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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Stick with original idea for north bypass project

One month ago, the Hawaii Department of Transportation announced the revival of the north bypass project. The project on Kakaalaneo Drive has had decades of studies, but had stalled out. Now, DOT announced the possibility of not using Kakaalaneo Drive, going through agricultural land and that has no cross streets. Mayor Richard Bissen is announcing a new idea to make the Lahaina bypass end and exit on Puukolii Street, along the side of residential, vacation rentals, apartments and parking lots. Puukolii has six curves that causes four blind corners for cars trying to enter ...

Letter: No more tobacco stores for sake of our health

Whenever I saw an empty piece of retail space, and later notice it being occupied by a tobacco vape shop, I felt sad. While e-cigarettes avoid the tar and carbon monoxide of traditional cigarettes, they still take in highly addictive nicotine. Being less harmful does not equal safe. Unfortunately, the smoking habit is often generational. Studies have found that children with parents who smoke are often three to four 4 times more likely to take up the practice themselves. I don't want to sound callous or condemning. I know that nicotine intake is one of the most difficult habits ...

Letter: Enemies of the people ruin planet and lives

How do we recognize true enemies of humanity? They are invariably those who act in shameful ways and then rationalize excuses. For example, enemies of the people consciously do things that ruin the planet and the lives of others. They almost always are unprincipled hypocrites, corrupt to the core, and have souls like the flickering lights on the back porch. They are immoral and unethical, meaning that their relationships with themselves, and others tend to be conflicted, distorted, suspicious, and based on fearful projections. Children quickly recognize their unnaturalness, ...

Letter: Her great grandparents would have been so proud

Rachel Kondo is from Maui. She was born and raised in Pukalani. She attended public school and graduated from Maui High. She later went to the mainland to get her Masters of fine Arts. She is a hapa girl, her mother is haole and her father is a local third generation Japanese, his parents and grandparents worked for the plantation. Back-breaking work in the cane fields, ten hrs. A day in the hot sun. She won Prime time Emmy Awards, Peabody, British Academy, Writers Guild and numerous awards and nominations for Shogun. Her great grandparents would have been so proud of her. In the ...

Letter: Speed bumps necessary for once mellow roads

Speed bumps are a valued addition to our once mellow roads. Speeding needs be curtailed and any damage allegedly caused by them is the fault of the speeder. If you are not speeding, no issue. Trying for removal of them is an open invite for reckless driving, speeding and more accidents/deaths. Slow down, leave earlier, and stress less. The old bumper sticker “Slow Down, this isn't the mainland” is a good reminder for the speed-obsessed. Anna BarbeauWailuku

Letter: Recycling won’t happen with no central location

Yesterday, I visited the Recycling Center near the University of Hawaii Maui Campus, and learned that the location will be closed after June 30. They offered suggestions for other places to take cardboard, newspapers, glass. plastic and cans. These were in Makawao, Haiku, Kihei and Olowalu. It seems ridiculous that there will be nowhere in Central Maui provided by the county for people to take their recycling. Wailuku and Kahului are the most populated areas for local residents. People are simply going to throw these recyclable materials in their trash if there isn't a more convenient ...