Letters to the Editor: 2-24-16

Hawaii needs to show more

solar commitment

Germany is approximately 34 times larger than the Island of Hawaii, between the latitudes of 47 and 55 degrees north, meaning it doesn’t get nearly as much solar energy as we do here and they produce at least 60 percent of their electricity by means of solar power.

Germany has a population of about 80.5 million while Hawaii County has slightly less than 195,000, from the last census estimate. That’s over 412 times the population of our island. Here on Hawaii Island at approximately 19 degrees north latitude, a surface area considerably smaller thAn Germany, we are piddling around with a much smaller solar commitment which is supposed to take years to achieve. If Germany had our solar resource, they would have enough for themselves and be able to export their excess.

Dave Kisor

Pahoa

In response to ‘stop the

prison-bed business’ letter

When I began reading this letter I was thinking, “this could have some merit.” Then I read the second paragraph and tossed that idea out the window. I admit to not knowing Palikapu Dedman but my opinion of him today isn’t very high.

Lowering himself by insinuating we take action “to correct this racist disproportionate imprisonment and length of sentences against Hawaiians” is one of the most arrogant/ignorant things I’ve read recently. It’s like telling those living in Chicago that “too many blacks are being arrested” for committing crimes. There is nothing racist about arresting someone for committing a crime regardless of who they are, color/race should not play a part.

If Hawaiians are committing the crimes they should do the time. Dedman should be looking at why so many Hawaiians are committing crimes and being arrested! Could it be that our own (state) government, catering to social programs instead of creating jobs, is encouraging and fertilizing the high crime rate? Implying that the penal system of Hawaii discriminates and is racist makes the rest of his letter a joke.

Frank Dickinson

Kailua-Kona

‘Try Wait’ is wise

I thought the residents of Kapuulehu are very wise to require a ban on fishing in their area. It’s a very pono way to insure that there will be fish and other seafood for the future generations.

I hope the DLNR gives the ban a green light and helps save the natural resources of this fishing village. Too many places have been fished out and where once there were lobsters and Kona crabs are long gone.

Colleen Miyose-Wallis

Kailua-Kona

College grand opening

time to say thanks

As the grand opening of Hawaii Community College, Palamanui Campus is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, I wish to say mahalo nui loa for all those involved, including Hawaiian ancestors of Palamanui, investors, staff members, those in the political sector, educators, students, community members, those outside the community, visitors, volunteers, many in the “background’ and in the “foreground” going back decades, to now present day and into the future, for the creation of the campus and the future growth.

I believe the Palamanui campus is for all to learn with aloha and to spread the aloha, whereever the student may go. I also humbly say to all students, look at the wonderful Palamanui campus, it is your campus. Do know you have an important voice to communicate with aloha about and for Palamanui.

Mahalo.

J.A. Mulvihill

Palamanui student

HIHS should be proactive

In response to the “Howling mad” article, I would like to comment on the last paragraph where HIHS says it comes down to personal responsibility regarding spaying and neutering one’s animals. While that is absolutely correct, it is also very important to educate the public about the benefits of spaying and neutering as well as dispelling some of the myths (dog will become fat, dog will become a sissy, dog needs her first heat, etc.).

I would like HIHS to take a proactive, leadership position in our island’s pet overpopulation problem rather than the passive, reactive position they are currently in. Money spent up front with appropriate education will be saved many times over in the future.

Why are regular spay and neuter clinics not held? Perhaps pay the owner $50 for each pet that gets fixed as some people need incentives to change their ways.

The goal of every person employed at HIHS (as well as the board of directors) should be to put themselves out of a job when there are no more unwanted pets that need homes.

Yvonne Taylor

Kailua-Kona

Checking facts is critical

I was reading the article about the use of ohia leaves in the hula for the upcoming Merrie Monarch celebration and that they were considering a kapu in order to prevent the spread of the rapid ohia death. Several times the article mentioned it as a virus which is totally incorrect. A few times it was mentioned correctly as a fungus.

I am a scientist, retired clinical laboratory scientist, and as such I know how important it is to report correctly. In medicine it can be life or death. I just want to emphasize how important it is to report things as factually correct as possible. While I understand that getting the story ready for a printing deadline is important, so is getting the facts correct in the story.

With the Internet access so available, even on phones, I cannot accept any excuse for not quickly checking facts to insure accurate reporting. OK, I said what I wanted to on that.

