Letters to the Editor: 3-13-16

Waikoloa an active, diverse community

I am always slightly bemused when a person or two people publicly claim that they speak for a whole community. Such is the case of the letter to the editor on March 10 from Cathy and Bob Barnard.

To say that “projects like hiking trails, fitness centers, Olympic size swimming pools, etc., are not wanted here…” is quite a presumption on their part. Statements like “homeowners in this community of 3,000-plus households are made up mostly of retirees on fixed incomes and hard working folks…” is also quite a presumption.

Did they actually do research or conduct a census of the citizens in our village before making that little “factoid” up? If you really want to see what kind of citizens we have living here, just drive through our village in the morning or middle of the day. You’ll see literally dozens of adults and children walking, running, biking, skateboarding, etc. You’ll see moms jogging behind strollers and people of all ages running here and there. We are a community of active, healthy people who love the outdoors. To claim that they speak for everyone and state that no one wants hiking trails, fitness centers, etc. is really just an out and out lie. In fact, I have had numerous conversations with parents and families here in Waikoloa who wish we had a fitness center, bike trails, hiking trails, a movie theater, etc.

I suggest the Waikoloa Association Board members listen to the real members of our community, the families who reside here full time all year and not to “snow birds” who only come here few months out of the year to escape winters on the mainland. Listen to the families who are growing up in this community whose children will one day be homeowners and can one day share hiking trails, bike trails, a fitness center, etc. with their children.

Shawn Lathrop

Waikoloa

Thank you firefighters, helpers

On behalf of Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, we wanted to tell everyone how thankful we are for the men and women of the following groups: Hawaii Fire Department, Kailua Volunteer Fire Department, Waimea Volunteer Fire Department and Hawaii Police Department as they worked to save the houses in the surrounding neighborhood and our church from the Komohana fire, last Wednesday and Thursday.

We are also reassured to see that the fireman are still on site, this week to make sure no flare-ups break out. We are also grateful for the members, friends of the church and complete strangers, who just showed up to man garden hoses until the fire trucks arrived and those that helped remove the books, important papers and computers from the church offices just in case the fire got completely out of control.

To everyone who had a hand in saving the surrounding neighborhood and our church, we must say we are blessed and God’s will was done.

Karen Lathrop

Office administrator, Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity

Kailua-Kona

Clarifying the Hawaiian Monarchy record

I would like to respond to the concerns expressed by Dean Nagasako “on the Hawaii government out of control” letter. He states that because of the high cost of living in many minds “the Hawaiian Independence government must take place in this so called paradise.” He seems concerned about the 6 percent general excise taxes. He then states as fact that the Hawaiian Monarchy was illegally overthrown and feels that what was stolen must be returned. He then quotes the Bible. It is difficult to respond as he never provides any idea of his qualifications to support his assumptions on the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.

Let me provide another view. As many of you know I was born on Hawaii in 1935, am well educated, much traveled and a student of Hawaiian history. The majority of my research material was written during the monarchy or shortly thereafter.

Based upon that, it is my opinion the monarchy was overthrown because the queen, after swearing allegiance to the Hawaii constitution, attempted to replace it with a new one greatly increasing her own powers. In her attempts to do this she lost the confidence of her cabinet and her supporters. A provisional government was then established under Judge Sanford Dole.

Both the overthrown queen and the provisional government applied to Captain Wiltse commander of the USS Boston for support. Both were refused. When “evidences of impending conflict” on Oahu became threatening, Captain Wiltse finally landed troops to protect the safety and property of Americans. Their orders were to maintain strict neutrality.

A very good reference is “The Boston at Hawaii” by Lucien Young who was in Honolulu at the time and privy to both sides. There are other references available that were written at the time and not subject to the historical revisions now in print.

Bob Green

Waikoloa

Research homeless problem solutions first

My suggestion is that before we decide to spend a small fortune on this problem, our leaders check with San Francisco, that city, and many others have been battling and trying to find solutions to this on-going problem for almost 45 years.

Maybe we should find out what, if anything, works and more importantly, what does not work. No sense throwing huge amounts of money to a problem that has been addressed many times before!

I know the social programs that are in place are available to anyone who wishes to use them but the rules that go along with these programs are not attractive to many folks, so be it! The tents coming back to the neighborhoods in Honolulu are described as the “chronic homeless” who do not want any help.

Cindy Smith

Kapaau

Plain ol’ $90M Jane

The first time I saw the “preliminary rendering” of the proposed Kona Judiciary Complex building I was struck with how plain the design was. Who is responsible for the decision to go with this design? Why pick a design that looks like every other building in Southern California?

Surely there’s an architect in Hawaii that come up with something more “tropical,” etc. in appearance! Just saying.

Claudia Steffen

Captain Cook

You go, girls!

Every day when I read WHT, I’m so happy to see my former students like Channel Molina doing so well in sports. Both she and her sister are remarkable athletes and deserve all the attention and scholarships.

I’m just so proud of all of our fine students from Konawaena and I just wanted to congratulate them on a job well done.

Colleen Miyose-Wallis

Kailua-Kona, former KMS art teacher