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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Protect Social Security to ensure its continuity

As we approach the 90th anniversary of Social Security on August 14, it is imperative that we protect this program to ensure its continuity for older Americans. Social Security has proven to be one of the most successful initiatives in American history. Living in Hawaii can be paradise, but not for some older members of our community. For many, Social Security is a lifeline that helps with the necessities of life. Without it, hard decisions have to be made like going without medication or skipping meals or making other sacrifices such as paying utility bills. After years ...

Letter: Bad vibrations coming out of vehicle speakers

I do not have so much trouble with loud vehicles or bad mufflers, as I do with another irritation. The Beach Boys recorded, “Good Vibrations” and it was quite popular. Not so with bad vibrations that are coming out of vehicle speakers so loud and so irritating that they threaten to vibrate the fillings out of my teeth. I try to, but cannot understand how anyone can derive pleasure out of this annoyance. Are they saying they are macho and need attention? Or do they think others enjoy what they are torturing us with? Jim Killett Lahaina

Letter: Support additional funding for Alzheimer’s research

My late mother was born in Paia one hundred years ago. Like many other plantation families of years past, taking care of kupuna is so important then and now. But for those families with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s, it reshapes families. More than 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for loved ones with Alzheimer’s, often sacrificing their own health, income, and stability. In Hawai‘i, where multigenerational caregiving is common, this burden is especially profound. The CDC’s BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act supports state, local, and tribal health ...

Letter: Social Security among best legislation enacted

August 19 will mark the 90th anniversary of the passage of the federal Social Security Act, legislation which has ensured that we, our country’s senior citizens, may be assured financial support, to live with dignity after our working careers have ended. This law stipulates that funds are withdrawn from our paychecks each time and redeposited into our individual accounts, where they await our retirement. Not only do we benefit from this, but our families do also, as they are relieved of a portion of the responsibilities of our daily support. The Social Security Act has been, ...

Letter: Mainland visitors love Maui, care about future

Over the past decade, my husband and I have traveled to Maui seven times from our home in upstate New York. We could vacation anywhere in the world, yet we always choose Maui. It’s not just Mai Tais and sunsets that draw us back; it’s the people, the culture and the aloha spirit. When the devastating fires struck, we sat 5,000 miles away in tears. We organized a fundraiser, sent donations, and wished we could do more. Over the years, we’ve brought Maui’s aloha home with us, sharing Hawaii’s history with friends, recreating traditional meals, and filling our home with ...

Letter: Appreciates past judgments for thoughtful solutions

I am writing to express my appreciation for the way Judge Boyd Mossman handled many difficult cases, bringing the community together and helping both victims and perpetrators heal. In light of the recent incident involving the pig hunt and pet killing, I believe Judge Mossman would have crafted a more thoughtful and creative solution than the five-day sentence at Maui Community Correctional Center. That punishment, in my view, will likely only deepen the cycle of criminal behavior, while also fueling the anger of those who rightly view animal cruelty as a serious crime. I made ...