Football in decline; don’t build stadium

Only 19,539 people showed up for the big bowl game, capping off what the Star-Advertiser called an “excellent” season against a storied rival (“3 takeaways from Hawaii’s 38-34 win over BYU in the Hawaii Bowl,” Star-Advertiser, Dec. 25). And so we need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a new stadium for 35,000 fans?

Football attendance is declining. The cost of the football program is increasing — as is consciousness of the concussion crisis. That land and money could be used to be affordable housing and a great park instead.

David Kimo Frankel

Wilhelmina Rise

Global warming a top local story

I was shocked to learn that there was a total of 290 new heat records in Hawaii in 2019. We have lived in Honolulu for more than 25 years, and our high-rise condo does not have air conditioning or central air. This summer was almost unbearable, like living in a sauna. We feel that global warming is a top news story.

The news mentioned that warmer ocean water was one of the main causes, but tradewinds also are less frequent than in the past. I found that the water temperature was as high as 5 degrees above normal.

Global warming in Hawaii should always make the Top 10 local news stories.

Tom Sebas

Waikiki

Facts, not innuendo, speak for themselves

Robert Ing’s statements reflect the current version of the Republican Party, so different from the times of Ronald Reagan and the Bush family (“No solid evidence of criminal behavior,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Dec. 26).

If they cannot argue facts and details, they throw up innuendo. It is fortunate that the non-base portion of voters are not quick to agree without looking at all the facts first.

Congressional hearings allowed executive branch officials to confirm the president’s direct control in unlawfully holding back Ukrainian funds approved by Congress.

His lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, still goes to Ukraine to push for investigations of Hunter and Joe Biden, even though Giuliani himself is under investigation in New York.

House Democrats voted to protect our Constitution and the rule of law, not party philosophies.

James Fukumoto

Aiea

Impeachment purely a political exercise

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, responding to impeachment demands (some preceding Donald Trump’s inauguration) from her party’s left-most wing, stated how politically divisive it would be and cautioned against proceeding without bipartisan support and only with evidence “compelling” and “overwhelming.”

Nevertheless, Pelosi initiated inquiries that led to the impeachment. Not a single House Republican supported the impeachment and it was clear that the Republican-controlled Senate would acquit the president of charges.

Our U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard did not back the one-sided impeachment vote, noting that an impeachment action “must not be the culmination of a partisan process” that would “gravely divide our country,” which is exactly what has happened.

She has been roundly criticized for breaking party ranks, more so by the local political voices who were initially upset by her ambition to depart the status quo and seek the highest office. She should be commended for her independence and for an outlook that will defeat the partisan politics that all lament.

Tom Freitas

Hawaii Kai

Thanks to Hawaiian Electric workers

My family and I would like to thank all of the Hawaiian Electric workers who had to leave their families on Christmas morning to help restore power and make everyone’s holiday so much brighter! Please know how much we appreciate your efforts and wish you all a very happy and safe new year.

Renae Bell

Kailua

Wai an advocate for those with disabilities

Francine O. Wai, former executive director of the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB), retired at the end of October after more than 40 years of professional service to those with disabilities in Hawaii.

Without Francine’s vision, tenacity, perseverance and professionalism, the DCAB would have never accomplished all that it did under her leadership. No matter what DCAB accomplishes today and in the future, it will all reflect back to what Francine did in the decades past.

One of the important things she did for us was advocacy for decades at the state Capitol for those with disabilities.

We, the disabled community of Hawaii, owe Francine O. Wai a debt of gratitude. Mahalo nui loa, Francine. Have a happy retirement and happy holidays.

Art Frank

Makaha

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