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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Reduce greenhouse gas, put money into our pockets

Unfortunately, Hawaii is not on track to achieve its goal of net negative greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, when more greenhouse gases must be sequestered than emitted. The way things are going, we will miss the goal by a lot. We must do much more. Fortunately, one bill in particular that the Legislature is considering would reduce greenhouse gas emission substantially. The Carbon Cashback bill (HB 760, HB 1375, SB 633, and SB 685) would put a price on the pollution emitted by fossil fuel by taxing distributors, which would reduce the use of fossil fuel. The beauty of the bill is ...

Letter: Airport speed bumps detrimental to vehicles

The Kahului Airport speed bumps are unacceptable. These numerous speed bumps are detrimental to each and every vehicle, bus and shuttle that has to go over them. Also, I believe they are not healthy for drivers and passengers to go over them. These bumps shake your spine, rattle your teeth, force you to grip the steering wheel harder. The car repair shops in town must be kept busy for the damage in suspension, steering repairs, and so on that are caused by these extremely hard speed bumps. There are other speed bumps with a gentler slope (speed tables) while effectively ...

Letter: Grounding unintentional during storm at Honolua Bay

For most of my 50-plus years operating from Lahaina Harbor, commercial and recreational vessels that did not have slips were forced to keep their vessels on offshore moorings, either on the Lahaina Roadstead or at Mala Wharf. During Kona weather, many of these vessels would run over to Halepalaoa Landing, where they could anchor in the protected lee of Lanai. Occasionally, some vessels would head to Honolua Bay, which can often provide even better protection from Kona winds, although this carries the added risk of exposure to potentially large surf. Hula Girl was at anchor off ...

Letter: Out-of-box thinking needed for Kihei flood problems

It’s time to accept the fact that Kihei’s oceanfront properties were built on wetlands, and that the channels are insufficient to handle the flood flows. Further, there is no room to increase the size of the channels. It is past time to fix the problems, and with climate change, the engineering solutions we plan today way well be obsolete a few years down the line. Massive mauka flood detention basins are needed to mitigate the problems, but are unlikely to completely solve them. That said, there are a couple of problems that can be solved by undoing man-made barriers. Two of the ...

Letter: Where are accolades that once defined us?

Our self-proclaimed “Great Country” finds itself in a troubling downward spiral. Where are the accolades that once defined us? Yes, we have made strides in equity, equality, and diversity, and fought against hate and fear. But where has this led us? Today, we see a nation of individuals, keiki and kupuna alike, lost in worship of false idols: Materialism, instant digital affirmation and shallow self-interest. These distractions have replaced authentic purpose and the highest virtues of humanity. True self-growth, rooted in self-interest, fosters coexistence even amidst ...

Letter: Super Bowl spread can be compassionate, sustainable

As Super Bowl Sunday nears, it’s worth considering the staggering number of chickens sacrificed for a single day of indulgence, an estimated 375 million, just for wings. This annual tradition, though beloved by many, comes at a great cost to animals, the planet and even our health. Fortunately, there’s a kinder and equally satisfying alternative: Plant-based wings made from ingredients like tofu, seitan, potatoes, or even cauliflower. These options pack all the flavor without harm to animals. Brands like Blackbird, Gardein, and Daring offer ready-to-enjoy wings, while ...