Follow the guidelines
I am happy we must stay-at-home until May 31. Why? Do I like it? No. Then why? Because I love and respect my family, friends, community, and myself.
Nearly half of all of our COVID-19 cases on the Big Island have been within the last two weeks from one person infecting coworkers who then infected their family members. The first COVID-19 patient admitted to the hospital was this week. Scary to think we might have opened things up right when we started to spike. Now is the time to be super vigilant. Please everyone, be respectful of your selves and others. Follow the new guidelines.
Cindy Ku’upua Whitehawk
South Kona
A job well done
On Thursday morning, we smelled smoke and were alarmed to see a brush fire in progress less than a mile away from us and quite close to the homes of some of our neighbors and friends. The fire department worked all day and half the night to extinguish it. We were impressed with their skills and dedication to the task at hand. I’m sure our neighbors join us in thanking them for a job well done.
We are grateful for our firefighters, police force, and teachers and thus were upset when Gov. David Ige proposed closing some of the gaps in his budget by cutting their salaries by 20%. If anyone’s salaries need to be cut, he should be looking in some other directions. He could start with his bloated administration who typically are more obstructionist than helpful. He could keep the Maunakea Access Road open and not pay the police to monitor the protesters. (If the protesters had to pay a few hefty fines for continuing to break the law, they might give it up; in the meantime, the government could recapture some of the money they have wasted on them already.) He could have the DMV take care of most of is business online or over the phone. (Oh well, forget that — they never answer their phone.) He could reward people who are actually out there doing their jobs and not just writing memos to one another.
Firefighters, police officers and teachers are on the front lines, and they are already underpaid. Again, most of us appreciate what these folks do. It would be refreshing if our leadership would acknowledge the value of their work rather than threaten to cut their salaries.
Kerrill Kephart
Kohala
The sad future of Hawaii Island
It was interesting to read the WHT article about Stacy Higa and other hopefuls for the Hawaii County mayor position. Does Mr. Higa really think the voters of this island forgot his past while in public office? Does Mr. Higa really think the voters forgot he much he cost to the taxpayers during that time? It obviously was a big mistake to vote for Mr. Kim to be a mayor again, and I doubt the voters will make the same mistake again.
Going through the names of the other people who already pulled their papers hoping to be the Mayor, I can see the sad future of Hawaii Island. I sincerely hope someone who is really qualified will jump into the race before it’s too late, otherwise we can rename this island to the People’s Republic of Hawaii.
John S. Rabi
Kailua-Kona
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