Underground wires coming to Kailua

The stalwart decision by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources not to allow power lines on Waahila Ridge augurs well for future environmental freedom from overhead utility wires ("Waahila Ridge plan zapped," Star-Bulletin, June 29). I believe HECO has seen the handwriting on the wall and now adds impetus with their new policy on the undergrounding of existing overhead wires.

The undergrounding of utility wires in Kailua (to be started soon) is the first project benefiting from this new policy. HECO and Oceanic Cable will share in the cost of undergrounding obtrusive overhead wires in Kailua's town center, a project produced by the Kailua vision team.

Don Bremner
Kailua

HECO's disaster fears are misdirected

Congratulations to the Board of Land and Natural Resources. Their courageous decision to spare the magnificent Waahila Ridge from unnecessary and unsightly power lines is a gift to our children and future generations. It sends a clear message to HECO that we destroy our environment only for the most compelling reasons, and this is not one of them.

Any cataclysmic event or terrorist attack (which HECO spokesperson Chuck Freedman and letter writer Leonard Chun fear) probably will be centered on the power sources on the Leeward side. Only then we will wish that we had enacted a statewide system of distributed generation of energy sooner.

Jeremy Lam

Underground lines unharmed by disasters

In his letter to the editor concerning the Land Board's decision of the Waahila power lines, Leonard K. Chun stated that "when minds are made up, don't confuse people with facts" ("Denial of power lines spells disaster," Star-Bulletin, July 1). Chun then discussed possible problems, such as hurricanes and forest fires, that could cause power outages to East Honolulu.

HECO had a fire in the Aiea foothills last December due to a fallen high-voltage line.

The major damage caused by hurricanes are fallen distribution towers and lines, a darn good reason to bury all such lines.

HECO engineers recommended against a third line to Pukele in 1986, when the substation peak load was 240 megawatts. The peak load now is less than 205 megawatts.

It is irresponsible for a utility to demand that ratepayers finance a project they can't prove is needed. Life of the Land looks forward to a full and open discussion on need.

Henry Curtis
Executive director
Life of the Land

HECO sure to try again for power lines

Last week's Board of Land and Natural Resources decision to keep massive power lines and towers off of Waahila Ridge, together with Judge McConnell's earlier determination that HECO had not established a clear need for the line, is an encouraging sign that Hawaii's citizens can "speak truth to power" and be heard. But HECO, which has spent millions to push through this redundant line, isn't defeated, it's just changing gears. Remember: It isn't over 'til it's over.

Elisa Johnston

Supreme Court should reject pledge ruling

It was nice to see that many leaders in our country took a stand during the past week for our Pledge of Allegiance. I want to commend President Bush, the U.S. House and Senate, and Board of Education member Carol Gabbard for voicing their strong opposition to the 9th Circuit Court's decision to take the words "under God" out of the pledge.

The majority of Americans are proud to recite the pledge and know that it is a part of our nation's heritage. I am hopeful that this case will go the U.S. Supreme Court, so that we can finally put an end to this insanity. I have faith that our nation's highest court will rule in favor of keeping the pledge as it is.

Vanessa Birang

Lincoln's 'under God' proves religious base

In response to the uproar over the phrase "under God" and the fact that it was only recently added to the Pledge of Allegiance, I offer an example of that phrase being used 100 years earlier. On the day President Lincoln handed Ulysses S. Grant his commission to lieutenant general (the first battlefield general to hold such a rank since George Washington), he said, "As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you."

This is further evidence that this country was founded and sustained on Christian principles and was blessed and continues to be blessed by God.

Regardless of the efforts of the ACLU and separation of church and state organizations to make this a godless society, religion and faith will continue to be the backbone and foundation of this, the greatest country in the world, ever.

James Roller

Allegiance isn't just for those with religion

We are not one nation "under God"; we are one nation under the Constitution.

The fact is, millions of Americans do not believe in just one god -- or any god, for that matter. So, in 1954, when Congress changed our pledge to include a reference to God, it excluded every American who does not have a monotheistic belief system.

The Pledge of Allegiance is suppose to be for every American, and right now that is not the case.

We should go back to the original pledge. It got us through two world wars and the Great Depression, and it is inclusive.

Religion has no place in our government and our founders saw to that when they wrote the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. They knew what happens when you allow religion into any part of our government.

Anyone who thinks mixing religion and government is a good thing should just take a look at Afghanistan and see how well it worked there.

Michael Golojuch Jr.
Vice president
Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church

---

How to write us The Star-Bulletin welcomes letters that are crisp and to the point (150 to 200 words). The Star-Bulletin reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. Please direct comments to the issues; personal attacks will not be published. Letters must be signed and include a daytime telephone number. Letter form: Online form, click here E-mail: letters@starbulletin.com Fax: (808) 529-4750 Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210, Honolulu, HI 96813