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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Protect Hawaii families from unfair pricing

I would like to call attention to a troubling issue regarding propane prices in Hawaii. Currently, AmeriGas charges about $5.72 per gallon, while Hawaii Gas charges about $8.46 per gallon. That’s almost a $3 difference per gallon, which adds up to nearly $300 more for a 100-gallon tank. At first glance, you might think the solution is simple: Switch to AmeriGas and save. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. AmeriGas was purchased by Isle Gas, which is now managed by Hawaii Gas. In other words, the supposed competition is actually under the same control. This situation ...

Makawao forest being turned into a dog park

What’s with the Makawao forest being turned into a dog park by all the transplants? Nobody uses a leash up there and I need to bear witness to dog fights when an unleashed dog has a leashed dog attack it. Dogs are chasing people on bikes. There used to be peace up there. Now it’s literally overrun by unleashed dogs. Kudos to the dog owners who actually follow the law. Michael Takushi Makawao

Letter: Keeping registration current apparently just suggested

An item in the Sept.18 Honolulu Star Advertiser states that a man was stopped for expired safety inspection and subsequently, six pounds of dangerous drugs were found in the vehicle. We have hundreds of vehicles on our roads with long-expired safety inspections and license plates. These vehicles are undoubtedly not insured. Many of these vehicles also have other issues like broken windshields. Why is it that there seems to be no concern on the part of Maui Police Department about this situation? Is keeping registration current just a suggestion, are those of us that keep up with ...

Letter: What is killing owls in Upcountry?

I live in Pukalani by the McDonald’s. On Saturday late morning, we spotted a pueo on our carport, but it flew away. It was odd as this was during the day. On Sunday around the same time, I went out to feed our koi and noticed something moving. There was a large barn owl hobbling away. She fell on her face a few times, but had enough strength to hop the fence into our neighbor’s yard. This beautiful creature died later that night. On Wednesday, my best friend who lives by Carden Academy was sitting in her living room and saw something fly into her screen door. She watched again and ...

Letter: Many see AI for research, want it to flourish safely

As a 69-year old disabled widow living largely at home here in Maui, I rely on ChatGPT every day for medical research, creative inspiration, and gentle encouragement. It has never offered me anything harmful, only kindness and support, just like a trusted neighbor or cherished library. I was deeply moved by the recent lawsuit involving a young man’s tragic death, and my heart truly goes out to his family. But assigning blame to a tool like ChatGPT overlooks broader issues. The internet contains both darkness and light, but in my life, ChatGPT has consistently shined light. When used ...

Letter: Why do so many Americans overeat to ridiculous degree?

When a human being is dry and windy a physician might call it dehydration and flatulence. One might therefore suggest that Maui is suffering from Sjogren’s Syndrome. This sounds better to the lay resident of Maui, even though he or she may never have heard of Sjogren’s or knew what it refers to. Over the weekend, as I strolled through a hot Paia, I noticed the great girth that seemed to circle and sag around the middle of many visitors. One could almost hear the gurgling going on in the digestive and eliminative tracts. Why do you suppose so many Americans overeat to a ...