Our city administration doesn’t like to follow its own zoning laws, and is now doing an end run around the Hawaii Supreme Court.
In September 2015, the court held that a variance granted to Kyo-ya by the Department of Planning and Permitting ignored the Waikiki Special Design District standards because it did not meet any of the three “hardship” criteria necessary to grant such a variance. (That project involved building a tower that would have encroached 74 percent into the required coastal height setback from Waikiki Beach.)
Now, city Managing Director Roy Amemiya, on behalf of the Caldwell administration, has proposed an amendment — Proposition 81 — that would excuse developers from complying with those pesky zoning laws that stymied the Kyo-ya project.
As a member of the Surf-rider Foundation, I see a troubling pattern: Our leaders are more responsive to the interests of large developers than to the welfare of the general public. Should they be allowed to change any laws they find inconvenient?
Just say no to Prop. 81.
Ken Sentner
Moiliili
Honolulu Zoo a local treasure
Regarding Mark Ida’s letter to the editor, “It’s time to close zoo and use site better” (Star-Advertiser, May 7): He is wrong in many ways, such as, “It’s time to set the animals free.”
Just where would he suggest that we set the animals free? Habitats for wild animals around the world have declined seriously for many years.
The article, “What a Zoo” (Star-Advertiser, May 1), noted problems at the zoo, but also noted that the Association of Zoos and Aquariums said, “The animal collection at the Honolulu Zoo is being well cared for by a staff of very dedicated professionals.”
I recently talked with a tourist couple at the zoo. They were pleased with their visit, and said, “We had not expected to find anything so delightful.”
So, fix the problems, but keep our zoo. For my family, the zoo is a treasure that we have visited for many years.
Barbara Downs
Manoa
Ige should sign birth control bill
I am writing in strong support of Senate Bill 2319.
Accessing birth control should be as easy as possible. This bill would allow women to pick up birth control just once a year. Having a year’s supply of birth control at a time would ensure that women across Hawaii are able to have consistent use and prevent unintended pregnancies.
If this bill is approved, Hawaii would be the first state in the country to move forward with this innovative idea and require all insurers, public and private, to cover 12 months of birth control at a time.
I urge the governor to sign SB 2319 to do the right thing for Hawaii’s women and increase access to the birth control we need.
Hawaii has a long history of standing up for expanded reproductive health access, even ensuring access to legal abortion before Roe v. Wade. Let’s do it again.
Marcy Brown
Kapaa, Kauai
Have volleyball at Natatorium
While watching the premiere NCAA Women’s Beach Volleyball National Championship Tournament this weekend, it struck me how the Waikiki Natatorium is the perfect venue for holding future beach volleyball tournaments.
By filling in the pool with offshore sand, ample space would be created to accommodate all the courts needed to stage such events. The crumbling concrete walkways could simply be covered with more sand to simulate beach access to the excellent stadium seating, which has been renovated at a cost of millions of dollars but never put to good use.
This venue could very well become the permanent site for this annual women’s volleyball tournament, much like a ball park in Omaha is the home of the NCAA college baseball national championship.
If the Waikiki Natatorium is developed for this annual event, there is no doubt it will be favored for use by many other organizations, including local and professional volleyball.
Jerry Mershon
Mililani
Legislature did worse than an ‘F’
Our legislators gave the state Department of Transportation $37 million extra for roads when the department has hundreds of millions of unspent funds.
They passed a $100 million bill to cool schools but allow the state Department of Education to begin classes in hot August and end the year in cool May.
They funded $12 million for homeless, but only $2.5 million for Wahiawa General Hospital, which serves indigents, the working poor and the elderly.
They authorized $3 million to subsidize hundreds of University of Hawaii athletes, but refused $4 million for the UH Cancer Center, which could possibly save millions of lives.
They refused to pass renewable geothermal energy legislation, but authorized $40 million to subsidize retirements for union employees and more than $5 mil- lion to study the possibility of a new prison, while guards call in sick on holidays, denying family visits.
Is there a grade lower than F?
Gary R. Johnson
Kaneohe
Use Lau’s salary for HECO needs
Hawaiian Electric Co. says to expect more outages (“Expect more outages, HECO says,” Star-Advertiser, May 8)?
I expect more reactionary responses and nonperformance from HECO.
Here’s an idea. Why doesn’t HECO take the $3 million to $5 million it annually gives CEO Constance Lau for running a virtually noncompetitive public utility and apply it toward the repair of generators that require more maintenance due to the influx of solar power?
Granted, it’s a significant loss of compensation, but we, the electricity consumers who pay her salary, could call it even due to the startling lack of vision about solar power and how it would affect the grid and generators.
When the grid gets stabilized, so does the CEO’s salary. How long do you think that would take?
Pat Kelly
Kaimuki
Sewer capacity fine in Kakaako
Lee Cataluna misses the mark in her comments about sewer capacity in Kakaako (“A riveting public monument will fail if the rivets pop out,” Star-Advertiser, May 4).
Former state and city planners foresaw the need to increase sewer capacity in this area when the Hawaii Community Development Authority was created in 1976, and the HCDA has worked proactively to address the issue.
Currently, Kakaako has adequate sewer infrastructure for the dynamic development that’s occurring in this urbanized area that has attracted many families and businesses because of its proximity to schools, restaurants, parks and entertainment.
In fact, the existing sewer infrastructure in Kakaako is being improved to further increase capacity by constructing a 24-inch sewer line on Ward Avenue to Auahi Street.
Unfortunately, her misplaced critique of the Kakaako sewer system leads citizens to believe that government has been unresponsive to this issue.
Lori Kahikina
Director, Honolulu Department of Environmental Services
