TRANSIT

THINK LONG TERM AND ROUTE RAIL TO AIRPORT

An opinion from a longtime Salt Lake resident: Put the rail to the airport.

Listen, it is about the visitors. That is what keeps this island ticking, like it or not. Let us upgrade this city to first class for the visitors. Right now, it is not.

For a visitor to be able to walk out to a platform, grab a light rail into Waikiki (I know it only goes to Ala Moana — baby steps), get off and walk to their hotel, is where this needs to go.

Any city worth its salt does this. Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Atlanta, Paris and so on.

Right now, our visitors have to grab taxis, vans, buses, rental cars and fight the traffic into Waikiki.

With rail, time is predictable and hassle free. It really does alleviate a lot of the stress for the traveler. And, isn't that what travelers are looking for, stress relief?

Let us not pander to those few who benefit from not having rail to the airport.

Let us think long term and overall health for this economy.

TOURISM

TRAFFIC TICKET IN WAIKIKI WAS UNFAIR

I got a ticket going 'ewa on Kalia, going through the stop sign turning right onto Saratoga. There were three policemen waiting with flashlights waving lots of cars over.

I pointed out that because of the large construction wall the sign was hidden. They replied that there was a warning sign.

I took pictures of the bent STOP sign. The pictures showed how the sign was hidden by the construction wall and also clearly showed that one could only read OP as it was too bent to even read STOP. And that one couldn't even see the sign, as by the time you made the turn around the wall, it was hidden by the car's roof.

My appeal was denied by the court. I think that this is a heck of a way to encourage tourism.

RESOURCES

CATCHMENT SYSTEM WOULD CUT WATER BILLS

I have to agree with Logan Davis' Nov. 25 letter to the editor regarding the filtering of storm water for drinking and/or washing use.

We harness the sun for solar energy instead of electricity to heat our water, we convert to CFL bulbs to save on electricity, we harness wind power to save on electricity, why not have water catchment systems like hundreds or even thousands do on the Big Island?

Large families as well as businesses can benefit from a catchment system during heavy rains and minimize their current water bill.

When the water tank goes empty, the consumers go back to using the regular water service until the next rains come.

Those not familiar with water catchment systems may be pleased to know that today's systems are very sophisticated with quality water filtration and even ultraviolet systems used to kill bacteria before it reaches your drinking glass. Imagine the savings on your monthly water bills.

MARRIAGE

UNDEFINE SOMETHING AND IT NO LONGER EXISTS

Most Americans believe it's common sense that marriage is for one man and one woman. They believe gays and lesbians have a right to live as they choose, but they don't have a right to redefine marriage for our entire society.

When you define something, you define what it is, and by doing that you define what it is not. Now, that's not discrimination. You define that two plus two is equal to four, and by defining that you, also, say that two plus two cannot equal five, six, seven or eight.

When we begin to redefine marriage, we're going to say that what has traditionally been the very core of Western civilization — and really around the world — is going to be undefined. And when it becomes undefined, it ceases to exist.

SUPERFERRY

WHY USE TAX DOLLARS FOR BARGE REPAIR?

Whether you are for or against the Superferry, these facts concerning repairs to the loading dock at Kahului Harbor should be of interest to all Hawai'i taxpayers.

Archive the Nov. 7 issue of The Honolulu Advertiser for the compete story. Keep in mind the Superferry is a for-profit business.

The loading dock built at Kahului Harbor as per specifications by the Superferry was almost immediately damaged. This resulted in the state stepping in and using Hawai'i tax dollars to provide a tugboat service to keep the barge in place during loading and unloading. From January to September 2008 we paid $503,000.

The barge has been declared unsafe. The Superferry states the barge has to be immediately repaired for service to continue during the winter months. The Superferry and state want Hawai'i taxpayers to pay $414,284 for repairs and to exempt the state from its legal procurement process.

With our economic problems, cuts to our school system, healthcare, child care, etc. is it fair to use our tax dollars to keep a for-profit business floating? What's more important? You be the judge.

WAVE ENERGY

HAWAI'I MUST LOOK TO PROVEN TECHNOLOGIES

It was informative reading Rep. Cynthia Thielen's (Island Voices, Nov. 16) commentary in which she discussed wave energy converters (WECs) as a alternative energy source for Hawai'i.

It is not clear that WECs will be a pragmatic choice until current fledgling efforts validate the technology. Presently, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) estimates wave power could eventually meet (only) 10 percent of total U.S. demand. Existing prototype WECs produce electricity at three times the cost of wind turbines.

WECs use air or water in floating turbines to generate electricity.

Based on limited experience, it will be difficult to anchor WEC farms and protect them. They will be expensive to maintain due to exposure to salt water and wind as well as the difficulty of performing routine maintenance, especially on undersea cables that tie WECs to land-based utility grids.

As Jay Fidell (Think Tech) also points out, "the most expensive part (of the new wind energy project) is an undersea cable," estimated by HECO to cost between $500 million to $800 million and without an identified source of funding.

Rep. Thielen's enthusiastic support of WEC technology is admirable but premature. As the rush to develop biofuels (e.g. ethanol) has shown, adopting alternative technologies in their infancy may have distressing, albeit unintended, consequences (shortage of food).

Hawai'i's ultimate solution to its energy needs will be a judicious combination of proven alternative technologies: solar, wind, geothermal and perhaps waves.

HYDROGEN FUND

DBEDT LOOKING OUT FOR INTERESTS OF STATE

The state's handling of the current hydrogen fund contract is accomplishing exactly what The Advertiser calls for — ensuring that the state money is handled in a transparent manner that re-affirms the public's trust.

Under Act 240, passed by the Legislature in 2006, the Department of Business and Economic Development is responsible for ensuring that $4.1 million in public funds are invested wisely by the firm awarded the contract, Kolohala Holdings.

The hydrogen fund contract was signed in August. Work is already under way on two of the three tasks in that contract. The third task requires an investment agreement between Kolohala and the state so that the state retains control over the investments.

We cannot and will not sign documents that set forth terms unfavorable to Hawai'i's taxpayers, such as imposing penalties on the state for investing our own money or indemnifying this private firm from liability for their actions. This is not right, it is not legal and it is an example of what got Wall Street into its recent trouble.

Rushing to finish the agreement also is not proper or prudent. Details need to be finalized, and it is not the practice of this administration to negotiate in the press.

We believe DBEDT's expert energy team is performing the due diligence necessary to make sure the hydrogen fund program operates in the best interest of all of the people of Hawai'i.