Letters to the Editor

End ethanol

I’ve been hearing talk about ending the ethanol blending mandate, and all for good reasons: such as non-realization of the expected 700 new jobs, no revival of the local sugar industry, no reduction in energy imports and lower gas mileage in vehicles.

The main reason for discontinuing the ethanol mandate, though, is the unintended consequences arising from this blend. One article quoted Lance Tanaka, director of government and public affairs for Hawaii Independent Energy, saying that HIE has consistently opposed blending decrees because of “the unintended consequences that can arise,” but he did not go into detail.

One example of this “unintended consequence” is that the use of ethanol in small-engine devices (lawn edge trimmers, lawn mowers, power washers, leaf blowers, etc.) has proven to be a disaster. The ethanol blend gums up and otherwise damages the carburetors of these devices. I personally have had my maintenance costs for these tools skyrocket. And two of these tools had to be scrapped and replaced because they had become damaged beyond repair.

Further, I’ve read and heard from mariners that they experience similar problems in their boat engines, particularly outboards.

All of this is because of ill advised government intervention.

Fortunately, “ethanol-free” gasoline is now available at several local gas stations, so consumers “in-the-know” can avoid their tools being damaged or destroyed by this blend.

Don Brown
Kapolei

Sacred heights

Mount Fuji is considered sacred in Japan, with countless reverencing in folklore, religion, songs, art and literature over millennia. Imagine crossing land bridges from mainland Asia, awestruck by the beauty of snow-clad Fuji.

Now imagine Polynesian voyagers crossing the equator from the steamy South Pacific into the breezy north, transfixed in wonderment by the snowfall on majestic Mauna Kea.

Japan is respected for its traditional beliefs, and determines its own cultural identity. Native Hawaiians are shortchanged by the flip side of that coin.

R.K. Nobori
Waikiki

Satan is real

Up until now, Jay Sakashita’s commentaries on Christianity have been misinformed, but in the column about Satan he ignores all the standard critical interpretations to formulate a mishmash of others’ commentaries.

Most people who have sat through several years of Sunday School or adult Bible classes will recognize his problems. They know that you cannot take one or two Bible verses without reference to all the other references to Satan. For example, Revelation 20:2 speaks of “the dragon, that old serpent, who is the Devil and Satan …” He is a person, not an idea, who appeared to Christ in the wilderness.

Regardless of whether one believes the Biblical narrative or Mr. Sakashita’s version, it would be worthwhile for inquirers to remember Mr. Sakashita is a college instructor, not a Biblical scholar. Or, as he stated in his Dec. 24, 2014, column, “Question Authority.”

Carol R. White
Honolulu