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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Democracies threatened by autocracies

Alan W. Dowd in The American Legion Magazine of July 2024 comprehensively describes the plight of world democracies countering the expansionism and exploitation of one-man rule autocracies. I paraphrase him at times. In essence he says the free world needs “an alliance of democracies” against the autocracies of Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. Deterring the autocracies requires the free world to increase defense spending and collaborating in mutual programs designed to enhance the capabilities of democracies to counter the provocations of the autocracies. ...

Letter: Proposed STR ban hinges on elections

I’ve been asked my thoughts on the proposed STR ban by a few folks... Of course it’s always in the back of my mind as a rental property manager, but at this point no one really knows anything until the Council makes its final decision... Well after realizing ( duh) there is an upcoming election Nov 5th it’s clear we won’t know anything until after the new (current) members have been selected. That, in my opinion, is kinda a good thing. This vacation ban is motivated by a passionate few who have finally achieved the support of the politicians as that is where any changes will ...

Letter: Tom Cook is not what he would appear to be

Our South Maui Kaiwahine Subdivision was evacuated during the fires last August. Afterwards, I reached out to the supposedly proactive Maui County Council Member Cook to ensure that the community all the way down to Piilani Highway would now have proper firebreaks and be safe. I spoke to the president of Haleakala Ranch, A&B and Mahi Pono and they provided aerial photos. They cooperated with every request to demonstrate what was being done to keep us safe. Tom Cook never once returned a phone call. He is the chair of the Infrastructure Committee. I helped draft a resolution for ...

Letter: Thanks for story of loss that has hope as outcome

Thank you for last week’s “The Lahaina House,” a story of this catastrophe that has hope and prayer as an outcome. My husband and I started to volunteer wherever we could. First, by helping prepare meals, literally hundreds upon hundreds, to feed first responders and survivors. We heard from our personal friend that she was starting up a place that became the most amazing secret on island. She started a Donation Distribution Center. Our undisclosed location was due to its proximity to a golf course driveway entrance. They didn’t want the traffic, So, it was closed to the ...

Letter: Registration update seems option, not a requirement

I realize I’ve reported this here before but I feel I need to say it again. As I walk and drive around Maui, I see many, many vehicles with expired license plates, many of them long expired. I am beginning to feel that keeping vehicle registration current is only a suggestion and not really a requirement. We all know what a vehicle with expired registration likely includes, lack of insurance and perhaps unsafe condition. Just this morning on a walk on Ala Nui Ke Ali in Kihei, there were four white vans parked near each other, all with long-expired tags. These vans have been ...

Letter: Many expired car registrations, inspections on Maui roads

I see so many expired car registrations and inspections when on the roads, some years out of date, it makes me wonder why the police don’t do anything about it when they see them. I guess those of us who keep up our registrations/inspections are suckers for doing so. The funds from car registrations go toward fixing our roads and you can see the results with the terrible condition our roads are in from so many people not contributing their share. How hard is it for the police to look at registration stickers when stopped at a traffic light and pull over those with expired ...