Get it right for a change
North Kona Councilman Holeka Inaba and other Hawaii County Council Members want to cut back on tourism, the major industry in the state of Hawaii. You, West Hawaii, put a story on the front page for all tourists to see. Where has the aloha gone?
We are just coming out of a lock down pandemic across the country. Our economy depends on tourism in this state. We have been overjoyed and welcome with a big aloha these folks willing to prove vaccination go through testing regime, wear a mask for five-plus hours on an airplane to get here.
Please get it right for a change, you politicians. Your constituents who voted for you depend on tourism big time to support themselves and families, and to pay your wages.
Carol Miles
Kailua-Kona
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Do not ignore the laws
An open letter to all Hawaii County Department of Environmental Management Commission members, past and present: The federal government created a law that prohibits the use of gang cesspools. The Environmental Protection Agency enforces that law. They are slack with enforcement in Naalehu. The County of Hawaii is in violation of the federal law. They are negligent.
The Naalehu homeowners who are connected to the illegal gang cesspool are forced to pay a sewer bill. The county is oppressive.
Environmental Management Commissioners must not ignore the laws, which they are sworn to uphold. They ignore these laws. They are guilty of malfeasance.
Jerome Warren
Naalehu
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Make it easier, not harder
I have two family members coming to visit in a couple of weeks. They have both been vaccinated for COVID. Even though they have proof of vaccination, they must be tested for COVID again before flying. It didn’t seem like a big deal until they realized that they have to go to the airport for the test 72 hours before traveling to Hawaii, and the airport is an hour drive each way. If that wasn’t bad enough, now they each have to pay $90 for the test. This extra burden of $180 per couple can’t be good for business, and tourism is our business.
We spend millions of dollars each year through the tourist bureau trying to attract tourists. You would think that now that the COVID battle is subsiding, and especially after the drought in tourism and the crushing blow to our economy that it caused is finally starting to recover, that we would find ways to make it easier and more affordable to come to Hawaii, not harder. Just when it looks like we are making progress, we will find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Mike Swerdlow
Waikoloa
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Take full responsibility for your actions
A man causes a collision, is found guilty of second-degree negligent homicide, and sentenced to five years in prison (West Hawaii Today, May 18). He remarks to the judge prior to sentencing, “I just ask for forgiveness from God.” Instead of asking for forgiveness from some mythical, magical, unseen being; he alone should take full responsibility for his actions.
But why should he when almost every person guilty of a crime asks someone, usually unseen, for forgiveness? Even in the death chamber there is always a spiritual advisor, be it a rabbi, priest, minister or some other divine person to help the guilty party accept death. The words these charlatans use is always the same, ending with “May God have mercy on your soul.”
Michael L. Last
Naalehu
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