A recent editorial is b ased on a faulty premise and distracts from the real challenges in transforming the state of Hawaii (“State drops ball on IT review,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 2).

The decision to bring in a third party to perform an information technology spending audit across all departments is the industry standard. Audits typically add more value and accountability when performed by an independent third-party.

The state Office of Information Management and Technology supported the resolution requesting the audit, calling it “necessary to make strategic decisions to meet our target of reducing recurring IT costs in future years.”

Moreover, there is a significant difference between a third party audit of IT expenditures and the 2011 baseline assessment, which served as the foundational element of the strategic plan that the state is currently executing.

We should all support the state’s system modernization and process improvement initiatives that (where applicable) leverage efficiencies across departments, building a transparent, responsive, accessible and accountable government.

Joy Barua, Burt Lum
Members, Transform Hawai‘i Government Leadership Committee

Usual stories about Columbus one-sided

In my multicultural education class at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, we talked about Columbus Day in light of the holiday and, for the first time in my life, I was presented with materials that explored the Native American point of view.

As a graduate of the Hawaii public school system, the only perspective I was ever provided with was that of Columbus and his men — and that is a huge issue. Not only are students misinformed about the event by not learning both sides of the encounter, they are unable to understand and empathize with native issues that have arisen as a result of Columbus’ “discovery.”

Living in such a diverse place as Hawaii, we as a community should know firsthand the importance of a multicultural education and recognizing indige- nous perspectives in the classroom.

Rachel Wagner
Kapolei

U.S. must return to defending freedom

Jay Henderson fundamentally errs if he believes freedom of navigation in international waters is a mere “fantasy” (“Don’t let military set China policy,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 9).

We and other countries have vital national interests in transoceanic commerce. Admirals Scott Swift, in his address at the Royal Australian Navy Seapower Conference and Harry B. Harris Jr., in his Congressional testimony, were both duty-bound to warn China to not intimidate — or interfere with — those conducting innocent passage by artificially extending its territorial waters well out into heavily traveled international waterways of the South China Sea.

With barely a year left until the election of the next president, we would do well to ponder why America has become so weak over the last six years as to invite aggression on the part of China in the Western Pacific and of Russia in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Perhaps an electoral majority will conclude it is time for America to quit retreating and resume defending freedom, especially freedom of the seas.

Thomas E. Stuart
Kapaau, Hawaii island

Rail will burden future generations

A “boondoggle” best describes the rail project, in my opinion.

With all the time delays and contract change orders that are sure to come, the only people rolling their hands and smiling with glee are the contractors.

With the rights-of-way not yet established, the project is progressing like a chicken with its head cut off.

I am not against mass transit, but in its present form, the massive overhead structure will surely ruin our beautiful city of Honolulu. Also, at the train stations I certainly would not want to climb up and down at the stops to get on and off.

Former Gov. Ben Cayetano proposed an “on-grade system” and ran for mayor but lost the election with the help of the construction trades.

The “boomers” and “millennials” will now will have to bear the huge cost when completed.

Glen S. Arakaki
Kamehameha Heights

Formby wasn’t ‘fighting’ already?

City Director of Transportation Services Michael D. Formby’s plea to “fight to keep this project on schedule” confused me (“Rail can work faster and mitigate effects,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Oct. 8).

What’s his job? Hmmmm.

Who, in government, oversees the project to make sure it stays on schedule, on cost?

It isn’t us, the taxpayers. If it’s not him, then Formby needs to figure out who is responsible and get that somebody off their duff to do the job.

Stef Wenska
Kailua

Officiating poor at ILH football games

Have you seen an ILH high school football game lately?

In the past few years, it seems that the quality of the officiating in the ILH has fallen off.

A few weeks ago, Punahou played Saint Louis in a great match up. Both teams have outstanding athletes.

The game was very physical. It took more than four hours because of the numerous penalties that were called on both teams by officials who were out of position to make many of those calls.

We all want the young men on the field to be safe, but this is football. You have to allow for the game to played in a manner that fits the makeup of the two teams. Let the boys play the game.

Last, let’s start showing the number of penalties with the yardage within the game summary statistics.

Larry Goeas
Kaneohe