I agree 100% with Kioni Dudley’s commentary (“We need more farming, not fields covered with solar panels,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 26).

Farmland is critical in Hawaii, especially considering we import 90% of the food we eat. It is ridiculous to destroy valuable farmland on the Ewa Plain by spreading solar panels on it instead of growing crops to feed Hawaii’s people.

Solar panels can be put many places, including roofs. I have photovoltaic panels on my home.

In my small yard, I grow kale, tomatoes, green onions, basil, pineapple and dragon fruit that I share with neighbors and friends.

If I can do this at my home, think of what can be grown on 97 acres of farmland. You cannot eat solar panels. We must think of future sustainability.

Dora S. Johnson

McCully-Moiliili

Trump has failed to fight COVID-19

In response to Russell Noguchi, I must say he is alarmingly uninformed (“Trump’s leadership on COVID well-established,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, Nov. 30).

President Donald Trump’s travel ban obviously did not work, and he was told it would not work. He allowed about 40,000 Americans and some others to return to the U.S. from China without being quarantined.

One of the companies that developed a COVID-19 vaccine was not part of Operation Warp Speed.

The U.S. has the highest death rate in the world and second-highest per capita.

Trump’s COVID response was the second-worst in the world. This is from worldwide data, so no one can claim it is politically driven against Trump.

Terrence Ching

Palolo Valley

At war with COVID-19, armed with the ‘3Ws’

Thanks to Michele Saito and Sherry Menor-McNamara for their commentary, “To save Hawaii’s economy, beat COVID” (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 29).

Their bottom line says it all: “We know how to prevent COVID-19. The guidelines are simple. And they are worth repeating … again, and again. It’s the “3Ws”: Wear a mask. Watch you physical distancing. Wash your hands. And do not gather.”

The fact is we are at war with COVID-19. And as Pogo said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.”

Ken Bailey

Honolulu

Aircraft shouldn’t fly over neighborhoods

According to Rob Moore’s commentary, “State fails to support aviation, airports” (Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 29), “State airport leaders are not working with federal, industry and civilian counterparts to address the noise/accident concerns.”

The general aviation (GA) industry claims the state has no jurisdiction over where, how and how often they fly. Therefore, they fly wherever they want and at as low an altitude as they feel like without any repercussions.

Helicopters and small planes are once again flying over my home in Waipio Gentry when they could easily be flying over the agricultural fields in Central Oahu. The noise problem that local residents continue to complain about is totally in the hands of pilots, not the state of Hawaii.

If the GA industry wants the support of local residents, it must respect our right to peaceful enjoyment of our property.

Joy Schoonover

Waipahu

Rail serves construction industry, not the public

As long as the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) rail project is allowed to continue under the present construction plan, the project will never be completed, and construction costs will continue to escalate.

This intentional reality is guaranteed because the entire project, from the very beginning, has been purposed and operated as a product-oriented construction project rather than a customer-oriented modern transportation project.

The crippling cost overruns that have presently escalated to more than $10 billion are serving the construction industry extremely well.

On the other hand, to date, the communities requiring viable modern mass transportation have not been served with anything except inconvenience, taxes, financial assessments and an extremely old technology — high-maintenance steel-on-steel, an in-your-face monstrosity.

Stann W. Reiziss

Kailua

EXPRESS YOURSELF

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.

>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.

>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813

>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter