Pesticide classes might be answer

The Kauai County Council is considering a bill requiring a 500-foot pesticide-free buffer between seed company fields and schools, homes and hospitals.

Seed companies are concerned that a 500-foot buffer zone will reduce the amount of land available for research programs and, thus, their future on Kauai.

Some pesticides used by the seed companies can be used only by applicators certified by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

Prior to taking the certification exam, most applicators attend a 16-hour pesticide-safety education program offered by the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

Rather than creating 500-foot buffer zones, the Council ought to consider requiring an extensive training program on application technology and techniques to reduce the potential for pesticides moving off-target.

This, coupled with a much smaller buffer zone, might go a long way toward meeting the justifiable concerns of the seed companies and their neighbors.

Barry M. Brennan
Emeritus professor, pesticides University of Hawaii at Manoa

Elected officials likely know best

Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the state Legislature have gone on for years about interconnecting the islands via undersea cable to provide lower energy rates and backup power between islands.

These are folks whom we’ve elected to lead us into the future. We should trust that they have studied the situation and have come up with the intelligent solutions that have our best interests at heart.

For people worried about the impacts on the marine life, the process lays out the need for an environmental impact statement.

Danny Iwamoto
Kapahulu

’98 amendment was very clear

It has recently been suggested that the 1998 marriage amendment did not allow the Legislature to open marriage up to same-sex couples ("Constitutional amendment on marriage stirs questions," Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Sept. 15).

This suggestion is false. In proposing the amendment, the Legislature intended to do just that.

Section 1 of House Bill 117 (1997) provides that it is intended to "ensure that the Legislature will remain open to the petitions of those who seek a change in the marriage laws, and that such petitioners can be considered on an equal basis with those who oppose a change in our current marriage statutes."

It is beyond dispute that, in passing the marriage amendment, the Legislature specifically intended that, 1) elected representatives should decide the question of marriage equality; and 2), supporters of marriage equality should and would "be considered on an equal basis with those who oppose a change in our current marriage statutes."

Any arguments to the contrary are without basis in either fact or law.

Justice Steven H. Levinson (Ret.)
Hawaii Supreme Court

Art censorship is not a right

Paulette Kaleikini has a right to be offended by the "Forgotten Inheritance" mural at the Hawai‘i Convention Center ("Rights clash amid dispute over mural," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 16). She can be offended by anything she wants.

She does not have a right to act as community censor when it comes public displays of art.

I have viewed this mural and found it powerful and thought-provoking. I am not Hawaiian but have been married into a Hawaiian family for more than 26 years, so I have a rightful opinion just like Kaleikini does.

Mike McCartney, president of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, should also check out the First Amendment before he unilaterally decides what can and cannot be displayed at our convention center.

Both of these very public people need to take a step back before unnecessary litigation ties up them and their causes and wastes more of our precious tax dollars.

Ronald Massey
Salt Lake

Critic of HECO overlooked facts

It’s unfortunate Caitlin Pomerantz overlooked important facts in her recent commentary ("Upgrading grid should be normal business cost," Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Sept. 11).

» Hawaii’s utilities lead the nation in the percentage of customers with solar photovoltaic systems and in solar watts per customer. The Interstate Renewable Energy Council recently stated, "Both the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission and HECO (Hawaiian Electric Co.) continue to show thought leadership on integrating large amounts of solar energy."

» Contrary to Pomerantz’s claim, to date, no Oahu residential customer installing a small PV system has had to pay for studies or reliability upgrades.

» We agree that modernizing our grid is essential. In just the first half of 2013, we invested $140 million in improvements benefitting all customers.

In some cases, a neighborhood circuit may have so much PV that adding more will require additional protective equipment to ensure safe, reliable service for all customers on that circuit. We are working to minimize those situations. But when additional equipment is needed, is it fair to ask customers who do not have PV — including renters, apartment dwellers or those who can’t afford it — to pay for that equipment so their neighbor can install PV?

Scott Seu
Vice president, Energy Resources and Operations, Hawaiian Electric Co

UH focusing too much on sports?

Bold path set for UH? ("Athletic director Ben Jay’s plan to rise from ‘mediocrity’ includes improving facilities and academic performance," Star-Advertiser, Sept. 13).

Well, maybe for a small part of the University of Hawaii. But what about the rest of UH — the premier provider of tertiary education in the state, one of the biggest employers in the state, and the research engine that drives a huge part of the state’s economy? And which is hurting badly as a result of cuts imposed by the state Legislature?

Can we (and potential donors) please focus on what a great university is really about — education, research and service to the community?

Robert Cowie
Kailua

Football games need mercy rule

Last Friday night’s local football games, as reported in your sports section, highlight the need for a mercy rule — soon.

We already have mercy rules in baseball and softball, and there are rules against taunting and excessive celebrations. Of the seven games reported, five ended up with winning margins of 35 to 58 points. For example, how about ending a game after the third quarter if the lead is 35 or more points?

Some schools have very low enrollments, such as Anuenue, Waialua and many others, and their good players end up playing offense, defense and special teams. Extreme fatigue sets in and the risk of injury and fights rises. Football is a collision sport that can foster unhealthy aggression and bullying in our young men.

Siblings and parents in the stands become victims of humiliation, and the low self-esteem of the losing team’s players reaches unhealthy levels.

Alan Matsuda
Kalama Valley