Harold “Rob” Robinson’s commentary demonizes Hawaiian Electric while skipping over the unflattering truths about the failed Hu Honua biomass project (“Power monopoly crushes bioenergy try,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Dec. 18).
Among the omissions: Robinson writes of creating jobs and a “new agriculture industry,” but Hu Honua never produced any long-term contracts and state permits showing they actually had the feedstock to fuel the power plant.
When Hawaii Electric Light canceled its contract with Hu Honua for failing to meet deadlines, the Consumer Advocate supported that decision. We didn’t have to, but we continued to negotiate with Hu Honua, trying to find a price that wouldn’t stick utility customers with the bill for the project’s $200 million in losses.
When we couldn’t agree, we suggested going together to the Public Utilities Commission so they could make the call.
Hu Honua’s response was to file a lawsuit and hope that griping about the utility gets them what they want.
Jim Kelly
Vice president, corporate relations,
Hawaiian Electric Co.
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No foreign hacking when Obama ran
Gordon Fowler talked about how liberals are “crying” for “safe spaces” and blaming Russia for the results of the election and how liberals should follow the lead of conservatives and “honor the electoral process” just as they did in 2008 and 2012 (“Progressives feeling what rest of us felt,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 20).
I challenge Fowler to identify facts and events from 2008 and 2012 that are even remotely similar to possible interference of the election by a foreign power. There is no political philosophy that can rationalize a cyberattack on one presidential candidate and not the other, especially when perpetrated by a foreign government.
Conservatives also never had to accept a president-elect who is riddled with potential conflicts of interest and wants to severely restrict press access. Under what circumstances should this not be questioned?
These are things that people on the losing side the last eight years did not have to accept. There are no apples-to-apples comparisons for these things, so I don’t think people should be told that they taste the same.
Aaron Avilla
Aiea
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We should support the president-elect
Where is the dignity?
The election is over and democracy rules. Donald Trump will be our new president.
The liberal left, led by President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, should not make disparaging comments about the president-elect and should conduct themselves with the same dignity and honor as the both of the Bush presidents.
While they disagreed on many issues, they stepped aside and let new presidents set their course.
The first lady’s critical comments are not becoming of her role and she also should stop. Hope did not begin or end with the Obama administration.
We have heard numerous excuses why Hillary Clinton lost, but no one from the left will simply accept the fact that she was not trusted and did not connect with the voters.
People wanted a change, and we all should support our new president. America is built on hope and determination, not the national pity party we are experiencing now.
Richard Smylie
Kailua
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Electoral College gives isles influence
The Electoral College gives the people of Hawaii a much greater influence on the election than they would have if it was based on the popular vote. Just look at the math. Hawaii’s voters represent about 0.3 percent of the popular vote, while Hawaii’s electors represent 0.74 percet of the votes in the Electoral College. In other words, the Electoral College gives our votes 2 1/2 times more weight than the popular vote would.
As the largest newspaper in one of the smallest states, it is shocking that the editors would advocate eroding the political power of the people of Hawaii so significantly (“Who needs the Electoral College, anyway?,” Star-Advertiser, Off The News, Dec. 21).
Eliminating the Electoral College would mean that the president would be chosen by the 15 or 20 largest states. Hawaii, along with 30 or so other states, would have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of a presidential election.
Michael Richards
Kaneohe
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Gambling a bad bet for Hawaii’s families
Milton Allione’s letter defies all logic (“Bring back legal gambling,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 18). First of all, we can’t bring back something that fortunately we never had in this state.
His characterization of casino gambling as “entertainment” yields the following “dark enterprise” statistics.
Nevada has consistently been the leader, or close to the top of all 50 states, in the rate of drug and gambling addictions, divorces, spousal abuse, bankruptcies, school dropouts and violent crimes. This is why essentially every business organization, including the Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Business Roundtable, Hawaii Bankers Association, oppose its legalization.
Weighed against the hard-dollar social costs and the family disruptions, casinos (known to be the most insidious addiction) and other forms of gambling are simply a “bad bet.”
Jack Hoag
Diamond Head
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HPD chief Kealoha needs to call it quits
Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha should voluntarily retire and accept his jurisdiction’s gratitude for all his years of faithful service (“Time running out?” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 21).
I’ll say it: I believe Kealoha deliberately caused a mistrial when he testified about Gerard Puana’s criminal history. My common sense tells me that he should have suspected that such disclosure would be inappropriate.
Stuart N. Taba
Manoa