Second, the energy company that wants to buy Helco. Take a look at what they did in Nevada. Look into campaign donations to Hawaiian legislators who are supporting their take over. Dig deeply because there is a huge story there and if the people of the state of Hawaii knew just how bad this company was they would rebel at the thought of a takeover.

John Pierce

Waikoloa

Make HIHS change by voting

Three cheers for Tasi Autele of Big Island Dog Rescue for telling the truth (WHT letter to the editor, Feb. 16)!

The HIHS has never offered our Hawaiian community the two most important services that they are contracted to provide:

1. Catching stray dogs;

2. Offering free classes to educate current and would-be dog owners and adopters so that they can solve behavior problems and keep their dogs.

Beyond that, the HIHS should be training the dogs that they get to make them good on leash and well-socialized, and should offer free spay and neuter services every week of the year.

The problem is not lack of funding; the problem is that the HIHS does not have the knowledge or skill set to educate dogs or their owners, and does not have the desire to be our community’s dogcatcher, and have no profit motive for doing either. They try to justify their extremely high kill rate by claiming that most of the animals they get are not suitable for adoption, which is absolutely false. It would be the utmost in charity to think that the HIHS merely comes to this conclusion because of their profound ignorance of ethology and animal psychology, and not because they make much more money by killing animals the rest of the community would love to love and give homes to.

It is about time that we demand that our elected officials either get the HIHS to honor its contract in these areas, or hire a different contractor who is willing and able to do so, or that we elect different people to office! We voters do have the power to get this done.

Write to all of your elected officials and then vote with your hearts!

Dr. Carl F. Oguss

Hilo

System should rehab

over seeking revenge

Palikapu Dedman’s letter (“Stop the prison-bed business”) reminded us that “40 years ago the state’s Correctional Master Plan talked about the need for alternatives to prison, but the alternatives were never seriously implemented.” I was the correctional consultant for the House Corrections Committee and can confirm he is correct.

Ohana Hoopakele now recommends that before building a $485 million prison, we try to honestly implement alternatives. The money saved could pay for education and the homeless programs. One of their suggestions is “community based” Hooponopono centers. The corrections equivalent of the hooponopono concept has a long history of successful implementation in the U.S. prison community, as well as U.K. and Canadian mental health programs. It is called a “therapeutic community” concept, conceived by Dr. Maxwell Jones during WWII.

California tried the concept at minimum security Chino in the 1940s, and New York state implemented such a program as long ago as the 1960s at maximum security Dannemora. But American politics, which believes more in revenge than in rehabilitation, has prevented the implementation of these demonstrably successful programs.

Perhaps Gov. Ige and the legislative leadership can overcome this need for vengeance and actually develop prison programs that change offenders’ attitudes about society so they come out of prison wanting to offend no more. It would be nice if “crooks” became “non-crooks” because of what they learned in prison instead of in spite of what they learned there.

Lanric Hyland

Kapaau

Work on problem, don’t attack opinions

This letter is in response to the Feb. 13 “Panhandling, fundraising, both legal” letter by Tom Munden.

I find your machine gun style of personal attacks against restaurateur Mr. von Platen uncalled for. Your cocky attitude is exactly what angers locals. Like it or not, Mr. Munden, people have to learn how to fit in here or as many know, Hawaii will naturally weed out those who do not.

That’s the way it is.

Although I don’t personally know Mr. von Platen, I know of him. He had a good idea for a restaurant, found a great location and provides a needed service. He’s been successful and, last I checked, that is the American way. Like most of us Mr. Von Platen sees the problem of panhandlers on every corner and offered an idea. That does not place him in the “Elitist Club.”

We need solutions to the growing panhandling problem and should not take the stance of, “It’s their constitutional right,” so tough.

Our panhandle/homeless situation is difficult enough without the additional influx of homeless people given a one-way ticket to Hawaii from mainland welfare agencies. This has gone on for years.

Like others, I have given panhandlers food and money. If you’ve ever gone hungry you know how awful that feels. As we know many have mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse issues. This is a complex problem and Kona does not have enough professional resources or needed manpower to manage it. I hear housing assistance is being discussed. I hope transitional counseling, ongoing mental health evaluations and services will be provided.

I would like to thank those who are working on this islandwide dilemma. Your time and efforts are appreciated. Homelessness and panhandling affects all of us in some way. How can our community help?

Carrie Moore

Kailua-Kona