Lawsuits bear manini blame for rail costs

Francis Nakamoto erroneously blames soaring rail costs on “meritless legal obstacles” (“Lawsuits kept rail from moving ahead,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Sept. 1).

The federal lawsuit briefly affected the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s ability to buy land in the downtown segment, but never affected rail construction or construction bidding.

That lawsuit increased rail costs by less than one-tenth of 1 percent, according to HART.

The other lawsuit ended with the Hawaii Supreme Court unanimously ordering construction stopped until the city completed an archaeological study. Blaming the plaintiff for the 13-month delay would be comparable to blaming an innocent crime victim for seeking justice.

Federal Transit Administration officials noted in interoffice email that the city started construction “without authority despite warnings that it would create an ineligibility for the project.”

FTA officials also commented on the city’s “lousy practices of public manipulation,” willingness to “deceive with no remorse,” and culture of “never enough time to do it right, but lots of time to do it over.”

Randall Roth

Kahala

Former HART chief set pono precedents

Daniel Grabauskas, the former executive director of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, showed a deep respect for Hawaiian culture.

He insisted on the appropriate care of all iwi discovered during the rail transit project. He also saw to it that each station will have an appropriate Hawaiian name with its accompanying mo‘olelo (stories and historical significance).

As a Hawaiian citizen and taxpayer, I hope these pono precedents will continue until this project is completed.

Kekulanamu Awai-Lennox

Waialua

Government flex time would alleviate traffic

The state and counties should consider allowing flex time for appropriate employees on a permanent basis to help alleviate rush hour traffic. Many private businesses already do so.

Tony Smith

Kahala Kua

Traffic warnings caused the congestion

It turns out Obamageddon traffic on Wednesday was not caused by someone’s poor plan to have the president arrive in the middle of the worst traffic of the day in Honolulu.

It was caused by city officials warning the public to avoid traveling between Aiea and Manoa from 4 p.m. into the evening, or risk the possibility of spending hours stuck in traffic.

As it turns out, the traffic jam was not caused by closing roads, but because everyone followed instructions and left early.

The people who ignored the warnings and traveled between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. had smooth sailing.

The city and the Honolulu Police Department have one more chance to get it right, if the president visits at Christmas.

Otherwise, it will be nice to go back to our normal bad traffic. (I never thought I would write those words!)

Bruce Fink

Makiki

Kakaako just going to get more expensive

Central Kakaako provides a host of repair services for employees and residents of Honolulu.

Government has supported these businesses by making accommodations through zoning adjustments.

Now there is discussion of reducing property taxes (“Want 50% off property taxes?” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 21). The main threat, however, is that of location. When the planning for Kakaako was completed in 1982, it awakened the redevelopment potential as envisioned by the Legislature.

Coupled with infrastructure improvements and given its central location between Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu, the land became even more valuable.

For repair services to survive in Kakaako, they must be able to command higher premiums typically afforded to commercial uses. It is no wonder that repair services and other industrial uses move out to industrial parks located at Campbell, Pearl City, Gentry and Mapunapuna.

In Kakaako, the problem is exacerbated by real estate speculation.

Arnold Imaoka

Mililani

State should make amends to teachers

For years, the state has balanced its books on the backs of Hawaii’s educators by claiming poverty while other bargaining units were rewarded with higher levels of compensation.

At the same time, teachers have had to jump through hoops to prove their effectiveness and have not been compensated accordingly.

Now that the coffers are full and for the sake of our keiki, the state needs to respect and advance the teaching profession by making amends.

Osa Tui Jr.

Punchbowl

FROM THE FORUM

Readers of the Star-Advertiser’s online edition can respond to stories posted there. The following are some of those. Instead of names, pseudonyms are generally used online. They have been removed.

“Mauna Loa crew back from ‘Mars’” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 29:

>> Were they visited by any Mars “protectors?”

———

“Land-rich but cash-poor, church weighs its options” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 29:

>> Many older churches have invaluable land but little cash. It is a common problem.

>> The old parishioners or congregations are dying off with age. The younger generation is not interested in the old religious ways.

>> That is such a shame. The young are missing out on true happiness!

———

“Kaiser plans July 1 for changeover” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30:

>> Auwe to the Legislature and governor for mismanaging this transaction and pandering to special interests.

>> Once again we see the result of public workers unions and their shoddy management. Instead of embracing change, being progressive and professional, they are backwards and lost.

———

“Foster care stipends rise under accord” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30:

>> It is a shame that legal action had to be taken for the state to increase funds and payments after decades of no increases.

>> The biggest cost in Hawaii is housing — but the foster family would already have housing costs even without the kid. What this seems like is financial incentive for people to take kids in (as opposed to simple reimbursement of expenses). Which is fine. Hawaii needs to get people to take the kids in. But I question the characterization of it as a “sacrifice” by the families.

