Considering the deep financial hole facing the rail transit project, it’s about time the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board has hired someone with more rail construction experience and solid ties to the Federal Transit Administration (“Rail veteran hired as interim CEO,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 28).

I wish Krishniah Murthy the best of luck in his one-year assignment as interim director.

It seems that the board did a better job of selecting Murthy than his predecessor, Daniel Grabauskas. Is this too little too late, with all the plans in place?

Experienced managers know that in a management job, the first year is learning the job, the second year is laying out and executing your plan, while the third year is about showing the results of your efforts and plans.

I guess from the rail results to date, being late, way over budget and facing a $1.8 billion budget gap, we can evaluate the board’s decision to hire Grabauskas and how well he did.

Greg Schmidt

Hawaii Kai

A reason to reject amendments

Has anyone bothered to download a copy of their sample ballot? If not, be prepared for a huge sticker shock.

I was not prepared and when 10 pages printed out, my printer was screaming no mas, no mas, and then quit on me. Besides the election itself, there are two constitutional amendments and — get this — 20 Charter amendments for the City and County of Honolulu.

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I do possess something that is not so common anymore — common sense.

After poring through all 20, I determined that for at least half of them, I had no clue whether they were good for Honolulu or not — so I’m voting no. If I don’t understand it, I vote no — a simple no.

Royle Kaneshige

Waialua

Better issues for voters to decide

After reading the City Charter Commission’s 20 proposed amendments to the City Charter, I find that they are missing several that most Honolulu residents would likely prefer to vote upon. They are:

>> Property taxes cannot be raised more than 1 percent in any one year from property valuation increases.

>> The City Council cannot ban plastic bags for shopping unless it comes up with another way to carry groceries or items out to your car.

>> Honolulu citizens can request a referendum or initiative for the next election with 5 percent of registered voters’ signatures.

>> Rail construction costs are capped at $8 billion.

>> The city has to raise the minimum property tax charged to historic homes to $1,000 instead of $300.

Garry P. Smith

Ewa Beach

Kenoi’s statement was offensive

Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi is standing trial for misuse of Hawaii County funds. The front page of the Star-Advertiser displayed a large photo of Kenoi with a quote: “I would never do anything to hurt this island. … I’m offended to be accused” (“Kenoi defends charges to pCard,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 27).

I’m offended that Kenoi thinks that it is OK to use other people’s money for personal use under the guise that it’s for a good cause or part of the job.

I’m offended that a celebrity chef, called by the defense, comes in and makes a sitcom out of the trial.

I’m offended that Judge Dexter Del Rosario would condone such antics.

Kenoi spent money that was not his to spend. The only thing that he is offended by is that he got caught. Shame, shame, shame. He will get away with it.

Robert Cabral

Waikiki

Religion survived lifting of old kapu

I am not a Native Hawaiian, nor am I an expert in Hawaiian religious practice.

That said, I take issue with Bill Punini Prescott’s assertion that Kamehameha II abolished the Hawaiian religion entirely, leaving Native Hawaiians no standing to oppose the Thirty Meter Telescope on religious grounds (“Kamehameha II ended old religion,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 25).

From what I have read, temples and icons were destroyed, hula was forbidden, and kapus were abolished by decree of Liholiho. Sometime later, missionaries converted the alii to Christianity. Under their influence, laws forbidding traditional religious practices were created.

Indigenous religious wisdom is impossible to eliminate. Under pressure from an invading religion, people may go underground to teach veneration of ancestors, oneness with everything and, most important, care for the aina.

The ’70s saw a resurgence of Native Hawaiian religion that thrives today. Hawaiian religious claims on matters related to use or abuse of sacred land should be honored.

Bill Scarvie

Kailua