Letter to the Editor

Find new approach to molasses spill

It’s so sad to see innocent sea life suffering due to the molasses spill.

Even though we can’t quickly and easily remove the molasses, couldn’t we get air compressors and hoses with air filters on the end and run them down into the water to aerate the deep water where the fish are suffocating, at least until the molasses disperses? It works for aquariums.

I think everyone would agree that Matson should foot that bill.

In the meantime, maybe researchers can figure out how to speed up the breakup of the molasses without further harming the life down there.

Joel Choo
Kalama Valley

Minority is bossing around the majority

Time magazine’s cover for Oct. 14 displayed the crossed-out phrase "Majority Rule" over the U.S. Capitol.

Majority ruledoesn’t work anymore, as evidenced by the shutdown madness engineered by a feckless Republican U.S. House majority led by a tea party minority in its ranks.

The tea party caucus has 49 members; let’s say 50 for ease of calculation.The average population of House districts is about 700,000. That means, at best, 35 million people are represented by tea party caucus Congress members.

The U.S. population is 314 million.Tea party adherents, representing 11 percent of America’s population, have been able to intimidate the House leadership and bring the country to the brink of financial chaos.

Robert Sandla
Hawaii Kai

Sen. Gabbard not representing district

I was extremely dismayed to see that our Leeward state Sen. Michael Gabbard has chosen to go with his personal view on same-sex marriage rather than do his job, which is to represent his constituents.

I did an informal poll at a market in Kapolei and the support was overwhelming for same-sex marriage. I understand why Gabbard switched parties, as he would never have become a senator as a Republican in Hawaii, but becoming a Democrat comes with a role to really represent the people who believed in you.

A representative of the people should never vote how they personally feel, but how their constituents feel. His vote does not represent us in Kapolei.

Delta Westcot
Kapolei

Special session will ignore priorities

Isn’t thestate running budget deficits?

Everyone in public education wants higher wages, and now they also want air conditioning.

(May I remind everyone that substitute teachers haven’t yet been paid for back wages approved by the courts years ago?)

The sewer systems and roadsare deteriorating rapidly. Many decisions must be made in the best interests of this state, not in the personal ideology of the Legislature.

A special session to approve same-sex marriage is nowset. The funds fora special session are needed in many other areas benefiting all residents of this state. Personal agendas should be put aside and politics taken out of this subject. This decision should be made byall the voters of this state for a successful conclusion.

Residents need to take a look at the priorities and management of ourstate and federal governments. It might influence how they vote in 2014.

Joanne Fong
Ewa Beach

Air conditioning not always needed

Certainly, the comfort level in our tropical environment is veryimportant, especially in our schools of learning.

That being said, it is imperative thatwe find a cost-effective solution for our keiki to learn in a comfortable classroom.

With the cost of electricity at $0.35 a kilowatt-hour andthe capital investment for air-conditioning equipment, installation and maintenance, you’re talking some serious money.

This was pointed out when some of our school keiki visited our state representatives.

So what is the solution?

The answer is cross ventilation.

I have lived in Honolulu for 33 years and have cross ventilation in my condo. It is always comfortable and the temperatureinsideduring the summer nevergets over 85 degrees.

So before everyone jumps the gun for air conditioning, there should be an engineering study tomake sure all classrooms have, or are modified for, cross ventilation. I believe this would be a cost-effective and inexpensive solution to the problem.

Jan Wonso
Moiliili

Portland hotels offer shuttles

When one lands at Portland, each hotel has its own shuttle busto pick up its customers.No charge.We do tip the drivers upon arrival at hotel.

When flying out, the shuttle will deliver you to the airport. Of course, the shuttles are scheduled, but at least one has a choice of transportation.

Could this be an alternative offered by Honolulu hotelsto their valued clients, perhaps encouraging a likelihood they will return to that particular hotel again?

Josi K.Hahn
Kaneohe

We need more folks like Cal Kawamoto

The late state Sen. Cal Kawa-moto treated me well when he shut down the city’s bill to exempt it from buying buses from licensed local dealers.

He saw the city’s move for what it was, arrogance. He treated me like a local boy despite me being a haole Republican. He was for local people and companies.

We need more folks in the Legislature like Cal who are moderates and can help everyone, not just their party. I wish him well.

R. Erik Soderholm
Vice president, Soderholm Sales and Leasing, Inc.