The Star-Advertiser story, “Public still has say on Kahuku’s 9 wind turbines” (Nov. 16), says the state Department of Land and Natural Resources still “has to give the (project) EIS its stamp of approval.”

Actually, the DLNR board accepted the state EIS (environmental impact statement) on July 22. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service separately published a final EIS in July and now has decided to publish a supplemental final EIS. The comment period on that SFEIS ends in mid-December.

It’s important to note the habitat conservation plan — the basis for the incidental take license — will yield a net increase in the population of the listed endangered species, a conclusion accepted by the state Endangered Species Recovery Committee of DLNR, which unanimously recommended the DLNR board approve it. The DLNR board will make a decision on that plan in the near future.

Finally, at every step in the approval process, public comments received from area residents have been overwhelmingly in support of the project.

Mike Cutbirth

Manager, Na Pua Makani Power Partners, LLC

Headline unfair to UH hoops

I thought your sports headline was very unfair (“No. 5 UNC cruises past Hawaii,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 19). I was at the North Carolina basketball game and although the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors didn’t win, they gave them a run for the money. I guess you didn’t see the crowd standing at the end of the game.

Elaine Coel

Kailua

Strategies to hire more teachers

In response to Hubert Minn, who asked the state Department of Education to get creative about reducing teacher shortages (“Help Wanted,” Star-Advertiser, Nov. 20), here are a few suggestions:

>> Hire in February-April with independent schools. Teachers need time to prepare a year’s curriculum. Last-minute hires ensure a bad year.

>> Subsidize teacher education.

>> Have administrators teach a class, a practice of successful schools.

>> Work toward lowering classroom sizes. DOE class sizes hover between 30-40 students whereas independent schools have about 20. Large classes lower quality of instruction and contribute to teacher burnout.

>> Broaden the definition of “qualified” to include those with MA’s in education or related fields and/or three years teaching experience.

>> Give teachers creativity and autonomy in their classroom. Restrictive curriculum contributes to a lack of trust between teachers and administrators.

>> Pay more for serving in hard-to-hire districts.

Only by understanding that schools are a reflection of our communities can we begin to work together to improve public schools.

Jacquelyn Chappel

Kaimuki

Election process needs reforming

There are two important things to do now: Get rid of the Electoral College and the so-called superdelegates.

The Electoral College dates from the late 1700s. This is the second time recently that a progressive Democrat has won the popular vote and lost the presidency. By using a number count, we here in Hawaii could feel our votes count. Not once did I hear anyone say we have to win Hawaii; but if every vote counted, it could boost local turnout.

Secondly, these so-called superdelegates of the Democrats were a huge, arrogant turn-off. I hated how U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders was treated by then-Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz. The Democrats really lost my respect. And then even the interim head of the party, Donna Brazile, was caught giving debate questions to Hillary Clinton. Poor ethics.

There should not be a “super” class of anything in the Democratic Party.

Judith Pettibone

Makiki

Let Gabbard work for Trump

So, Hawaii U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard may be getting an offer from President-elect Donald Trump.

Well, good luck to her. We should be happy to get rid of her as she is a DINO (Democrat In Name Only). We need somebody that will work for Hawaii, not just herself.

Paul Tyksinski

Kailua

Big celebrities don’t speak for us

Nobody saw it coming. Donald Trump won.

Hollywood got angry. Great actors like Jennifer Lawrence and Robert DeNiro despise Trump and say it. Amy Schumer said Trump supporters are weak and misinformed. Scores of celebrities said they would leave the country. They are free to go.

The media, academia and Hollywood should recognize that most Americans don’t live in Manhattan or Malibu. People are sick of Washington’s dysfunction. And people are sick of celebrities telling us how to think and feel. We need a strong leader to stop being polite and deal with our real problems.

John Berry

McCully-Moiliili