Symphony deserves more public support

Ho'omaika'i, the free concert for the community that was sponsored by the Oahu Choral Society and the Honolulu Symphony on Wednesday evening, was a joyful celebration for so many reasons.

The symphony was wonderful, as always, and the opportunity the chorus had to present a full choral program was equally exciting. But best of all was the audience - approximately 1,900 strong - took advantage of the invitation and demonstrated the value of classical music to our community.

The enthusiasm with which this event, as well as the educational outreach programs in our schools, is received is a wake-up call to the legislators, the governor and the mayor. They, as well as the community-at-large and local businesses, should take note and support the Honolulu Symphony accordingly.

Legalizing gay unions will boost tourism

Let me state this as quickly as I can so the people I might offend might not notice. In Hawaii, on the business landscape, tourism is down, unemployment is up and solutions are nowhere to be found. On the civil rights scale, we're behind the national curve with our stand on same-sex marriages.

Here's the solution: Let's do the right thing in the civil rights arena and the outcome will be a beneficial return in the business arena. Think about it before you react to it.

Wave systems offer best energy choices

There are many things in their infancy: cell phones, wireless communications, the Internet, wave energy systems and awareness of the potential of abrupt climate change.

Among all proposed renewable energy sources, ocean power provides an abundant source that can have fewer impacts than fossil fuels and imported biofuels. HECO convened a diverse group of ocean users in the summer of 2007 and no one objected to ocean energy. There are three basic types of ocean power.

» Tidal energy systems include the 240 MW La Rance Tidal Power Plant built in Brittany, France, in the 1960s and currently operational.

» Ocean wave or ocean swell energy systems include the buoy system being tested off Kaneohe at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the Oceanlinx artificial blow hole that will be built off Maui, and the Pelamis systems being tested in Europe.

» Thermal systems, which include both cold water air-conditioning - which has successfully provided deep cold water for air-conditioning at Cornell, Toronto, China and Sweden - and ocean thermal energy conversion, which was developed and tested in Hawaii.

Together, these systems can supply 1,000 times the total energy needs of the planet.

The proposed ocean structures rely on expertise developed during decades of offshore oil well construction. The 0-3 mile transmission lines will be constructed below the reefs and shoreline using horizontal directional drilling.

A coastal ocean energy hub will offer greater diversity and more secure power than relying on a single wind farm across a deep interisland channel.

Palin provides nation needed laughter

As a lover of comedy, I sincerely hope that Gov. Sarah Palin runs for president in 2012, as urged by Rush Limbaugh and Fox News. Her actions and words are a never-ending source of the very best satire, and a major benefit to me and others who need a good laugh.

Her nomination would also drive the remaining intelligent and thoughtful Republicans out of the party, either to the Democrats or a lonely, ineffective third party.

Her latest bid for attention, with active turkey slaughtering in the background, can be seen on YouTube, for those who missed it because they only watch Fox News.

I eagerly await the next pronouncement from Gov. Palin.

'High School Musical' hits a high note

Mahalos go out to the Army Community Theatre and its fantastic production of “;High School Musical.”;

Congratulations to director Coco Wiel in getting a great group of local kids molded into such a high energy company. All the parts worked together for a terrific story. The leads are excellent, and the rest of the cast did a bang-up job of telling the tale of high school cliques and breaking the status quo.

And the choreography! Wow! I have never seen the TV version of the show, but I don't think it could be any better than what we were privileged to see on the Richardson Theatre stage. The choreographers must be very proud of the hard work put in by the cast. It really shows.

If you can, make sure you catch the last performances on Friday and Saturday; you won't be sorry. Go Wildcats!

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