Large mainland developer Howard Hughes Corp. is building a slew of luxury condos and shopping malls stretching across the Ward/Ala Moana area. Thanks to a lease with the state, it also operates the small boat harbor at Kewalo Basin just makai of their land.

Now, the Hawaii Community Development Authority is considering it for a new lease to control the fast lands around the harbor adjacent to Ala Moana Beach Park (“Kewalo Basin proposals resubmitted to the state,” Star-Advertiser, Oct. 30). Is the state seriously going to give control of nearly an entire ahu-pua‘a to a large mainland corporate developer?

It sounds like a sweetheart deal for Hughes Corp. — operate the harbor slips for its millionaire condo owners to park their yachts, preserve their luxury condo views, and control all the retail and restaurant business in the area at the same time.

Say no to more favors for millionaires.

Toma Turner
Kuliouou

Renewables create e-waste

If the state succeeds in creating a 100 percent renewable energy power grid in 30 years, we are going to be awash in e-waste.

Just think of all the obsolete solar panels and batteries that will have to be disposed of or recycled. They’re full of toxic materials, and there’s no place for them here. Sadly, we will still be dependent on fossil fuel for the airplanes and ships that support our economy. And there will still be leftover “residual oil” that we currently burn to generate electricity.

Politicians have a tendency to overstate the benefits and understate the costs of their great ideas. Just think of the Convention Center, or rail transit.

They also have a poor record in anticipating the things that can go wrong. I’m concerned that the energy our economy depends on won’t be there when we need it, and the people responsible won’t be around to be held accountable.

James B. Young
St. Louis Heights

Use turn signals to improve safety

As a local boy who returned to Hawaii after living abroad, I find the inability of many motorists here to perform the exceedingly simple task of using the automobile’s turn signal indicator extremely annoying, and constituting unsafe, potentially dangerous driving behavior.

I have also on countless occasions witnessed Honolulu police officers not using their turn signal indicator while on patrol in clearly marked police vehicles. Does it not behoove the HPD to set a good example for motorists?

Is it also asking too much for the HPD to initiate a strenuous safety campaign, similar to the Click It or Ticket seatbelt enforcement program that has successfully reduced the number of traffic fatalities, to crack down on this kind of discourteous and dangerous conduct by the general public?

But perhaps this nonchalant disdain toward driving safety is endemic in a state where lawmakers enact legislation making it mandatory for rear-seat passengers to buckle their seatbelts, while ignoring the inherent danger posed by allowing riders to sit unrestrained by safety equipment in the bed of a pickup truck.

Aki Makoto
Manoa

‘Aha a good path for Hawaiians

Aloha. I support the Star-Advertiser’s endorsement of electing delegates to an ‘aha convention (“All Hawaiians have voice on sovereignty,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Oct. 31).

I support the process. This is a historic move to reclaim Hawaiian governance. While it may not be perfect, broad-based participation to elect honest and knowledgeable delegates can make it meaningful, effective and “pono.”

The ‘aha can create programs to promote the well-being of our Native Hawaiian people.

Every day that we wait, more Hawaiians move out of Hawaii; our lands and seas are mismanaged, threatening subsistence livelihoods; our resources — the alii land trusts, Hawaiian Home Lands, Office of Hawaiian Affairs and protection of Hawaiian language, culture and traditions and customs in our state Constitution — are exposed to race-based litigation.

Holomua! It is time to organize our Native Hawaiian government. We can start by voting for delegates Nov. 1-30.

Davianna Pömaika‘i McGregor
Candidate for Oahu delegate

Government officials failed

Most government employees work conscientiously, and those who do not are protected by their union. Higher-ups are protected by their contracts.

Every situation where the government loses comes from a faulty contract, it seems. No one told University of Hawaii-Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman that terminating men’s basketball coach Gib Arnold’s contract would cost more than $1 million — probably because he asked those who wrote the contract.

They likely didn’t take the devil’s-advocate approach to analysis. They were outwitted by the private-sector legal adviser who had every reason to highlight any ambiguity in the contract.

All those governmental legal advisers likely will escape being held accountable.

Ronald Wong
Salt Lake

Missteps waste taxpayer money

I’m continually amazed after reading the news in the Star-Advertiser about contract and financial missteps of many of our leaders.

I wonder if talented people have figured out that coming to work and live in Hawaii is like a paid vacation with a golden parachute. The missteps seem to happen no matter what is done or how much money is lost, or how embarrassing it gets, or how many of our local top legal representative swear that it shouldn’t have happened, and how there will be new laws, procedures and checks.

We don’t seem to fire anyone for nonperformance, nor to recover funds for unacceptable contract performance. We don’t seem to have legal talent that can stem the tide of throwing good money after bad.

Our leaders who complain about not having enough funds should try recovering funds or, better yet, having contracts in place that have clearly defined results before money flows.

Greg Schmidt
Hawaii Kai

Fire chancellor for contract mess

How is it possible for the University of Hawaii to allow a doltish decision by Manoa Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman to fire ex-coach Gib Arnold “without cause,” with a settlement that will cost UH $1 million-plus?

His excuse for not reviewing the wording of Arnold’s contract before firing him is inexcusable, coming from a person whom the state has put in such a high post. This is another absurd decision by our decision-makers at the university.

Because the university did not allow Arnold to complete his term, it hires another coach and, of course, his pay will be substantial.

Where are these monies coming from? The people of Hawaii, of course. Bley-Vroman should be the one fired.

Gary H. Watanabe
Ewa Beach