Time for HECO to get out of way

It seems to me Hawaiian Electric is elevating our electric bills at this time in preparation for the 4 percent hike it is going to impose shortly, possibly to make up the 7 percent hike it wanted. My electric bill is $5 higher than two months ago, the same 33-day billing period. I have made no changes, possibly cutting back a little. Considering a single occupant, small apartment, having turned off my water heater 10 months ago, not using air conditioning or fan, I am furious.

It is way past time for Hawaiian Electric to step down. There has been little foresight in keeping abreast of technology, no expertise in making its money grow to invest in the new age of energy. Instead, the people of Hawaii are paying the bill for Hawaiian Electric to stay in business. We need one of the new, more efficient 21st-century-prepared companies that are trying to enter the Hawaii market and that can provide energy at decent prices.

New ideas needed to boost economy

Our leaders must be honest with us as to the lack of full discussion on many options available to aid our ailing economy. We should encourage local tourism incentives involving our hotels, car rental agencies, retail stores, airlines, restaurants, boat cruises and any other business wanting to get involved in an annual mass “;kamaaina month.”;

Participating entities set a discount they can afford and the state compounds on that by allowing these businesses a tax credit at the end of the year.

The establishment of a cultural village on Hawaii island would also be a tremendous asset to our people and our economy. Our state is portrayed as an enormous melting pot, and the economic boost such a facility would create would likewise be enormous.

These ideas have been in the hopper for many years but those who are opposed always seem to win out. They kill us with environmental impact statements and bureaucratic nonsense. We need to move forward, and believe me, there are enough people out of work to bring interest to these topics.

Add sales tax to fund national benefits

The tax-and-spend Democrats appear to be hell-bent on enacting health-care reform before August vacations. May I suggest a national sales tax of a modest 5 percent—- a tax where everyone would pay a little something for their government benefits.

Many states around the country have both income taxes and sales taxes as well. I think the wealthy taxpayers need an advocate who will ask: “;Why should the average citizens always have a free ride on the backs of the well-to-do?”;

Transpac race needs more accessibility

According to the official Web site of Transpac, this event is known as the most difficult and challenging race in the world. Well to me, as a sailing fan, it is the most difficult and challenging race to have access to. It is not the most exclusive, but the most excluding race.

Once the first boat Alfa Romeo showed up, that was it. The rest is history. I went to visit the welcome village and was expecting to find sushi bars or grills, 24-hour entertainment, and sponsor booths, but by keeping it secluded like it is—in a private club—and with the most boring entertainment, it shows that this race is just a private race for high-nose people who just want to keep it for themselves.

If the winner Alfa Romeo, because of its size, cannot have access to the Ala Wai Yacht Club and must dock at Aloha Tower, why not have the finish line there and have an official greeting of all the competitors there where anyone, regardless of social status, would have access to it?

Make this Transpac a real public event, not the “;Clans'-pack.”;

Spread library pain across the state

I've lived in Ewa Beach for 38 years and find the proposal to close our public library to balance the library system's budget really, uh, how do you say it? Oh yeah, dumb.

I hope the Board of Education members before tomorrow's expected decision take out a map and look at the area.

Our school-community library is on the combined campus of Campbell High, Ilima Intermediate and Pohakea and Kaimiloa Elementary schools. Ewa Beach Elementary is a few blocks away. The Ewa Plain continues to be the focus of housing development for Oahu and will remain so for decades, bringing even more schools.

It's hard enough to get young people growing up in middle-class trades neighborhoods into the habit of reading and researching without making it even more difficult.

I'm sure spreading the pain with shortened hours, fewer days and other cuts at all libraries would do the trick, unless such a heady task boggles the minds of those in charge, who apparently prefer simplicity.