Speeders aren’t victims
I want to thank Joyce O’Conner for a much -needed good laugh.
The protectors are having to go through hardships to not only save our Maunakea but to finally put Hawaiian recognition rights back into the forefront of discussion, which have, up until now, been on the back burner while Hawaiian lands have been misappropriated for profit.
The police are stationed up mauka to keep the peace, which leaves them with nothing to do, so why not catch traffic violators? After all, we need to pay for their time up there anyway so let them collect all the monies they can from lawbreakers to help pay for this unnecessary cost.
Ms. O’Connor, thank you for your contribution, by how, as a Hawaiian, you showed your contempt for the protectors, which only shows you are very comfortable with your lifestyle in Waimea, but that’s OK, too.
In your own way you and your fast car are helping the county through this hard financial time so please continue the good work, head up mauka as fast as you can. It appears by your statements that you can well afford the donations.
A big mahalo to you and all the other arrogant drivers who feel the villains are the protectors and the speeders are the victims. Mayor Kim needs all the financial help he can get.
Paul Santos
Ocean View
Tickets do shoppers disservice
Alii Sunset Plaza would do better concentrating on filling their numerous empty locations rather than issue parking tickets.
The few stores they have filled are suffering from the unpleasant and aggressive attitude of their parking policy which stops people from browsing, and encourages shoppers and restaurant guests go elsewhere.
Judith Orlopp
Kailua-Kona
Ban dangerous sunscreens now
A good number of locals attended a discussion at the West Hawaii conference room with guest speaker Dr. Craig Downs. What he revealed to us was quite surprising. The sunscreen ban isn’t going into effect until 2021 but we cannot wait that long. It is critical that the ban go into effect immediately. I don’t know if Gov. Ige has been swayed by the big corporations but if we wait any longer for the ban of oxybenzone products, we won’t have any live coral left to protect.
What shocked me was that the chemical oxybenzone causes birth defects and is harmful for those who use products containing these chemicals. I thought it was bad enough that it kills off corals but when I heard that it also causes other serious problems, I cannot believe that the government hasn’t banned these products completely.
We were told that after they had done their studies, places like Florida and the Virgin Islands no longer had any live coral. Tourism will die down if they cannot enjoy the beauty of the undersea world. Of course, our team at Kahaluu Beach provides free sunscreen to our visitors so they can leave their own products and use what is reef safe.
I hope Gov. Ige and the council take up this cause and follow through with banning all oxybenzone sunscreens in Hawaii.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Reef Teacher at Kahaluu beach, Kailua-Kona