ENVIRONMENT

CITY HAS DONE MUCH TO PUSH RECYCLING EFFORTS

The Honolulu Advertiser's attack on the city and accusations of "foot dragging" are unwarranted and not supported by facts. (Editorial, Feb. 18).

The city testified in support of the intent of Bill 83 at the Feb. 5 committee hearing and asked the City Council to work with the administration to allow time to determine the appropriate locations for the receptacles, the types of public recycling containers to be used and the most efficient systems to be implemented.

We will report back at today's hearing. Working with the council in this manner will provide prudent management of time, resources and effort in implementing this program.

Our public educational efforts increased immensely during Mayor Mufi Hannemann's administration.

The Discover Recycling Fair introduces thousands of children each year to the concepts of recycling that the city has in place and those that are to be implemented. The city held a series of well-attended community meetings to introduce the public to the city's Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.

Our direction from the mayor is clear - reduce waste to the landfill by increasing recycling dramatically and quickly on all fronts.

We would appreciate The Advertiser taking an informed position regarding the city's recycling efforts. We have done much thus far, and, with everybody working together, we can make these programs work for the betterment of our community.

SUSTAINABILITY

SHAPIRO IS RIGHT, PLAN STATES THE OBVIOUS

David Shapiro (Volcanic Ash, Feb. 13) is right on target.

The 2050 "Sustainability" Plan is no plan for anything, let alone sustainability - just words, words, words - full of sound and fury not signifying very much.

In large part, the plan is a hoax: a glimpse at the obvious.

KAHEKILI PROJECT

$4 MILLION COULD BE BETTER USED ELSEWHERE

I was surprised to hear that $4 million was allocated to install planter boxes and resurface Kahekili, which just went through a major lane widening and resurfacing.

Although I am for beautifying and improving our community, wouldn't this be a contradiction to the endless pothole problems and foliage overgrowth on the Windward side?

Who will maintain and fund the upkeep of this project?

I would much rather see my taxes fund functional sidewalks and roads and well-kept landscaping than this. Aren't the majestic Ko'olau enough?

NORTH SHORE

STATE COULD BE A HERO BY BUYING TURTLE BAY

If the Turtle Bay and the Kahuku-La'ie developments become reality, the state would be obligated to undertake a massive reconstruction of Kamehameha Highway to the North Shore.

This would no doubt require figuring out where the money will come from, years of engineering studies, environmental impact statements and land condemnation. The inevitable result would be public outcry and years of litigation.

The state government instead could become a cultural, environmental and fiscal hero by curbing North Shore growth by buying the Turtle Bay now.

ALOHA SPIRIT

JAKE SHIMABUKURO WOWED NYC AUDIENCE

I am at college in New York, but was born and raised in Hawai'i. I'm writing because I recently saw Jake Shimabukuro perform at the Highline Ballroom in New York City.

I've been to his performances at home, but in much more casual (and free!) venues.

I went to see him perform because I enjoy his music, and also because I was curious about what kind of crowd he would draw and how he would play toward an East Coast audience.

He drew an enthusiastic full house; the crowd of diverse ages and races kept begging for encores. I was amazed not only by his undeniable talent on the 'ukulele, but by his humble and gracious spirit as he explained the stories behind his songs, and how he seemed completely unfazed by the wildly favorable reaction from the audience.

His talent can speak for itself, but his unassuming friendliness radiated a warmth of much more meaning.

It was so gratifying to see that the aloha spirit translates well no matter how far away from home.

RAIL

SCARE TACTICS CLOUDING DISCUSSION OF TRANSIT

Misinformation and scare tactics are being used to oppose rail transit, which is by far the safest, cheapest, most fuel-efficient, economical, best ecological and environmental form of mass transportation.

Rail is not forced to get its energy from oil, nor does it require thousands of feet or acres of land for its right-of-way.

Unlike the roadway entity, both the fixed-plant and rolling stock of rail will remain major-maintenance free for years, providing both are properly engineered and constructed. Even with local stops, rail will be faster than roadway over distance. But the stop-everywhere-one-pokey-train scenario is a failure waiting to happen.

Governing factions have the right idea but the wrong concept. What is needed is a light-rail transit system coordinated with the roadway mode as a meaningful entity for the people and not the show-off Christmas tree novelty it may become.

And as for increased traffic in the future, simply add another car to the train in lieu of another roadway for gas-guzzling vehicles.

EDUCATION

DOE IS STUDYING WAYS TO COOL OFF CLASSROOMS

Congratulations to three Campbell High School students for their clearly written letters to the editor advocating for air conditioning at their school.

They are right: heat and aircraft noise are not conducive to learning.

The Department of Education is challenged to respond to changes in community expectations about comfort in classrooms. Conditions that were "normal" 40 years ago are no longer acceptable. However, the cost to air condition all classrooms is about $750 million statewide. This does not include electrical improvements that will be required to provide sufficient electrical capacity to operate the air-conditioning equipment. It also does not include the ongoing cost of the electricity needed to operate the air- conditioning equipment.

At the current rate of $5.3 million per year (the amount appropriated by the 2007 Legislature for heat and noise abatement in the current fiscal year), it will take about 140 years to complete the air conditioning of all schools.

Clearly, this is not acceptable. Yet at the same time, we need to keep in mind that the funds for air conditioning come from the same pot as funds for other needed school projects.

The DOE is therefore looking at other measures to reduce discomfort in classrooms and selected 'Ewa Beach Elementary and Kahuku High & Intermediate Schools for a pilot program.

Preliminary options include adding insulation and reflectivity to roofs and sun-shading devices at windows to prevent heat from entering the buildings, and solar vents and ceiling fans to improve comfort inside the classrooms. In addition, shading provided by trees and other vegetation can be added.

'Ewa Beach Elementary is very close to Campbell; the results at 'Ewa Beach Elementary will be useful in determining what, if anything, can be done quickly to improve comfort levels in Campbell's classrooms.

Additionally, to address the increasing cost of electricity and the need to reduce the DOE's carbon footprint, we are nearly ready to request proposals from vendors of photovoltaic systems to install PV on the roofs of eight DOE buildings, with at least one in each county. If this pilot program is successful, we will be able to expand it fairly quickly to more schools.

STATE ART MUSEUM

'UNCOMMON OBJECTS' A SHOW WORTH SEEING

Whether you're a museum regular or don't go unless you have to, I invite and strongly urge you to visit the Hawai'i State Art Museum soon.

The current exhibition, "Uncommon Objects," displays more than 150 works of art owned by me and you, the people of Hawai'i, bought with Art in Public Places funds.

It is a truly remarkable collection, uncommon because many are everyday items made from ceramic, fiber, wood, glass and metals not usually the stuff of "fine art."

Two temporary theaters show videos about arts/crafts processes and an "exploration station" lets us kids (of all ages) touch and play, a no-no elsewhere in the museum.

Huge credit goes to Hawai'i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts staff, including curator Stacey Uradomo-Barre, exhibit specialist James Kuroda and his team and Susan Hogan, museum educator. They designed and installed a special, inviting and welcoming art show.

You paid for it; you may as well enjoy it.

"Uncommon Objects" runs through the end of July, but if you visit before April 4 you will also see the 45th Annual Hawai'i Scholastic Art Award winners on display. You will be amazed. Trust me.