Letters: 6-16-17

Protect our fish, reefs

The vast majority of Hawaii residents who care about respecting our aina and restoring the health of our coral reef and those like me who enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our reef wildlife can only hope that Gov. David Ige respects the will of the people and signs SB 1240, legislation discussed in your recent article “Bill signals beginning of the end for aquarium fishing.”

Thanks to a virtually unregulated aquarium collection trade that has ravaged Hawaii’s reefs, millions of fish of several species are missing from our waters. Nearly two thirds of West Hawaii’s reefs that are open to unlimited fishing by the aquarium trade, the numbers of yellow tangs – one of the most popular species among collectors – is an alarming 60 percent less than in marine protected areas closed to the trade before 2000.

Other populations of popular aquarium fish have experienced similar drastic declines. The Department of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for ensuring a thriving quantity of marine wildlife in Hawaii’s waters, but although the number of fish captured for the aquarium trade is nearly double the number of all fish taken by commercial, recreational and subsistence fishing combined, the agency has never placed catch limits on all but the most rare species of aquarium fish.

As a scuba dive master, I have seen firsthand the dissipation of aquarium fish species by the aquarium collectors. I’ve heard scuba diving tourists say that they will now vacation in Cancun, the Caribbean, Bahamas, and other places that have big fish populations, instead of Hawaii, because our reefs are now so barren. So we are losing big tourism from the scuba diving community which has noticed that the yellow tang and other colorful fish are gone.

Please call Ige at 586-0034 and urge him to sign SB 1240, to begin to restore this precious natural resource.

Doreen Virtue

Kamuela

Privatization of golf courses bad for locals

Here we go again with a wealthy foreign corporation bullying its way in with big money to take more control of what little is left to the kamaaina. Development has taken our beaches and built resorts, gated communities and private golf courses that discourage local participation.

Now along comes Oak Capital Corporation. Its head office is in Tokyo and it has deep pockets as an owner of various enterprises and now the proud owner of their very own golf course. A jewel in its crown. A feather in its cap. Bragging rights in Asia. Come over to Hawaii and see what we got. If we buy enough of its other junk, we may even end up paying for its trip.

Mr. Krzewalski had some good points but was a little naive and probably missed the crux of the situation that this is not necessarily profit motivated. Similar to Kona Country Club, the owners probably don’t care if the course ever breaks even. KCC used to have a full parking lot. Then they shut down for two years and closed the upper course and when they opened back up they made it clear that they don’t particularly want to ever see the local rift-raft again.

This should not be confused with privatization of courses on the mainland. There it is done to improve quality — encouraging more players by expanding community golf programs for juniors, seniors, disadvantaged youths and the disabled — and in the end make a profit.

The privatization of Big Island Country Club is more nefarious and is simply self-centered amalgamation of ego and hubris.

Daisy McDuff

Kailua-Kona

Stark contrast in tones

I would like to thank Sue Nimms and Bill Hastings for taking a step forward to explain the basic understanding of conservatism.

Please forgive Henry for his outburst but I understand his frustration. Sue and Bill gave a calm statement with no malice intended, just a statement. On the other hand, read the tone of Christa’s and Janice’s rebuttals. Can you see the difference?

For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t, no explanation is possible.

Bobby Tiffany

Kailua-Kona