Letters to the Editor: 12-5-16

Trails don’t end with intersections

A trail is a route, rather than a thing, but trails intersect. Does the intersection of a second trail destroy the first? I think not.

If a modern highway intersects a trail, one can still walk the trail, it still exists. There may be artifacts along a trail. There are accepted ways to preserve the artifacts other than leaving them in situ where natural forces will destroy them.

Kenneth Stuart

Honaunau

Privilege being your lifeguard

I have been a WSOII lifeguard with the Hawaii Fire Department for over 10 years, mainly working at Kahaluu and Magic Sands. I am leaving the service for various reasons but as I head out the retirement door I wanted to thank the good citizens of this island for letting me be your public servant for these many years.

The citizens of this great state make their lifeguards feel respected and that they make a difference in their lives. I also wanted the public to know that when you go to a guarded beach in Hawaii that tower guard’s job is to make sure that everyone who comes to their stretch of sand and ocean will go home to their loved ones or they will die trying.

In this job, when the surf is cranking and someone is in dire straits in the water, there is no time to think about their own welfare or their loved ones — they just go. It has been an honor for me to work alongside these men and women who are most excellent at what they do. Last year one of our very own (Kaleo Hauanio) was honored with the greatest rescue in the USA.

If I died tomorrow my epitaph would read “he was an average lifeguard who was lucky enough to work with some of the best lifeguards in the world.” That is the kind of people who are on watch in those towers all over the state day in and day out-for you.

Lastly, I want to thank the Sayre Foundation who have supported us and provided for us all of these years.

Sean Gallagher

Waikoloa