Without incentives, EV cars will stall

In March, it was announced that the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Rebate Program ($4,500 per vehicle) was extended until Nov. 1, 2012. Based upon this great news, I purchased a Mitsubishi iMiev electric car in early April.

By the first week of May, I received my registration and promptly applied for the rebate. However, I soon found out that the funds for the program are now zero, and are unlikely to be renewed. So, although the rebate program is in effect until November, there is no money left for rebates.

Without the state’s rebates being available, and with Hawaii having the highest electric rates in the country, it hardly makes sense to purchase an electric vehicle here. It’s a shame, too, because the state has, up until now, done a great job of promoting electric vehicles in Hawaii.

Unless the state funds the program again, or puts in place tax credits, it certainly looks like the brakes have been put on Hawaii’s EV future.

Brian Malanaphy
Waimanalo

Cayetano has right to speak freely

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano during the mayoral debate said that he had a lot of respect for U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, but that Inouye does not listen to the people and is out of touch. He said this because of his differences with Inouye on the rail transit project. His statement is taken out of context by Inouye and John White of the Pacific Resource Partnership, who said that Cayetano was mean and disrepectful.

Our Constitution guarantees our freedom of expression. Cayetano was just exercising his freedom of expression. White should apologize to Cayetano and to the general public for accusing Cayetano of acting in a mean and disrespectful way, which he never did.

Wilma L. Albano
Salt Lake

Rail transit can help in emergencies

"Imua Honolulu Rail" should be our rallying cry in 2012, as rail is bringing construction jobs to help our economy and will alleviate traffic gridlock on our freeways. In times of natural disasters like tsunamis and hurricanes, Honolulu rail could help out in those harrowing, dangerous situations.

Frankie Kam
Waikiki

Shapiro takes courageous stands

David Shapiro’s column deserves commendation ("In no way was Cayetano foul, ‘for crying out loud,’" Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, May 9). It was concise, short and thought-provoking.

Simply put, he is very courageous. This kind of intrepidity is a must for all political columnists. May I add that the political clout of labor unions in the 1960s and ’70s is rapidly fading? Union endorsements are nothing. Candidates endorsed by labor organizations do not always win. Voters nowadays are more informed and more educated and cannot be intimidated anymore.

Constante A. Domingo
Honolulu

Symphony pieces rich with meaning

Thank you to those working behind the scenes as well as Vicky Cayetano, Oswald Stender, Maestra JoAnn Falletta and all the marvelous musicians of what is now the Hawaii Symphony, for persevering and reviving our opportunity to hear fabulous live music by an outstanding orchestra. The symphony allowed us to celebrate the Fifth of May with Joaquin Rodrigo’s familiar flamenco and bullfight-evoking Concierto de Aranjuez for guitar and orchestra. It was followed by thoughts of Vladimir Putin’s re-ascension to power via Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second Symphony. One can’t describe the third movement sufficiently in a family-friendly newspaper. Let’sjust say Ravel’s Bolero and the third movement are competitors for "best of" in this category.

Our symphony gave life to every bit of power on that page. We are so fortunate to have this great opportunity once again.

Becky Hommon
Ewa Beach

Electricity rates pad HEI executive’s pay

So that’s where all our hard-earned money to pay for higher electric rates in Hawaii is going: to Hawaiian Electric Industries CEO Constance Lau. Total compensation: $5,296,975; that’s millions, folks!

Auwe.

Bernice Mattingly
Mililani

Don’t let mistakes discourage students

It’s time the Department of Education got parents involved in helping to improve student learning ("Public schools attempt to close the parent gap," Star-Advertiser, May 7).

I suggest it begin with providing parents of preschoolers with a checklist of skills their child should have upon entering kindergarten or first grade, and require this completed checklist be turned in when they do. This would make learning and teaching a lot easier.

Another factor requiring attention is motivation — the important reasons for learning. Too many of our high school students become discouraged with their lack of progress in learning and want to quit school as a result. They need to understand that mastering mental skills are no different from mastering physical skills; they both require practice/work (much that’s self-imposed), and that mistakes are to be learned from, not used as reasons to give up.

Parents and teachers must be convincing about this for the sake of these kids’ future.

Bill Punini Prescott
Nanakuli