Letters — Your voice — for August 29

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Shocked by spike in insurance price

My hurricane insurance bill was a whopping 77% than last year (from $742 to $1,316)!

It’s like if gas was $4.66 per gallon and then rose to $8.25 per gallon! Or like the Hawaii median home price of $1,150,000 jumping to $2,035,500!

When I inquired, the insurance company representative simply said the the rate increase.

I don’t think we had a recent hurricane that caused massive statewide damage, so the incredible rate increase is a mystery (or my old-age forgetfulness). So, one would suspect that the insurance companies are going to because of the Maui wildfires may have something to do with it.

Somebody might not only be robbing Peter to pay Paul, but murdering Mary as well.

Maybe being priced out of paradise will be due to the current growing insurance crisis, especially for seniors on a fixed income.

Thank God, I’m too old for life insurance.

Leighton Loo

Mililani, Oahu

Musk’s endorsement is not surprising

So, Elon Musk is proudly showing his true colors with endorsing “you know who.”

It shouldn’t come as any surprise to any of us after he changed the Twitter sign to X, as that is just four short strokes from being a swastika.

Jeffrey Fendentz

Mountain View

Mahalo for quick response by HECO

A big mahalo to Hawaiian Electric workers, power outage telephone receptionists, and especially ground crews during the recent aftermath of Tropical Storm Hone.

At 5 a.m. Monday morning, I was alerted to the fact that Hawaii Academy of Arts and Science charter school was without power. I made the report to HECO, put out a message to all staff and families, and headed to the Pahoa campus.

The immediate concern was directing dropoffs from coming down Post Office Road, where a tree limb was precariously hanging, supported only by cable and telephone lines.

Of big concern was the two weeks of food sitting in our refrigerators and freezers. If the food spoiled, HAAS would have to close additional days.

At 5:50 p.m., the crews showed up and in one hour had restored the power. On Tuesday, school was in session, and students were able to have breakfast and lunch.

Thank you, HECO. Everyone’s attitude was upbeat, even if they had been working over two days in a row. Mahalo!

Steve Hirakami

Director, HAAS