Hawaii an energy beacon
This past legislative session saw a number of remarkable energy bills passed and signed. Hawaii is truly leading the nation in transforming the old utility model and advancing the cause of renewable energy.
The savings to consumers from ending the flow of money out of the state for imported oil is good news. A special shout out to Rep. Chris Lee and Rep. Nicole Lowen for their leadership. Both have shown extraordinary vision. Hawaii’s efforts have gotten national attention and we should all feel a sense of pride when Gov. David Ige signs these bills into law.
Steve Holmes
Kailua-Kona
Family separation
nothing new
Oh, my! Here we go again — fact-less news.
Obama held more than double the number of children in shelters compared to the Trump White House.
True: In June 2018, the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families under the Trump administration confirmed that it had as many as 10,852 undocumented children separated from their families in care at shelters. These children are not in prison. They are being taken care of by taxpaying American facilities. The kids will be reunited with their families once their parents have resolved their illegal status.
True: In fiscal year 2013, under the Barack Obama administration, the HHS office had as many as 25,000 unaccompanied children separated from their families in its care at shelters. These children were also not in prison, they were taken care of by taxpaying American facilities. The kids were reunited with their parents once their parents resolved their illegal status.
True: If you or I were arrested for doing something illegal and we had children, we would be separated from them while we sat in jail and resolved our legal problems. How is this any different from non-citizens coming into this country illegally? They committed a crime by entering this country illegally, that’s a crime. Fact, not fiction. Maybe you want to keep the kids with them in jail? Now, that would be cruel.
Wake up, America. The truth will set us free. Research the facts and stop making up stuff to satisfy your hate.
Anne Hamilton
Keauhou
Donating to students
always worth it
Having worked with the Newbery Quiz Bowl for several years has made me realize how the community in general feels about our children and their desire to improve their reading comprehension.
Unfortunately, our hotels are not willing to give us a break in the fees they charge us to hold our quiz bowls on their premises. It used to be $1,000 for the use of the ballroom for one day but now the hotels have decided to up their profit and charge $2,000 for the same ballroom. Fortunately for the Newbery team, Kamehameha Schools still provide their venue for free and many charitable vendors give willingly prizes for the students to encourage them to keep on reading.
When did the need for profit come before encouraging our students to become more literate?
Thank goodness for those vendors who feel the same as we do.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Kailua-Kona
