Cost is peanuts
In response to the July 24 letter from Hildene Callies regarding HELCO’s $20,000 donation to education, I would like to point out that with 84,309 customers on the Big Island, the “cost” comes to a one time amount of less than 24 cents per customer.
This is so minimal that it should not be faulted but instead applauded. It is another example that if we all give collectively a lot can be accomplished. I for one want to thank HELCO for giving back to our community on the Big Island.
Robert Klotz
Ocean View
Stop with the mudslinging
Enough already! I’m sick and tired of the same handful of people who shovel dirt during the election season for no other reason than to soil the reputation of a good man so their candidate may be viewed in a better light.
Wally Lau has led a life of integrity, devoting his career to the most vulnerable members of our society, at Kamehameha Schools with Native Hawaiian children, at the Neighborhood Place with those who need a hand to better themselves, and as the highest-ranked official in West Hawaii to build a better community.
A safer, healthier community is the result of his time in government. We have more parks and roads, a modernized civil defense program that has kept us safe from tsunami and tropical storms, and an overall increase in satisfaction with government. What I haven’t seen is the cry for two counties that was so common during the Harry Kim Administration.
While certain Debbie Downers in our community incessantly yap about integrity and trust in government, the good residents of the Island of Hawaii are intelligent enough to tune out this white noise and recognize the current administration for its strong and equitable leadership.
A vote for Wally Lau is a vote to continue down this sound path.
Hiram Rivera
Kailua-Kona
Preserve our precious beach
I find it quite sad that the county does not support organizations that work to protect our aina, whether it be on land or in the sea. I have been a volunteer at Kahaluu beach since 2010, and even though my colleagues and I have been giving of our time and energy for a long time, all requests for a simple protect beach designation has yet to be completed. I do not see why a simple sign on the three beach tables designating that they are reserved for the Kohala Education center cannot be done. Right now, we were told that if we wanted to use those three tables and a group had rented the premises, we had to ask them for permission to use those tables. I think the protection of our coral and our marine life should take precedence, especially if the renters don’t even use these tables.
As a child growing up in Kona, I recall many Sunday school picnics at Kahaluu when there were no turtles because there were no federal protections for them. We never even thought about the coral as we swam and played in the water. Now that I am older and wiser, I realize the importance of preserving the coral, not only as homes for our fish and smaller marine creatures but for the future generations.
I wish the county could come see what we are doing to preserve our precious beach and take steps to help us protect it.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Reef Teach Volunteer Kahalu’u beach
Wrong side of history
Tulsi Gabbard once again is on the wrong side of history with her support and nomination for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic convention. I am still having a hard time understanding how Sen. Sanders, an Independent Democratic Socialist, who is not a registered Democrat, was allowed to run in the Democratic primary.
How can his supporters sit in the convention hall and boo my candidate Hillary Clinton? Either sit respectfully and be quiet or depart and go work for and vote for Trump, or the Green Party, or the Libertarian Gary Johnson, but don’t rain on our parade. You backed the loser Tulsi and once again you prove you are a DINO.
Marian Hughes
Waimea
