For years my husband and I have, with pride, told all our visitors about the Hawaii law requiring any new home construction to include solar water heaters. Little did we realize that the law has a loophole big enough to drive an entire development through (“Ho‘opili poised to join many exempted from solar heater law,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 12).

I’m speaking of the Ho‘opili community. Did D.R. Horton really receive exemptions from the law? How does the state reach its goal of 100 percent renewable energy when it has never met a development request that it did not grant?

Shame on the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism for failing to comply with the intent of the law and granting 99 percent of the variances requested.

I wish state Sen. Stanley Chang well in his quest to pass Senate Bill 1121 and close the loophole. Our Legislature has not shown any backbone in standing up to developers in the past, but hope springs eternal.

Cynthia Josserand

Hawaii Kai

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Protect aquifer from leaking fuel tanks

I can understand why the Navy wouldn’t want its underground fuel tanks to comply by the same standards as every corner gas station — it doesn’t want to foot the bill.

But why would the state Department of Health take the position that no action be taken to double-wall the tanks to prevent further leaks as proposed under Senate Bill 1259? Isn’t it in the interests of the state to protect the largest aquifer on Oahu that provides drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people?

These underground fuel storage tanks from World War II are more than 70 years old and sit just 100 feet above the Pearl Harbor aquifer. They pose a serious threat to our clean drinking water. A tank already has leaked; luckily, fuel has not yet been detected in our drinking water. But it’s just a matter of time before another leak occurs, contaminating the aquifer.

Nathan Yuen

Ewa Beach

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Lawmakers right about Red Hill tanks

Your article on the bill calling for double-walling the Red Hill fuel tanks by 2027 omitted key remarks by senators supporting the bill (“Navy and state oppose Red Hill tank upgrade bill,” Star-Advertiser, Feb. 14).

State Sen. Laura Thielen said the Environmental Protection Agency has the ultimate control in any dispute between the parties in the Administrative Order of Consent. The current nominee to head the EPA is Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who sued the EPA 13 times.

State Sen. Glenn Wakai expressed frustration at the lack of urgency. The report for leak proofing the tanks is due by end of 2017 — almost four years after the original 27,000-gallon leak of jet fuel in January 2014.

The Board of Water Supply has recommended we double-wall the tanks. They are experts. Why is the Navy still writing reports?

We must pass SB 1259 to ensure Hawaii is in charge of its own water safety, and to instill a sense of urgency.

Alison Bhattacharyya

Nuuanu

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Vouchers would help caregivers in need

For 13 years, I have been a 24/7 caregiver for my wife and an advocate for caregivers.

I totally agree with the editorial in the paper (“Caregivers need help as Hawaii’s population ages,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Feb. 12).

I meet with caregivers who are struggling to take care of their loved ones because they are frustrated and have no respite care for themselves. Many times their loved ones are left alone while they go to work. I have dealt with many tragic situations because of this.

My wife attends a senior day care facility on the Windward side of the island. I pay about $1,300 per month for four days a week. Helping other caregivers is my respite care.

The $600,000 to plan a caregiver voucher program is the most important part for the program’s success. All of the service providers involved must have a role, not just the government entities.

Ken Takeya

Kailua

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Proposals could improve drone use

Saturday’s editorial proposing a measured, phased approach to regulating drones in Hawaii, referring to current House Bill 314, was a good summary of the complexities of the “drone ecosystem” complicating regulation (“Move carefully to regulate drones,” Star-Advertiser, Our View, Feb. 11).

The editorial failed to mention House Bill 1478, Senate Bill 1296 and Senate Bill 563, which if enacted would provide the majority of the information needed to proceed in that measured, phased approach.

HB 1478 and SB 1296 would create operating manuals, limits and constraints for drones employed by government, public agencies, schools and business, while holding community involvement exercises with those agencies to verify safe, conforming drone use, demonstrating value-added services to the public.

SB 563 takes a very creative step forward, calling for a Drone Volunteer Corps, to take advantage of civilian drones in a vetted, controlled way in times of need.

Community involvement, transparency and value are the way forward; these bills provide that.

Ted Ralston

Waikiki

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Gabbard’s Syria trip shows her ambition

Richard Borreca nailed it in examining U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s “boneheaded” (and then some) recent trip to Syria (“Tulsi Gabbard overreaches in lofty comparisons with Patsy Mink and President Eisenhower,” Star-Advertiser, On Politics, Feb. 12).

To compare herself with President Dwight Eisenhower and the late U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink reveals a rather swollen political ego.

I’ve always liked Gabbard, and was very pleased to see her put Mufi Hanneman’s political career to bed.

As a Vietnam-era Army veteran, I honor her service.

Of late, however, she’s gotten a bit over her skis. I think that when Gabbard looks in the mirror, she sees a near-future U.S. senator, and very possibly a future U.S. president.

Mazie Hirono, look out!

Skip Lambert

Kapahulu