We cannot allow the money and power of big business to detract from our goals for 100 percent renewable clean energy (“Fight over NextEra shaped race for governor,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 5).
NextEra and U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa support liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a “temporary bridge fuel” to lower our electricity costs, but they don’t elaborate on the huge investments for refinery, storage and distribution. Most alarming is that the Environmental Protection Agency is finding that LNG, which basically is methane gas, has a much greater impact on global warming than oil.
With the concerns of climate change and rising ocean levels, we must set as a top priority the protection of our ocean, reefs and shorelines. We are blessed with the sun and wind, and we can generate 100 percent clean electricity. Kauai is already doing it as a leader in clean electricity. With the island’s solar-plus-storage project, it should reach its 70 percent renewable energy goal by 2020.
Rudy Ibay
Kalihi
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Tourism numbers positive for Big Isle
The article by Allison Schaefers about Hawaii County tourism-related losses due to the volcanic eruption was accurate — but only to a point (“The long haul,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 4).
According to Hawaii Tourism Authority and state statistics, total Hawaii County visitor counts did decrease in the months of May and June; spending likewise decreased in June, though only about 1 percent and not at all in May.
The big losses the article talks about for these two months are merely hypothetical, based on what were projected potential visitor counts and spending. Counting something as a loss when it is only projected is a false economy at best, misleading at worst.
Also, nowhere in the article was it mentioned that for the first six months of 2018 — including May and June — Hawaii County visitor arrivals increased by more than 7 percent and visitor spending increased by more than 9 percent.
The negative hypothetical losses cited in the article need to be balanced against these actual positive increases to date in 2018 in order to give a true picture of Hawaii County tourism.
John Kitchen
Kona
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Protect homeless from themselves
Someone who prefers to live on the street — and repeatedly refuses to go to any shelter — is someone who is a danger to himself. He should be protected from the hazards of infection, crime and drugs. If a person is not willing to bend to the simplest rules of civilization, that is evidence of mental defect.
If a person gives off an offensive odor, he is not capable of basic hygiene and so runs a real risk of illness. He is a health risk to himself and others.
Take care of the person first, even if that person resists.The legal niceties can be worked out in a manner that benefits all. We need not appear to be a police state, rounding up the indigent and putting them out of sight. But we do need to take care of people who so clearly cannot take care of themselves. If we do not do this, what are we, after all?
Beverly Kai
Kakaako
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Waimanalo Beach needs trash cans
Waimanalo Beach Park has seen almost double the number of users, especially on the weekends. But we haven’t added more garbage cans, so the trash overflows on Saturday and by Sunday, it’s all over the ground.
This can cause a rat problem, is an eyesore, stinks and can be easily fixed by adding more cans. Years ago there were four cans at each right-of-way: two on the beach side and two on the street side. They removed the beach cans long ago. Now most rights-of-ways have one can for each access, and that is not enough. We need more trash cans and maybe a trash pickup on Saturday afternoons.
Jody Green
Waimanalo
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Trump displays treasonous traits
Treason is defined as the betrayal of one’s own country by waging war against it or by consciously or purposely acting to aid its enemies.
President Donald Trump revealed classified information to the Russians shortly after firing FBI Director James Comey. He has also relaxed sanctions against Russia and allegedly conspired with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.
He has not accused Russia with interfering with our 2016 elections and our current elections. He has done nothing to combat Russia’s hacking of our social networks and infrastructure. He has alienated our allies and allegedly consorted with our enemies.
What else don’t we know because he has not been transparent with all of his phone calls and meetings with our enemies? His constant accusations of the media as fake news has many people believing his outrageous lies and exaggerations.
If this is not treason, what is it?
Howard Char
Kaneohe
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Police handled manhunt with skill
Awards should be given to the Hawaii County Police Department as well as all other Hawaii police departments.
The way the department handled the search, capture of accomplices, and eventual shooting of the alleged shooter of Officer Bronson Kaliloa was an amazing feat of highly trained police officers (“Suspect in fatal shooting of Hawaii island police officer dies in a shootout,” Star-Advertiser, July 21).
They showed patience, professionalism and persistence as they set up, followed leads, set up road blocks, and searched vehicles for three days. They ended up killing only the suspect. If I were in their shoes, I would have shot and killed everyone in that vehicle. This showed their professional restraint, as opposed to shootings on the mainland where recently a hostage and hostage taker were shot with 18 rounds.
Bruce Kouch
Manoa
