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Letter: Vote YES on Question for critical infrastructure

Maui can’t build homes without critical infrastructure: On Your Ballot: Vote YES on Question 2 Maui’s housing crisis is also an infrastructure crisis. The county estimates it needs $1.29 billion over the next five years for infrastructure to support housing, including water, wastewater, roads, and drainage. The cost or availability of this infrastructure can affect whether much-needed housing moves forward and what it costs to build. RISE is a tool that has been adopted by 48 states. It’s time Hawaii had more ways to support housing. After the devastating fires and as storms and ...

Letter: Rule will lead to harm, preventable deaths

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has a dangerous new rule beginning Oct. 22 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans' ability to personally import their prescription medicines. Importing prescription drugs from licensed international pharmacies is the only lifeline for seniors on limited incomes, people with high-deductible health plans, and the uninsured. That's why CBP and the FDA have allowed it for decades. Due to the much lower cost of ...

Letter: Waive state income tax for out-of-state doctors

Because Hawaii is known for its high cost of living, a simple way to neutralize this big handicap (expense) is for the state to waive its income tax for out-of-state doctors for five years if they choose to practice on Oahu and seven years if they choose to practice on one of the neighbor islands. Waiving Hawaii State Income Tax to attract out-of-state doctors will not cost the state anything, while at the same time the doctors will be providing us with their medical services during the grace period that they are practicing in Hawaii. Although they will not be paying our State Income ...

Letter: Play focuses on what 50s Maui was like

If you’ve ever wondered what Maui must have been like in the 50s, with the old plantation system starting to collapse, tourism on the horizon, post-war integration of our Nisei family and statehood imminent, then, do not miss “Ainakea,” a superb drama by local playwright James Nevius. Only three more performances at lao Theatre this weekend. Nai‘a NewlightHa‘ikū

Letter: LeBron James, time for you to retire

I can’t figure out why LeBron James doesn't retire. He is 42 years old. He has made millions of dollars and really doesn't need the money. He should give the younger generation a chance. A lot of these young athletes in the NBA come from economically disadvantaged households and all they are trying just to do is feed their family. He himself came from this kind of upbringing. Nobody wants to watch an old man playing basketball. It is best for basketball industry to have young, attractive athletes and not an old dog like James. LeBron, it is time for you to go. Terao NakasoneKīhei

Letter: Would consider voting for Donald J. Trump again

I voted twice for President Trump and would consider doing it again if the opposing candidate leaned extreme left. My first choice for President, however, was a moderate that leaned slightly right but unfortunately was not nominated by their party. As most Americans including myself consider themselves moderates, I sense that we, “the silent majority”, are fast becoming tired of the far left and right extremists. Like many Americans, it seems we are always left with little alternative but to vote for the lesser of two evils. It appears that our President, like many leaders of the ...