HECO must invest in better technology

I'd like to comment on the recent power outage. I read in an article that Hawaiian Electric Co. will be using a combustion turbine plant to start up the electricity during the next power outage. They also claim that it will probably be able to start the power quicker than ever before. If the new technology doesn't live up to its reputation in the next outage, HECO must take the blame.

In the past, our electric company said that they would make changes so that the next blackout would be much shorter. On Dec. 26, the power was out in some homes for nearly 18 hours. That is a long time without electricity. If HECO is to make changes, I believe that they should do it well. Even if the cost is high, it might last the island for multiple generations.

Kaulukukui was best UH football player ever

Your sports writer Dave Reardon is great. His poeticism and subtle metaphors are not lost on me. But I have discovered that he is still human and makes mistakes. Last year he said that Colt Brennan was the greatest football player in University of Hawaii history. He said the same thing recently (”;Further Review,”; Jan. 1).

Tommy Kaulukukui was miles greater than Colt. Colt was a great passer, and that made him a great quarterback, not a great football player. Tommy did everything and did it well. He passed, carried the ball, punted, and played defense. His passes were beautiful to see. If he didn't pass as often as Colt did it was because he was busy grinding up yardage with his legs. He was exciting every time he touched the ball.

It should be enough to know that Grantland Rice, the premier sports scribe of the day, named Tommy on his all-time dream backfield. Moreover, Tommy mentored Nile Kinnick of Iowa to the Heisman in 1939. Moreover again, our humble hero was so loved and admired that when he died almost two years ago, the huge crowd of admirers who came to his service overflowed the sanctuary. State flags flew at half-staff. Case closed.

Let Mexican prez fret about his own country

The Orwellian doublespeak world of contemporary politics is so bad it is almost laughable.

A recent Associated Press article in the Star-Bulletin reported Mexican President Felipe Calderon wants to meet with soon-to-be President Obama. It seems that the Calderon office wants “;better conditions for Mexicans”; in the United States. That is so bizarre, it is laughable. Mr. Calderon, how about better conditions for Mexicans living in Mexico? Mexicans are fleeing Mexico in droves because of corruption, drugs, terrorism and poverty under the leadership of the Mexican government.

Americans, let's not let Mexican problems invade America ... let's endeavor to have American freedom and justice invade Mexico!

Pavement, cars spoil Iolani Palace grounds

We visited Honolulu on vacation last week and went through the historic Iolani Palace and enjoyed our visit. But it would have been nicer if there were no pavement around the palace with cars parked there - it spoils the impressive palace.

Cars could be parked somewhere else on the property, maybe in a corner, so as not to destroy the beauty of Iolani Palace. The building could then be landscaped with Hawaiian tropical flowers and plants, and would be really spectacular.

Trying to take pictures without the cars is really impossible. Please consider removing the pavement and landscaping the palace. It would not be too expensive to do.

Stop Rail Now isn't behind impeachment

Two recent letters mistakenly claimed that Stop Rail Now is involved with an effort to impeach Mayor Mufi Hannemann, but typical of our critics, they are completely wrong. Stop Rail Now is not involved in any way with that campaign but we are still working on the rail issue, analyzing the environmental impact statement and finding many problems with it, such as the lack of any serious consideration of alternatives to rail.

The vote on rail was so close it shows the community is split right down the middle. The vote might well have gone against rail if we had not been outspent 40-1 and if the media did not trumpet the city's bogus last-minute claims that congestion is expected to decrease by 21 to 23 percent in 2030 (Star-Bulletin, Oct. 31). The city's own numbers show congestion will be much, much worse than today's levels, approaching gridlock.

Because of the city's misleading statements and media distortions, the election was not based on truth, so we feel an obligation to continue educating the public about the dangers of rail and to challenge the seriously flawed EIS.