’Tis the season for a selfish few to spoil the serenity of the holiday season with the random explosions of illegal fireworks.

Most of us know of that neighbor that buys hundreds of dollars worth of permits to allow for maximum amount of purchases of legal fireworks. While at the same time we know of those who forego the permits, and simply buy hundreds, even thousands of dollars worth of illegal fireworks.

Meanwhile, the fines for possession or the use of illegal fireworks can be up to $2,000. Given the amount some are willing to pay for fireworks, does the math really add up to this amount serving as a deterrent?

Finally, how is it that tens of thousands of Oahu citizens can find where to obtain these illegal fireworks, while the investigative-arm of our society, the Honolulu Police Department, can’t?

Mel McKeague

Makakilo

HECO leaders ready for changes, despite critic

Hawaiian Electric Co. critic Marco Mangelsdorf (“Shake up HEI, for sake of isles’ energy future,” Island Voices, Dec. 10) was on Hawaii Public Radio Oct. 29 praising the company for “pushing the envelope” to accommodate rooftop solar “in a sincere and progressive fashion.” He said: “That deserves recognition and that deserves support.”

Mangelsdorf now advocates going “outside for new game-changer leaders” after opposing the merger with “outsiders” from NextEra in 2014. “One of the worst things they could do is bring in wholesale personnel changes from the mainland,” he said at the time.

While Mangelsdorf’s views are elastic, our company is firm in its commitment to be 30% renewable next year and we expect to be close to 50% by 2022. Utility Dive, a respected trade publication, just named Hawaiian Electric its Utility of the Year for “advancing across a range of issues transforming the power sector, from renewables to electric vehicles to new business models.”

Our “game-changer leaders” are already in place.

Jim Kelly

Vice president, corporate relations, Hawaiian Electric Co.

Hawaiians protesting TMT should be at OHA

As mentioned in the Dec. 11 editorial, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs audit should set off alarms. Instead we hear absurd statements like “while this report observed indicators of potential fraud, waste and abuse, it did not identify actual instances of fraud, waste, and abuse” — and, of course, the usual fake mea culpa calls for more transparency and accountability followed once again.

The OHA trustees should get an education of what a regular audit is, because Trustee Keli‘i Akina, who called for this independent audit to his credit, stated correctly that only a court of law can make that final determination.

I would like to see those protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope in their goal to defend and protect Mauna Kea, come down from the cold and instead protest OHA in the hot seat that it finds itself, in order to defend and protect the funds that belong to all Hawaiians — not only to the ones who have their fingers in the cookie jar.

George Vozikis

Waikiki

Hike minimum wage to help isles’ working poor

Americans for Democratic Action is an organization founded in the 1950s by leading supporters of the New Deal. We support raising the minimum wage to $17 per hour now.

Workers today cannot survive on less than $17/hour; it equals $2,720 per month. If one assumes half of an income would go to housing, it would allocate $1,360/month for rent. If you have not checked the rental market lately, $1,360 will get you a small unit.

A living wage would reduce homelessness and welfare dependency. According to an Aloha United Way report, nearly 50% of Hawaii households are unable to make ends meet. Around 11% are living below the poverty level, and about a third could be considered Hawaii’s “working poor.”

These working poor would be helped tremendously by raising the minimum wage, thereby allowing many to rent homes and rise above the need for welfare or charity.

John Bickel

President, Americans for Democratic Action, Hawaii Chapter

Treating sleep apnea would be life-improving

Kudos to Dr. Ira Zunin’s column on apnea (“Sleep apnea can be the silent intruder,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 7). Too many people suffer from apnea without realizing it. Apnea is a serious condition and should be dealt with.

Apnea is the cessation of breathing for a few seconds many times an hour, resulting in oxygen deprivation which can cause high blood pressure, weight gain, heart problems and many other problems including erectile dysfunction. Sleepiness caused by apnea has also been determined the cause of some auto accidents.

A simple test may indicate that you need to talk to your doctor. Do you snore loudly most or every night? Does your sleep partner say you snort, chose, gasp or hold your breath while sleeping? Do you often wake up with a dry mouth? Do you often wake up with a headache? Do you fall asleep while watching TV, at your desk at work, or while driving?

A “yes” answer to two or more of these may be an indication of apnea. Talk to your doctor; it may change your life.

Eileen Glaholt

Kaneohe

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter

SHARE YOUR RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS

“Pay it forward”: a situation in which the recipient of an unexpected good deed pays forward a kindness to someone else.

In this season of goodwill, think about it: Have you ever benefited from a “pay it forward” gesture, which in turn inspired you to bestow a random act of kindness?

If so, let us know in a 150-word letter to the editor, or in a well-written essay (500-600 words) — and submit it by Dec. 16 via email to letters@staradvertiser.com, or via snail mail to 500 Ala Moana Blvd., #7-210, Honolulu, HI, 96813, c/o Letters. A collection of these will run on Dec. 22.