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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Extreme events increasing, both in frequency, intensity

As Los Angeles burned for days on end, scientists made an announcement that 2024 was the hottest year on record. With temperatures rising around the globe, scientists are warning that the world has entered a dangerous new era of chaotic floods, storms and fires made worse by human-caused climate change. The firestorms ravaging our country’s second-largest city are just the latest of extreme weather that is growing more furious, as well as more unpredictable. Wildfires are highly unusual in Southern California in January, which is supposed to be the rainy season. The same is true ...

Letter: Concerned about housing lack for our local families

I am an 81-year-old man who has been concerned about the lack of housing for our local families for the past 35 years. I grew up in Haiku with my parents and my maternal grandparents living close by. They were the ones who helped me to get an education and life skills so that I could prosper on our beautiful island. I am wondering why the kupuna of today are not more vocal about the cost of living on Maui, especially for homes. There are two plans created: One on affordable housing and the other on homelessness, which were paid for by us to give direction of our political leaders, ...

Letter: Park has become overrun with dogs off leashes

So, what’s the point of having an upcountry dog park when you can just take them to the Pukalani park and let them run wild? The park has become overrun with dogs off leashes with poop everywhere. Have some respect for other people and leash your dogs and clean up after them. This is ridiculous. Where’s the enforcement? Marvin Fernandez Makawao

Letter: What is the reasoning for drying up reservoirs?

We have just blown past the 1.5-degree-Celcius guideline in the Paris Climate Accords. This is not a good thing. “Drill baby drill” is the cause, not the solution, to out-of-control wildfires. Here on Maui, we have drained Volley Pond reservoir and emptied the reservoir in Wailuku Heights along Kuikahi Drive. Both of these are needed for recharging the aquifer for nearby wells, and to be used for helicopter refills for water drops on wild fires. What is the reason for drying up these water systems? It puts our community in danger. Wayne N. Hedani Wailuku

Letter: Lack of affection harms many of our elderly

Both health and happiness of the elderly improve with displays of affection. Under the heading of affection are loving touch, high regard and respect and communications of gratitude. There are, of course, many other needs, particularly of those who are alone or have no family support systems. To put it plainly — elders often lack people, or even pets, to love, and are not loved by anyone. In my childhood, there was always one grandmother, my ally against other adults, who brightened when she saw me and then folded her soft wings around me. She would whisper so that the ...

Enforcement over or lack thereof of what is illegal

Illegal fireworks, illegal motorcycles and e-bikes doing wheelies on our roadways, golf carts driven all over the roads like it’s legal, underage drinking, underage vaping and smoking…things you see daily without any consequence. Since when was any of this legal? Who are the parents that facilitate if not outright purchase these things so that their underage kids can blatantly break the law with their full-knowledge? I have never heard of a parent being arrested and fined or prosecuted for their child’s actions here. Why not? Is the prosecutor’s office here so weak that ...