
Reasoning that the “absence of heavy traffic when school is out for the summer shows the need to take the rail to the University of Hawaii” is flawed (“Just raise our taxes and get rail built,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, June 27). Much of the traffic during the school year is with parents taking children to K-12 classes.
My constant sarcastic refrain when I’m stuck in traffic nowhere near the proposed rail line is, “This will all go away when the rail is built.”
We’ve been sold a bill of goods.
Francesca Passalacqua
St. Louis Heights
Mayor still plans to go all the way with rail
There is a misconception that Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s plan is to end rail construction at Middle Street.
Caldwell’s plan is to allow the bidding process to proceed to Middle Street, then reassess what it will take, money-wise, to build to Ala Moana Center.
At that time, new funding options — such as asking the Legislature to further extend the general excise tax surcharge and to reduce the state’s 10 percent assessment, which most believe is unreasonably high — can be considered.
Every politician familiar with sound general planning understands the importance of completing the project.
This includes the governor on down.
Roy Kamisato
Niu Valley
Vigilant neighbors needed to fight crime
I’ve been a part of a group on Facebook for a number of months now where people come to post information about their stolen property and rally the community to find missing cars and suspects. I think I understand now why the crime rate has been going up.
These days people don’t seem to care. We had a break-in recently where someone rammed a chain-link gate open with a vehicle. It must have taken multiple hits, but even with all the homes nearby, no one called 911, not even to report the noise. Then people wonder why criminals get away with things like this.
The police can only do so much. It takes the backing of the community to get things done.
Watch out for one another. Be a neighborhood, not just neighbors, and see what happens.
Christopher Lai
Mililani
Chief Kealoha has lost confidence of public
Will someone please explain to me just how our police chief is looking out for me?
On TV, he points his finger at me and tells me just how great a job he’s doing. He told everyone that he’s a target in a federal probe.
Most people know that one in a leadership position commands respect. Chief Louis Kealoha doesn’t. He demands it, and is now suing me, Joe Taxpayer (“Kealohas file lawsuit over ‘illegal’ inquiries,” Star-Advertiser, June 21).
It’s hard for me to explain to the kids just how rotten this is and what a circus this has become. The only person who damaged his personal reputation is Kealoha himself.
He doesn’t care, but the chief needs to realize that the public has lost confidence in his ability to lead.
Roger C. Evans
Ewa Beach
From the forum
Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.
“Homeless keiki stoked on waves”
Star-Advertiser, June 27:
>> Mahalo to the volunteers who give hope to these keiki, if only briefly. Sometimes, if a child has one positive mentor along the way, he/she can overcome the unfair cards that life dealt them. Hope springs eternal.
>> Terrific program for these kids; let them be kids and play in Hawaii’s free playground, the ocean.
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“End nonprofit funding rule, Charter Commission urging”
Star-Advertiser, June 27:
>> The city is not in the business of collecting tax dollars to fund these organizations. If they are going to provide specific services to the city, then we can enter into contracts, but no giveaways no matter how deserving somebody thinks the private entity is to be funded.
>> I suggest getting rid of all funding set-asides in the Charter. They have no place in the Charter. We elect people to determine our spending priorities and they should not be hamstrung by these set-aside requirements.
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“Djou receives union backing in race for mayor”
Star-Advertiser, June 28:
>> I’ll vote for Charles Djou only if he clearly pledges to fight any increase of the property tax of homeowners to fund the construction, maintenance and operations of rail, including vetoing any proposed legislation.
>> With these labor endorsements, it’s pretty much over for Kirk.
>> But now Djou is is just another union stooge. If they want more spending on public works to provide jobs to their members, how can Djou say no?
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“Campaign rival calls out Gabbard for not debating”
Star-Advertiser, June 29:
>> Shay Chan Hodges and her positions on issues are completely unknown and she wants to debate with Tulsi Gabbard because she wants Tulsi to help her become known. But Tulsi is not obligated to help her opponent become more well-known.
>> Bernie Sanders was that crazy guy until he became more well-known via the debates.
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“Man wielding large knife shot and killed by police”
Star-Advertiser, June 29:
>> Too bad the non-lethal weapon did not work.
>> The police did their jobs. It was a tough and hard call.
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“Motorist gets 30 days in jail for killing a pedestrian”
Star-Advertiser, June 30:
>> Really? 30 days for killing someone while DUI????
>> This verdict is a slap in the face of this woman’s family and makes a mockery of our “justice” system.
>> If the victim was the judge’s family member or friend, I’m sure the sentence would have been very different. Thanks to the parents for turning in their son. Sympathy to the victim’s ohana. Life is so cheap in this state.
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“Despite TMT’s legal limbo, STEM fund retained”
Star-Advertiser, June 30:
>> This payoff hush money to minors to dynamite and bulldoze conservation land for profit is an insult. These telescopes are commercial operations charging thousands per night for usage while paying only one dollar a year in rent. These land-based telescopes are outdated toys that can never be built big enough. Hubble takes way better pictures and deeper into space than these.
>> The telescopes don’t “charge” anyone. Their usage is by a competitive proposal process. Partners receive percentages of time (still allocated by competitive science proposals) based on their share of the operating burden. No one is making a profit — they couldn’t do so legally as they are organized as nonprofits. No one gets rich operating a telescope.
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“Senior couple sues the state over laws that separate them”
Star-Advertiser, July 1:
>> The real issue is, separating an old married couple. They were together for many decades. It should be a crime to separate them while they still love each other.
>> I think the intent of the law is to assure that those people on Medicaid won’t be priced out of care facilities. That being said, I think there should be exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
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