Hawaii can lead on clean transportation

Hawaii is on the verge of becoming the first state to promise a transition to 100 percent clean and renewable transportation. House Bill 1580 is undergoing its final round of legislative discussion in the coming days, and must be passed. Around one-third of our carbon dioxide emissions come from ground transportation in Hawaii, and this bill seeks to power 100 percent of our transport with renewable energy by 2045.

It is an incredible opportunity for our state to be a leader in the field of renewable transport technology and environmental protection. It could create a whole new sector for our economy, lead to far lower transportation costs for the average citizen, improve our air quality and overall environment, and put Hawaii on the map internationally as a moral and technological leader.

Scarcely has there been a bill proposed that could have such a positive impact on so many different parts of our community.

Rachel Schutz

Kailua

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Don’t reward rail with more taxes

It’s here at last, the grand finale of the rail conspiracy. Wasn’t this always the plan? Get rail started by any means necessary, then go for permanent tax funding once people think we can’t quit the project?

From ethically shady dealings between developers, labor and City Council members, to Honolulu for Rapid Transportation Authority meetings that appeared to be just public performances after everything was already decided in private, rail has shown the worst of Hawaii politics.

It saddens me greatly. Rail is a crime against Oahu citizens; permanently higher costs of living just so a few could make money.

I hope the Legislature doesn’t reward the crime by allowing a permanent tax surcharge. Without that, the mayor threatens us with increased property taxes. We don’t need all this. In the long run, we’re better off without rail.

Mathew Johnson

Kaimuki

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Don’t make problem of funding rail worse

I’ve heard some state legislators say Honolulu has not put enough “skin in the game” to pay for the rail project. They would rather see rail funded by cuts to city services than an extension of the rail surcharge beyond two years, or at all. These same legislators are silent on which city services they believe should be cut.

If sufficient cuts cannot be found, the likely alternative is a property tax hike that will hurt businesses and homeowners alike. Even renters will be harmed as landlords pass the increase on to their tenants. Affordable housing will be even harder to find in an already hyper-inflated market, and the number of homeless people crowding our sidewalks will grow.

Instead of solving problems, our legislators seem bent on making them worse. Time to throw the bums out.

Wray Jose

Manoa

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Declare Hawaii as a welcoming state

Are we a sanctuary state or not? Per the ACLU-aligned groups, Gov. David Ige’s initial statements regarding the Trump immigration ban and Attorney General Doug Chin’s actions in federal court, Hawaii should be a full sanctuary state.

However, Hawaii is one of the few states still adhering to the federal rules and allowing the detaining of immigrants to be extended as they enter Hawaii.

We urge the governor and the county mayors to publicly support House Concurrent Resolution 125 and change the policy to release these people in an appropriate and respectful time frame, with aloha and consistent with 43 other states.

Carl Campagna

Alewa

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Clear post office from under Makiki viaduct

Since we should clear out the homeless from under our freeways because of the danger of fire causing freeway collapse (“Clear homeless under highways,” Our View, Star-Advertiser, April 12), shouldn’t we also clear out the federal government? Every time I drive through the 24/7 congestion on Lunalilo Street between Piikoi and Pensacola streets, I wonder whose bright idea it was to build the Makiki Post Office under the H-1 viaduct. Try to imagine the traffic catastrophe if that post office ever caught fire and the H-1 viaduct collapsed.

Now imagine new traffic lanes and the new traffic schemes possible by utilizing the space without the post office there. It certainly could allow better stacking lanes so the constant traffic backup down Piikoi could be eliminated and allow for a better routing of westbound traffic coming off H-1 getting to Pensacola.

City, state and federal planners should put this in their development plans and get it done.

Sam Gillie

Hawaii Kai

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Power to the people on public lands

The bill aimed at keeping Hawaii residents off state land during “emergencies” can also be known as the “Lava Nazi” bill, as that is exactly what the Hawaii state and county government administrations did when the lava was coming toward Pahoa several years back: criminalize and fine the hell out of anyone daring to try and see the lava.

What the heck is wrong with those in legislative power? The definition of state land is for the people, and all they have done this legislative season (and every prior one) is to come up with more ways to keep the people off their land.

Any way they can, huh? Stop now. Stop listening to the Department of Land and Natural Resources whiners, stop listening to the lobbyists who bring fancy gift baskets and contribute to campaign funds.

I urge legislators to find their moral compasses this year as the frantic deadlines approach; be ethical and vote for the common Hawaii persons.

Sara Steiner

Pahoa, Hawaii island