Slap-on-the-wrist sentences becoming the norm
How much is a human life worth on Hawaii Island?
Hilo Circuit Judge Henry Nakamoto ruled a human life is worth 10 months in jail, with four years probation, during which time the defendant is barred from taking intoxicants. This relates to Eric-John Semana’s recent sentencing for the death of a passenger in a vehicle Semana was driving. Oh, and there were two other injuries in that car, one so seriously injured that transfer to Oahu was necessary.
Semana stated, in court, “I’m very sorry. I feel very bad for what happened, I’ve come a long way since then and I’m starting to become a better person”. (That has the deputy public defender’s fingerprints all over it). Nakamoto was impressed by Semana’s resolve and pleased with his progress. Really? Do you have personal knowledge of his progress, or did you hear it from someone else, maybe the Deputy Public Defender Patrick Munoz? Did you consider, Judge Nakamoto, the fact that the 18 year old victim, if he could be asked, would probably say he would love to spend 10 months in jail for the ability to live and breathe again.
What about the two other two injured passengers? Did you consider them? And Semana, you’re ” starting to become a better person.” Will you actually become a better person, or will you regress to your former life: of multiple vehicular infractions such as going 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, fleeing from the police at speeds of 120 mph? Etc. ? Is there anybody out there in la-la land that thinks 10 months jail (time served) and four years probation is what a human life is worth? What about the prosecutor? Were you at the sentencing?
Oh, if you’ve been reading this paper, you know that these slap-on-the-wrist sentences are becoming the norm. It appears the lawless and rule breakers will soon swamp the folks who obey laws.
R. Brogan
Kailua-Kona
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Behavior around monk seals appalling
On Oct. 31, my wife and I went to Kekaha Kai State Park in Kona for a beach day. We were there early and about 9:30 a.m. we were thrilled to see a Hawaiian monk seal swim up to the beach. Unfortunately, a tourist ran at her from one side and many other beachgoers ran toward her from the other side. The seal was trying to come up the beach. A monk seal volunteer was trying to move everyone back, so the seal could have its space. The monk seal lunged at the guy who was about 5 feet from the seal, and paying no attention to the volunteer.
The volunteer managed to get the other people to back off, and the seal went back in the water, swam farther down the beach and came ashore.
I was appalled at the behavior of the beach people closing in on the seal. The volunteer then set up signs and roped off the area the seal was in. Many people were very concerned over what had happened. I talked to this volunteer from The Marine Mammal Center, and she explained that the seal was threatened by people on both sides of her, very close and running to her, and she was vulnerable, being on the shore, not in the water where she could swim away. The volunteer explained that monk seals are not dangerous, when not threatened, which was obvious with the seal who was now sound asleep.
I learned that this beach is popular with seals, yet there are many people on this beach. Seals need to be wild. This would be a marvelous opportunity for this unimproved road into the beach to be a walk-in only, and this area turned into a wildlife sanctuary. Lots of turtles here, too.
Mahalo to all the volunteers who help keep the seals wild, and protect not only the seals, but people on the beach. I won’t comment on the nene that have been killed recently.
Jon Clark
Volcano
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