Letters to the Editor

Opening of private road was the pono thing to do

The morning after the devastating fire on Maui occurred, I went online to read what updates were available. The first thing I saw were pictures of Oprah Winfrey plastered all over the screen as if she was some sort of savior for making her "private road" available. Really?

She only has that road because she could afford to do what was needed to make it happen with the blessings of her supporters. Allowing access to her road in such a dire emergency was not a privilege, but an obligation (pono) to the community which did not warrant the excessive accolades given by the media.

The real heros were the first responders, who really deserve our gratitude and heartfelt mahalo. The firemen, police, Red Cross, employees and volunteers at the Humane Society, and countless others (including those from our neighbor islands), too many to mention. Without them we might be homeless today.

Thanks, Oprah, but when you do the right thing you don't need a parade.

Roy Ayala

Kihei