Reflecting on 2014
2014 was a fun year for Puna.
First, there was a lava flow, and then there was a hurricane that was rapidly downgraded to a tropical storm, some believe to prevent tourists from running scared.
What I call Tropical “Stormicane” Iselle took down a lot of trees and utility poles, which did quite a bit of damage, but the worst of it wasn’t natural.
Puna Geothermal Venture should have been shut down when Iselle made landfall, but due to a contract with Hawaiian Electric, they are operating near full strength. They’ve two lines out, one redundant in case one is severed. Under normal conditions, this wouldn’t have been a problem, but this wasn’t normal. If both lines are severed, they are forced to vent via an elaborate system, which if properly maintained should prevent the release deadly gasses, one of them being H2S (hydrogen sulfide).
Several emergency relief valves failed, and Puna makai was treated to what a retired engineer calculated to about 300 pounds of H2S for just short of two hours.
Someone on Oahu claimed the wind speeds were too high to cause a problem, but when you’re in the eye, the velocity is ideal. I have it on very good authority that the valves that malfunctioned in the open position were sent out for repair. If only we can be assured that all of the valves in the emergency relief system are receiving the requisite preventative maintenance.
If you were to take a tour of the facility, you would notice boxes all over stenciled with the letters SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus). That should tell you something.
Dave Kisor
Pahoa
Amend the Constitution
Congress could amend the Constitution to specifically define: the rights of the unborn, when human life begins in the womb, and women’s rights pertaining to the unborn. This would be a significant step in resolving the abortion issue.
While a long process, it would be better than eternally going back and forth on the issue and tearing the country apart.
One of the major problems in America is that we talk about and sometimes behave as if each “right” is absolute. Most are not.
Taken to the extreme, each right will violate someone else’s right. We have free speech, but we cannot falsely yell “fire” in a crowded theater. We can pursue happiness but not by hurting someone else.
While this solution is not great and will not satisfy both extreme sides of the abortion issue, it focuses the discussion on the three main issues, is workable, necessary and democratic.
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu
