Electricity poles so 20th century

NextEra’s pledge to lead Hawaii toward a clean renewable energy future gives us a reason to hope that it will also improve Hawaiian Electric Co.’s crumbling infrastructure that has been around since the dawn of the 20th century ("Florida company buys HEI for $4.3B," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 4).

Wires slung from pole to teetering pole are such an eyesore. Electric utility lines needn’t forever mar Hawaii’s natural beauty, however. If HECO’s likely successor is sincere about winning the hearts and minds of its future ratepayers, it will partner up with cable and telephone to once and for all bury Hawaii’s unsightly tangle of wires that has blighted our view plane for more than a hundred years.

Theodore N. Pizzino
Honolulu

‘The Interview’ is irresponsible

I believe that the making of the movie "The Interview," comedy or not, was in bad taste.

Regardless of how we feel about the leader of North Korea and his politics, our belief in freedom of speech and artistic expression are no excuse for reckless insensitivity, especially when that reckless disregard promotes the assassination of another nation’s living leader.

I believe that if anyone in the United States made a film explicity planning and depicting the assassination of President Barack Obama, comedy or not, while he was still living and serving his term, that person would be prosecuted.

In our state, a film about the assassination of Gov. David Ige would be explored as terroristic threatening.

In the making of the film, "The Interview," Sony Pictures disregarded consequence, liability and personal responsibility.

Michael Spiker
Halawa

Jay speaking in the wilderness?

University of Hawaii-Manoa Athletics Director Ben Jay has pointed out issues that UH will have to confront if UH football is to survive intact as a Division I program over the long term.

UH will have to keep up with the dynamic changes in the sport, a game of increasing inequality between the "Big Five" and the "mid-majors." 

The decision by the University of Alabama-Birmingham to drop its football program is symptomatic of the financial challenges for mid-majors, as is Fresno State’s ramping up efforts to raise funds toward gaining Big Five membership. Today’s game is about big money.

If the UH community, including the legislators, corporate donors and Hawaii’s citizens, ignore the actualities of Division 1 football, the problems will not disappear.

Denying problems exist or hoping they will vanish leads to decline, and Hawaii’s polite, laid-back, insular culture is inclined to such rationalizing.

Ten years from now, will Hawaii’s people look back and sadly say Jay was right?

Dane Lee
Honolulu

Writer captured essence of parish

We have been "winter parishioners" at St. Rita Catholic Church in Nanakuli for a number of years and have traveled extensively throughout the world, attending Catholic Mass services wherever and when- ever possible ("Church’s spirits still soaring," Star-Advertiser, Dec. 25).

No parish makes you feel more welcome than St. Rita.

Lee Cataluna captured the essence of St. Rita. It is like one big, loving family.

Charles E. Marshall
Waianae

Bikers were like Santa for keiki

I would like to thank all the bikers who took part in the Toys for Tots run on Dec. 6 and all the staff at Street Bikers United for putting on this event every year.

If it wasn’t for the bikers and clubs in Hawaii that bring in 1,500 to 2,000 or more gifts to the children, the kids might not have had a Christmas at all.

Also, thanks to all the clubs that support our children’s school supplies runs.

We bikers care more about children than people might think.

John Arreola
St. Louis Heights