Fossil-fuel opposers should walk the talk

Since the University of Hawaii Board of Regents voted to divest UH investments in fossil fuel companies — in order to "send a message" and make a "statement" — I wonder if these same individuals and pandering politicians like Rep. Chris Lee will make a personal statement by giving up their own use of automobiles, planes, buses, taxis and lawn mowers ("UH regents vote to end support of fossil fuel companies," Star-Advertiser, May 23).

They also need to end their own spending habits that support the myriad of industries that consume petroleum products.

It would be useful to stop the hypocrisy and also open minds to all alternate sources of energy, like nuclear power. That is, of course, if they are really serious about reducing carbon footprints.

Perhaps President Barack Obama can issue another executive order and just bypass any cost-prohibitive laws or filibustering by environmental extremists.

John Fernie
Kailua

Neutral carbon tax would help Hawaii

After reading your article, "Legislature OKs bill setting goal for green energy" (Star-Advertiser, May 6), I was left optimistic for Hawaii’s renewable energy. However, the article did not explain how the bill is seeking to reach a 100 percent renewable standard.

I am part of a group called Citizen’s Climate Lobby, a national group that believes that with the help of political leaders we can have big businesses in Hawaii opt out of carbon usage. This could happen if the Legislature mandates a neutral carbon tax that would place a steadily raising fee on fossil fuels while returning all money generated to households to offset increasing energy costs.

This carbon tax would help stimulate the renewable energy business and potentially create green jobs other than digging for coal and fossil fuel from the Earth. This could mean that we hurt the vitality of the Earth less and increase our chances of living here on Hawaii.

Adam Pooloa

Homeless won’t help themselves

It’s disappointing to see so much pushback on local government’s efforts to enact and enforce laws targeting the criminal acts of the homeless.

While it’s understandable to have compassion for those less fortunate than us, the state of homelessness is almost entirely brought on by actions and inactions of the so-called victims. Simply put, they don’t do enough to not be homeless.

Despite having an abundance of community resources offered to them free of charge, the homeless seek no employment, steal shopping carts, disregard existing laws and hoard public places.

On dozens of occasions, I offered able-bodied panhandlers in Wahiawa an empty trash bag and told them I would return in an hour and pay them $10 if they would just pick up trash from the roadside and fill the bag. On every occasion, they refused. It’s much more profitable for them to do nothing and accept free handouts. Please, let’s take off the kid gloves and deal with them appropriately.

Brad Morriseau
Mililani

Airline can easily afford paltry fines

Hawaiian Airlines has been "slapped" with a $160,000 fine for misleading advertising and arbitrarily and unilaterally setting limits to how much compensation they should pay to consumers in case of mishandled or lost luggage — a paltry sum considering that Hawaiian seems to get away with taking many unilateral actions that are affecting consumers.

Another example: If you are lucky enough to find some reward seat but for any reason you need to cancel the trip and re-deposit your miles in your account that they unilaterally choose to manage, for that simple operation, done with a click on a computer, they punish you with a fee of $150.

But, as Mark Ida said, don’t worry, the U.S. Department of Transportation has your back ("Fine was peanuts for Hawaiian Air," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 23).

Franco Mancassola
Hawaii Kai

Rail won’t reduce use of fossil fuels

Roy S. Tanouye reminded us that our railcars will be driver-less, eliminating the need to pay for drivers’ salaries and benefits ("Cost to run the rail less than for TheBus," Star-Advertiser, Letters, May 12).

On the other hand, the operating and maintenance cost for rail is projected to be $100 million or more per year. This is in addition to the billions needed just to build it.

While fossil-fuel costs and air pollution are associated with diesel-powered and hybrid buses, the huge quantities of electricity needed for rail will be generated mostly by burning large amounts of fossil fuels, which also generates air pollution and costs money.

Finally, Wayne Yoshioka, the city’s former director of transportation services, has stated in writing that "traffic congestion will be worse in the future with rail than what it is today without rail."

Kent Hirata
Punchbowl

Low bid for rail will prove more costly

It should be of great concern but little surprise that the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs favored the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation’s position concerning the bid to build three West Oahu rail stations ("State agency denies company’s appeal over rail bid," Star-Advertiser, May 23).

On the surface it would seem correct that the lowest bidder should get the contract.

We know all too well from history that the low bidder invariably starts a series of corrections, additions, change orders, items overlooked, misunderstood, not in the original bid, etc., etc., until the taxpayers wind up paying more than all of the bids combined.

Perhaps there should be real oversight, auditing and eyes on this bloated behemoth of a project that has become a monument to various egos and greed.

Andrea W. Bell
Kailua