Navy plans
Navy plans
Oppose sonar testing
I was in attendance at the recent meeting regarding the Navy’s Environmental Impact Statement at the Cultural Center in Hilo. My friend and I were one of the only people from the West Side there. While I found everybody representing the Navy polite and friendly, I had trouble believing the U.S. Navy has marine mammals’ health and safety its priority.
From my testimony: Hawaii’s tourism depends on the sea. Many boats bring hundreds of people a day from Honokohau Harbor out to spend time with dolphins and catch glimpses of humpback whales, pilot whales, false killer whales, turtles and more. The lure of the dolphins stretches all around the globe and groups spend vast sums of money here in the islands because of their desire to be around dolphins and whales. It should be noted back in the 1990s, when sonar testing was present off of the Kona Coast, people went into the water and developed nerve damage shortly afterwards. Marine mammals are no different, if not more sensitive. Everybody knows, including the Navy, sonar is deadly.
People of the Big Island, it’s time to wake up to the fact the Navy plans to amp up sonar in our waters next winter. Does it take a catastrophe for us to unite and confront the vehicle that could seriously affect our tourism industry, our fishing, our precious ocean and most of all our beloved dolphins and whales?
Ru Carley
Honaunau
Coastal pollution
End the cesspools
Regarding the release on the “freshwater” reef affected at Puako: The problem contributing to the pollution is more than 100 cesspools discharging raw sewage into the ocean. I converted mine to a septic tank 35 years ago, but my neighbors do not, frankly, due to cost. It should be “mandatory.” The Department of Health should have the power of law to compel them to convert.
Leon Thevenin
Puako
Coral graffiti
It supports economy
Thank you to Mr. Gregory for a letter that speaks the truth, along with much needed humor, about the “graffiti recovery project.”
By definition, graffiti “is writing scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.” Most of us do not consider the coral “art” alongside the highway as graffiti. Having been there for so many years, it is clearly a part of our landscape. In 1998, Pepsi Cola celebrated its 100-year anniversary by visiting the Big Island. It displayed various Pepsi Cola labels from 100 years back using the coral. It was truly amazing. No one should take it upon themselves to change that. Our coral roadways are synonymous with the Big Island, appearing briefly in George Clooney’s latest movie, “The Descendants.” If our visiting tourists want to display when they were here by adding their initials, or whatever, then I am happy they do so, along with supporting our local economy.
Mr. Burton and his volunteers should spend a day at some of our local beaches removing trash. I recently spent the day at Kawaihae beach known as “Break Wall.” What washed ashore was dangerous and disheartening. Broken glass bottles, rusted steak knives, dirty diapers, a discarded five-gallon plastic bucket were just a few items I collected and removed from the beach that day. I guess I should have also alerted the media.
Sue Johnson
Waikoloa Memorial Day
Poppy drive mahalo
Mahalo to all who proudly donated to the VFW poppy drive in Waikoloa on Memorial Day weekend.
I salute you on behalf of disabled, infirm and needy veterans of Hawaii and their families, who benefit through your contributions to this cause.
I would also like to offer a special thank you to Les Hanano, manager of Waikoloa Village Market, for making this drive possible.
Michael A. D’Amico
Wakoloa