———

“Seed titan selling island operations” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31:

>> Research and production of mainly seed corn is regarded as the most valuable “crop” in the state. This can’t be good for our island. Hemp or even marijuana would be better.

>> Industrial hemp would be very profitable to grow, and will provide so many opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship as it is so versatile, from food source to building material to clothing.

———

“‘It is a huge deal for Hawaii’ as eco-summit gets set to start” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31:

>> Great — a global conservation summit right smack dab in the middle of some of the most aggressive urban redevelopment Hawaii has seen in decades. I’m sure all the construction will make a great impression. I hope some of the participants have a chance to get away from Honolulu and experience the natural environment that was, at one time, Hawaii’s greatest asset.

>> This will be a huge deal for somebody, I guess. While they’re all patting themselves on the back at the convention center, the rest of us “regular” people will be struggling with the traffic.

>> $13 million of Hawaii taxpayers’ money for this convention? Fix the potholes on Kalakaua Avenue instead of wasting our tax money on this major traffic and economic nightmare.

>> As expected, all the naysayers and negative people are out in force with their nasty comments about tree huggers and their traffic inconveniences.

———

“Alarms sounded on environment” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 2:

>> Face it, Hawaii is doomed. We build ever-increasing shantytowns to house anyone who wants to live in Hawaii for free, dump increasing amounts of sewage into the ocean, over-fish until our waters are barren, build on every inch of land, kill what coral remains by trying to “replenish” the beaches with sand that washes out and smothers the coral, keep encouraging more and more car purchases, discourage solar purchases, and build a useless elevated eyesore to keep unions happy. I feel sorry for future generations. My kids were smart enough to move away after high school and never look back.

>> Palau really does have it figured out. One of the most powerful experiences in my life was a week spent swimming among its amazing reef life. Hawaii must start trending in a different direction.

>> The biggest source of climate pollution is the long-distance airlift of millions of visitors every year.

“Mauna Loa crew back from ‘Mars’” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 29:

>> Were they visited by any Mars “protectors?”

———

“Land-rich but cash-poor, church weighs its options” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 29:

>> Many older churches have invaluable land but little cash. It is a common problem.

>> The old parishioners or congregations are dying off with age. The younger generation is not interested in the old religious ways.

>> That is such a shame. The young are missing out on true happiness!

———

“Kaiser plans July 1 for changeover” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30:

>> Auwe to the Legislature and governor for mismanaging this transaction and pandering to special interests.

>> Once again we see the result of public workers unions and their shoddy management. Instead of embracing change, being progressive and professional, they are backwards and lost.

———

“Foster care stipends rise under accord” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 30:

>> It is a shame that legal action had to be taken for the state to increase funds and payments after decades of no increases.

>> The biggest cost in Hawaii is housing — but the foster family would already have housing costs even without the kid. What this seems like is financial incentive for people to take kids in (as opposed to simple reimbursement of expenses). Which is fine. Hawaii needs to get people to take the kids in. But I question the characterization of it as a “sacrifice” by the families.

———

“Seed titan selling island operations” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31:

>> Research and production of mainly seed corn is regarded as the most valuable “crop” in the state. This can’t be good for our island. Hemp or even marijuana would be better.

>> Industrial hemp would be very profitable to grow, and will provide so many opportunities for jobs, entrepreneurship as it is so versatile, from food source to building material to clothing.

———

“‘It is a huge deal for Hawaii’ as eco-summit gets set to start” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31:

>> Great — a global conservation summit right smack dab in the middle of some of the most aggressive urban redevelopment Hawaii has seen in decades. I’m sure all the construction will make a great impression. I hope some of the participants have a chance to get away from Honolulu and experience the natural environment that was, at one time, Hawaii’s greatest asset.

>> This will be a huge deal for somebody, I guess. While they’re all patting themselves on the back at the convention center, the rest of us “regular” people will be struggling with the traffic.

>> $13 million of Hawaii taxpayers’ money for this convention? Fix the potholes on Kalakaua Avenue instead of wasting our tax money on this major traffic and economic nightmare.

>> As expected, all the naysayers and negative people are out in force with their nasty comments about tree huggers and their traffic inconveniences.

———

“Alarms sounded on environment” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 2:

>> Face it, Hawaii is doomed. We build ever-increasing shantytowns to house anyone who wants to live in Hawaii for free, dump increasing amounts of sewage into the ocean, over-fish until our waters are barren, build on every inch of land, kill what coral remains by trying to “replenish” the beaches with sand that washes out and smothers the coral, keep encouraging more and more car purchases, discourage solar purchases, and build a useless elevated eyesore to keep unions happy. I feel sorry for future generations. My kids were smart enough to move away after high school and never look back.

>> Palau really does have it figured out. One of the most powerful experiences in my life was a week spent swimming among its amazing reef life. Hawaii must start trending in a different direction.

>> The biggest source of climate pollution is the long-distance airlift of millions of visitors every year.