Letters 5-6

HELCO

Grid story raises more question than answers

The article about the state of the HELCO grid (WHT, April 22) raises more questions than it answers with regard to integrating solar energy into the grid.

The interconnection requirements already in place are designed to minimize the risks raised by HELCO. With the fourth-highest PV wattage per customer, and its aging control equipment, it would be interesting to know if HELCO has actually experienced the problems raised in the article. If such problems have occurred, HELCO should share them with the renewable energy community so we can help avoid them in the future. If these problems have not manifest, that would suggest the protections already in place are sufficient.

Marvin Feldman

Captain Cook

Coral art

Adds charm to highway

While we were enjoying the wonderful people and sights of Hawaii recently, we were also dismayed to read about the people who consider the coral writing on the lava to be graffiti. We would like to add our opinion to the conversation and speak for, not only us, but the 40 family and friends who visited the island with us.

While graffiti is most often meant to mark a gang’s territory or to deface public property, we believe the messages made from dead coral are touching and heart-felt. They add charm to a portion of the highway that would be otherwise boring without them. They are unique to your island and we identify the Kona area with these wonderful writings.

Please hear all sides of the issue before rushing to ruin the messages of memory and love written on the lava. It is a precious and fun part of visiting your island. Are there others who might agree with us?

Jerry and Cindy Schultz

Olympia, Wash.

Coral complaint

Aloha works two ways

The recent interchange about the coral on the North Kona/South Kohala lava fields is a metaphor for the conflict that arises from the multiple layered nature of Hawaii.

At the Kaloko-Honokohau talk story session led by Danny Akaka, the white coral complaint was a comment that followed many stories from the kupuna of the Kaloko-Honokohau Ahuapuaa.

Because we have different experiences, we all see something different when we look at the lava fields. When the kupuna look at the lava fields, they see many lives full of hard work and serious endeavors, childhoods steeped in striving to survive. The know-how to coax food from the lava fields using water-soaked coconut core and rock enclosures had been handed down from generation to generation, with each successive one carrying on the knowledge and aloha aina.

But they also remember the joy — joy to be striving together with the ohana. And the mystery, the mysterious unexplainable force of mana that remains with a place long after events have unfolded. They understand they are formed and sustained by the aina and would never have considered pasting their individual manao across the blackened landscape.

It is this blackness on which the stories are written and when coral is superimposed on top of them they begin to be obscured and changed.

In the last 40 years or so, a new layer is added and different stories are told, mostly from people whose home is elsewhere and so they do not know the stories of this aina. When visitors look at the lava fields, they do not see the old stories, only a blank slate.

While attending a slack key festival on Oahu, I noticed a T-shirt that read: “Don’t mistake aloha for weakness.” Aloha can be disregarded by well-intentioned people who love this place in the only way they know how.

Although I have lived here for many years, I am continually learning lessons of aloha at the core of Hawaiian culture, such as inclusion, tolerance and love for the land. So, in deference to aloha, tolerance for those who feel the need to create coral messages is called for, however, aloha works two ways; visitors need to hear and respect the voices of the kamaaina, the people of this land so they can understand this beautiful culture, this magical land and enrich their lives with aloha.

That is the real treasure of this place.

Jan Wizinowich

Waimea

Feral cats

Animals are destructive invasive species

Has anyone seen a pueo in the Waimea area or on the Kohala Mountain road in the last five years? There used to be quite a population around here. However, there is a growing population of neutered feral cats around. These are a very destructive invasive species and should not be turned loose on our fragile environment.

I have given up raising chickens at our house, too, because they just end up being food for the wild cats. They are so bad, they even killed our cat over her food (she wore a bell to warn off birds and was mostly a house cat). I would guess they have killed off the Hawaiian stilt, or aeo, along the coast and are working on the remaining apapane and iiwii in our local forests.

We give such lip-service to invasive species and then have a law to protect feral cats. Does this make sense?

Cats should be cherished, loved, protected, fed and wear a bell if they bring in birds instead of mice.

Pat Hall

Waimea