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Letters to the Editor

Letter: When did I graduate from ‘Uncle’ to ‘Goong Goong’?

My eight-year-old grandson said, “Goong Goong (Chinese granddad), you soooo old that when you were a kid, ‘OLD Navy’ was just ‘Navy’.” I get no respect. The other day, a middle-aged supermarket clerk asked me, “Eh, uncle, want help with your bag?” Auwe! Since when did other adults think I look old? When did I get “promoted” from “cuz” or “brah” to “uncle?” So more than a little “habut,” (self-loathing) I just retorted, “Eh, no talk about my wife like that.” But Ai-yah! More long-lost nephews and nieces keep popping up every time I go ...

Letter: Love more convincing proof of existence

Descartes wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” Questionable. St. Augustine stated that he made mistakes, therefore someone was mistaken. Clever, but to love is a more convincing proof of existence. Love evokes states of mind, heart, soul and emotion. To love deeply without reservation, involves all of the sacred, subtle, spiritual, powerful aspects of human existence. Along with the lesser refined aspects of the physical constitution. Crudely and rashly, one might put one’s hand in a flame, with the scream and feeling of pain prove that one exists. But who or what? One can peer ...

Letter: Correcting recent letter regarding Wailea water

I was mistaken in my recent letter to the editor that the out-of-state corporate owner of the Makena Mauka portion and the rest of the 1,800-acre Makena Golf and Beach Club development is planning to use Iao Aquifer water. The corporation plans to pump from the brackish Kamaole Aquifer. This is also risky. With current and planned use, the Kamaole Aquifer will exceed its estimated capacity originally set in 1990. The estimate itself has a level 3 certainty rating, which is the lowest confidence applied to Hawaii aquifers (mauicounty.gov). The aquifer is also expected to become drier, ...

Letter: Time for county to address lack of accountability

Have you ever had a problem and called the Maui agency, mayor or council member and were told they don’t have control of that issue and refer you to a new place and number. You try one and get the same answer and a new referred agency or number. Sometimes you get an answering machine but never a call back. That happened to me again this week calling about the piles of tree trunks and limbs on Pi‘iholo road and the surrounding sides after Hurricane Lala. Nothing has been removed a week after the storm. I did finally get hold of the Maui Emergency Management Agency and was informed ...

Letter: Newspaper ownership change welcome news

With so many small communities becoming news deserts, it was welcome news finding out The Maui News will not just continue, but will also be making some much-needed improvements during the next couple of months.  Mahalo to Nui Media and Creativity Collaborative. Can’t wait to see what you have in store.   Lana OuraWailuku

Letter: Do some candidates care about construction workers

Because the Hawaii Carpenter’s union is cover for the developer-funded super Pac For a Better Tomorrow, some voters may think their backed candidates care about construction workers. However, when Councilmember Michelle Anderson asked Maui representative William Kamai if they wanted a condition to require the developer of Wailea 670 to hire Hawaii union labor, the Carpenters Union rep said “no” (3/18/2008 archives). The recent round of giveaways to the German Helaba Bank owner reduced affordable housing requirements and passed the cost of widening the Piilani Highway from the ...