Sierra Club's backing of Akaka hypocritical
Only one conclusion can be drawn from the
Sierra Club's decision to endorse Dan Akaka (who voted to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) over Cynthia Thielen: The Sierra Club doesn't care about the environment, it cares only about gaining political clout.
If you really care about the environment, quit supporting the Sierra Club -- send your donations to an organization with some credibility.
Jim Henshaw
Kailua
Akaka is strong backer of renewable energy
Cynthia Thielen can best help bring a renewable energy future to Hawaii by continuing her work in our state Legislature.
Sen. Dan Akaka has advocated for renewable energy for 27 years. From research and funding for solar, wind, green hydrogen and wave technology, Akaka earned the respected of anyone who has been paying attention.
Can Thielen, whom I respect very much for her work on energy and the environment, represent our people as competently on national security, veterans' affairs, health care, education, Social Security and other crucial concerns? Will she be able to get up to speed immediately and concurrently on these issues, and withstand the pressure to vote against our people's interests by this borrow-and-spend administration?
Terrorism is a very real and serious threat. Recent tragic mistakes have made our country less safe, not more. Energy independence is a key piece of this complex of problems.
Anyone concerned about the current administration's lack of sound policy on energy and the environment should vote for Akaka. The best person for the job is already on the job.
Laurie Baron
Manoa
Thielen is far-sighted about wave energy
I totally agree with you on supporting Cynthia Thielen for the U.S. Senate (
Star-Bulletin editorial, Oct. 18). As a Makiki resident, I have been introduced to wave energy because of Thielen's dedication to a cleaner planet and healthier economy, only if the state decided to stay away from its oil addiction and became a world leader on wave energy.
I have been following the new technology since then, and I totally agree with her. It is frustrating to watch HECO's officials being so lazy on the subject. They might just be too afraid to tell their oil golf partners that it is time to break up the beautiful relationship they have had for so long.
Thielen, even though she is not my House representative, welcomed me in her office and listened to what I had to say. I am still waiting to hear from Sen. Daniel Akaka regarding renewable energy, and the clean up of the chemical dumping during World War II and later. My e-mail was sent to D.C. a few months ago; it should be there soon.
Guy Belegaud
Honolulu
East Hawaii medical workers merit thanks
I would like to express my appreciation to all the hard-working staff, nurses and doctors at East Hawaii's Hilo Medical Center, Hale Ho'ola Hamakua and Ka'u Hospital for their timely and whole-hearted response to the
Oct. 15 earthquake. After ensuring their families' safety, many of them came or called in to ask, "How can I help?" I saw and heard reports of people acting with a huge sense of duty, responsibility and love for our community.
Hale Ho'ola Hamakua in Honokaa sustained the most damage in East Hawaii and had to evacuate 49 of its long-term care patients while the damage was assessed. I am pleased to report that HHH has moved its patients back into its facility and is on its way back to becoming fully operational. Hilo Medical Center continues to assist HHH in clean up efforts.
HMC staff worked hard to be able to receive upwards of 20-25 patients from harder-hit areas and did accept seven patients from Kona Community Hospital. Ka'u Hospital also was ready to receive patients. Thankfully, our patients and staff remained safe in the aftermath of the earthquake and no structural damage was found in any of our facilities.
Our quick response is evidence of our ongoing preparedness exercises. The East Hawaii medical facilities and their staffs were ready when the quake occurred and continue to be ready for future events as they arise.
Ronald Schurra
East Hawaii Regional CEO
Hilo Medical Center
Allot funds to housing and natural resources
Voters should make the easy decision of voting "yes" on Honolulu City Charter Amendment 3, which dedicates 1 percent of annual city property tax revenues for affordable housing and natural resource conservation.
Voting "yes on 3" and creating both an affordable housing fund and land conservation fund will dedicate approximately $6 million annually for these important priorities. Voters should know that currently there are no city-generated revenues that support homeless or housing services. "Yes on 3" will change that.
Experience on neighbor islands that have passed similar measures also demonstrates that tax rates will not be hurt.
Honolulu's recent ranking as the most expensive rental housing market in the country continues not to sway the current city government to allocate money to address this issue. Honolulu voters now have a chance to tell their government that they consider affordable housing and resource conservation priorities and requirements of government services.
Michael Ullman
Honolulu
Bumpy can help bring economic sovereignty
With so few races in doubt in the Nov. 7 general election, one thing that should stimulate interest among voters is the race for Office of Hawaiian Affairs trustees. No institution in Hawaii politics is more in need of reform than OHA. For years its board has been held captive by proponents of a failed scheme called "nation-within-a-nation" that has proven to be a cruel hoax. Congress and U.S. courts refuse to approve this race-based policy, showing the need to move to alternative ideas and faces on the OHA board.
Fortunately for the sovereignty movement, among OHA's at-large trustee candidates is Puuhonua Dennis "Bumpy" Kanahele. While Kanahele has earned his position as a leader in the Hawaiian independence movement, he has been working behind the scenes to establish opportunities for community-based economic development within a larger framework of sustainability that can help guide all of Hawaii toward greater economic independence.
Everyone can vote for OHA on Nov. 7. A vote for Bumpy Kanahele is a vote for the kind of change that empowers us all to make Hawaii a Pacific isles center for sustainable development and economic sovereignty.
Richard Weigel
Pearl City
Pearl Harbor visitors stuck after earthquake
I am a crewmember employed by Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and I was on duty on "
Earthquake Day." We had many visitors who had come to see the memorials and were disappointed that they could not visit them. They were anxious to absorb as much as they could so we talked with them and gave them all the information that we had. Their best vantage point was the water's edge by the Marine Remembrance Memorial as they could see the Arizona Memorial, the USS Missouri and the Bowfin submarine from there. Many of them had waited until the last day of their vacation to see the memorials and then planned to fly home. Most of them had rental cars but knew not to venture very far away because gas was unavailable.
As it got late in the afternoon and still no electricity, many of them were concerned about where they would stay overnight. Thank goodness my cell phone had finally started to work, so I called 911 to ask if there were any emergency shelters available especially for the people stuck at the airport. I was told to call the Red Cross. I asked for the phone number but they did not have that available. Our electricity came on at 10:15 p.m.
I think there are many, many ways that the city and state could be better prepared for emergencies. Isn't that the purpose of 911?
Neda Baird
Honolulu