Prepare an advance
health care directive
On Tuesday, April 16, the Tribune Herald published a letter in the “Dear Abby” advice column. It was written by a gentleman who related the events of his late wife’s sudden death.
He told of how his wife had been put on life support for a short period of time while her doctors determined the extent of her injuries, but when it was determined that she would remain in a vegetative state, she would be taken off of all life-sustaining equipment. He says that she died peacefully, quietly and quickly.
All this was possible because his wife had an advance directive stating that she did not want to continue living in this state. He says that it was his wife’s last gift to him, and that he will be eternally grateful for it. He encouraged Abby’s readers to make the time and effort to have an advance directive drawn up.
We are fortunate to live on the Big Island, where we have access to a service whose focus is to assist folks in completing their advance health care directives.
By contacting Community First at communtyfirsthawaii.org, one can review the upcoming schedule of free presentations and register for an upcoming event. Presentations can be attended in person, or via zoom. Participants will have their document witnessed and copies made, all free of charge.
Community First has assisted thousands of people complete their advance directive. It is a gift that will take the burden from your loved ones in the event you are no longer able to speak for yourself. Please consider making 2024 the year you complete your advance health care directive.
Katherine Rycraft
Hilo
Regarding Waikoloa
roundabout proposal
The front-page headline on April 13 stated, “Resistance to roundabout,” and discusses only the personal opinions of the members of the Waikoloa Village Association’s Board of Directors, not the community as a whole.
The board solely voted on and sent their “nonbinding resolution” to the county without any input from the community as a whole, and even without the knowledge of most of the members.
There was never any request for the views of the community through any kind of community meeting where the differences between streetlights and the roundabout were discussed and debated, or any survey of the members, before (or after) this resolution was written.
The opinions of those WVA members should only be considered their own personal opinions, not that of the WVA as a whole.
Pauline Johnston
Waikoloa
