A picture’s worth a thousand words
They say one picture is worth a thousand words. I would say that is very true after I turned to page 7A of Monday’s edition of West Hawaii Today. What I saw was a picture titled “Holiday Wishes,” showing shoppers at a parking lot vendor sale sponsored by Kona Commons for the benefit of Make A Wish Hawaii.
What I also saw was vendor booths side-by-side with no spacing and lined up to form an narrow lane that provided no space for any social distancing. What I saw was shoppers shoulder-to-shoulder, making their way through the lane, though they were wearing masks, there was no distancing at all. I do not think Kona Commons should be given accolades for donating the vendor fees to Make A Wish Hawaii. A direct cash donation from Kona Commons would be a more proper way to support Make A Wish Hawaii than arranging an event to where you are attracting people and placing them in a situation where they are exposed and not following CDC and health department guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. As for holiday wishes I wish for everyone to stay healthy and safe.
Rex Goatcher
Kona
Hawaiian Home Lands and gambling
Well done, DHHL! The state Legislature won’t release monies due to Hawaiians for decades and now that the state is broke they will solve the problem on their own terms. And before the state wakes up and figures out that gaming would be a revenue win. And when we talk about the social impacts it’s telling that no one mentions the social issues of Hawaiians not having homes or a health care or education funds. But then we do have the issue of corruption in OHA that has tainted the agency but hopefully a lesson learned and not to be repeated — fingers crossed on that one. One thing for sure the state, which is us, is broke. Doing the same thing over decades has got us where we are. COVID just got us to pay attention.
Steve Kaiser
Hawi
Chilling free speech
In over three decades, I’ve seen some odd editorial statements made by this paper, but I’ve never read anything as mystifying and chilling as the recent apology from West Hawaii Today’s editor for having printed a well written, informative and timely letter regarding an important, and, of course, controversial topic. Incredulously, it’s been removed from the online version of the paper.
Our local paper isn’t locally owned and much of its revenue is dependent upon off-island, corporate advertising. This leads one to wonder if outside pressures might have been put upon local staff to take such peculiar and disturbing action. After all, isn’t the reason d’etre of an opinion column to be a public forum for airing, sharing, and arguing diverse views through a civil venue for civic causes? Why was that piece singled out when far more provocative and incendiary pieces appear regularly?
One can only hope that the editor’s apology isn’t an epitaph for this publication or the critical public discourse that depends upon it.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Kailua-Kona
Keep promoting excellence
I would like to thank West Hawaii Today for publishing the insert on Dec. 13 honoring the Nobel Laureates. It was so well-done and inspiring. I am a teacher and I always strive to show students how to achieve amazing success by working hard and following their interests. Wonderful addition to your newspaper. Keep promoting excellence in science for our young people.
Connie Green
Kapaau
Letters policy
Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321 or via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com.