No 'free market' exists for isle gasoline
Why is it that those so bent on pulling the plug on Hawaii's still-new wholesale gasoline price cap are in such willful denial of the fact that it is working? All the evidence points to Hawaii consumers paying substantially less, on average, since the cap than they would have without the cap during the same time period.
And if -- as has been falsely claimed -- Hawaii's gasoline suppliers are able to gouge consumers even more, why do these companies still oppose the cap?
True, there is no more effective price regulator than the free market itself -- IF the market is, in fact, free. But with Hawaii having only two refiners, neither having any incentive to compete on price against the other, and able to undercut any would-be competitor coming in, Hawaii's fuel market has not been "free" and has no more prospect of becoming "free" in the future.
So let's deal with the reality of the suppliers' ongoing functional monopoly, keep the cap and let it continue to protect consumers from gouging.
Douglas P. Luna
Honolulu
Punahou's Love might have pro soccer career
Congratulations to Punahou as state soccer champions (
Star-Bulletin, Feb. 19). Kudos also to their worthy opponent Iolani, whose quick and tireless play contributed to such an entertaining game. Four games in four days in this sport will tax the endurance of the fittest athlete.
Punahou's Nick Love's mature playing skills belie his junior status, and he may well follow Iolani's Duke Hashimoto and Kamehameha's Brian Ching through college into the pro MLS. His selection as the Star Bulletin's Athlete of the Week is is well deserved.
Congratulations to both coaches who coaxed their teams' playing skills a notch higher in this wonderful sport.
Paul Perretta
Honolulu
Are soldiers' parents unwelcome visitors?
First let me say "congratulations" to Hawaii on reaching the seven million mark for tourists in 2005, as I read in the Billings (Mt.) Gazette. I am happy to say I contributed to reaching that figure with my and my wife's first visit during Thanksgiving week.
What else I read was rather disturbing. Someone quoted in the story said that Hawaii should endeavor to seek tourists, but with this large number having been reached it was important that Hawaii seek the "right kind" of tourist. The implication was that the right kind is wealthy. I have no problem with the wealthy, even though wealth has eluded me. What is bothering me is this: My son is in the Army, stationed at Fort Shafter. We exploited this fact when we came to visit in November, having never been to the islands before. Are the parents of Oahu's many servicemen, wealthy or not, to be welcomed on your islands? Serving our country is one of the highest callings a young person can have. To say that only the wealthy are welcome on any of the Hawaiian Islands is a slap in the face to all those parents of servicemen stationed there, and who, by the way, contribute to the economy as well.
P.S. "Brokeback Mountain" is not the real Wyoming.
Jay Thorington
Powell, Wy.
Both design, evolution have problems
Where did this "intelligent designer" come from? Did the intelligent designer create AIDS, HIV and mosquitoes? I suppose the stork brought all of us.
Where are the zoos that have half-apes and half-men? Surely, if evolution has not come to a standstill, we would see some creatures who are half of each.
There are many gaps in both intelligent design and evolution. No witnesses are still alive who saw the beginnings of mankind.
Phil Robertson
Honolulu