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Letters to the Editor

Consider the implications of ending short-term rentals

Maui will see a severe reduction in transient accommodations taxes. Tourism numbers, also, will likely fall. Will vacationers book Maui hotels instead? Some, but likely not many. High nightly hotel rates will lead to booking on another Hawaiian island, one that still permits short-term rentals. Will owners of Maui’s short-term rentals convert to long-term rentals? Many owners own in order to live some months on Maui: another source of tax revenue. Thus, it’s not possible to rent their condos for long-term use. Many STR owners will leave their condos vacant when off island. I ...

Grateful for diplomacy represented by panda loan

This letter is in reference to the cartoon last week on the front page of The Maui News Opinion section under the title “China sends Pandas to San Diego.” It was questioning the motives of the move as being sinister. China has pledged a pair of pandas to the San Diego Zoo as “envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American people.” It has been almost two decades since China has granted new panda loans to America. After the Smithsonian National Zoo returned their pandas on loan this year, Atlanta is only place left in America to see pandas. Panda diplomacy began in ...

Pulitzer-winning digital news provides example

Digital news organization “Lookout Santa Cruz” is an example of how well-reported and unbiased news from trusted people in the community, about the community, makes a real impact.   This small, online news organization in California won a 2024 Pulitzer Prize. With the loss of local newspapers, many communities become “news deserts,” with limited access to trusted reliable community news and event information.   The Maui News has been continuously published for over 124 years. As they soon transition from paper to digital form, I hope our community will look to the ...

Who are we as people when we scorn homeless?

We have certainly witnessed how quickly thousands of residents can become homeless. Too, we witness how the homeless and their encampments are often treated here on Maui. How are the homeless, our trash and our flushing toilets the same? We want them to go away. Often, we don’t care where, just so we don’t have to see them. Why won’t our county government create healthy, safe environments for the homeless? Make a “homeless town” away from neighborhoods. Provide social, medical, mental health and security support services. How about old buses becoming dormitories? ...

With currently poor content, don’t know if resubscribing

While it was sad to read that The Maui News will go mostly digital, that’s not really a surprise. We all saw this coming. It’s the way of our increasingly tech world. Today, I get most of my daily news through digital subscriptions: New York Times, Washington Post and Honolulu Star-Advertiser. So, it doesn’t bother me to click and scroll rather than flip the pages. What is distressing is the lack of commitment by our only daily newspaper of record to provide real news to the community it is tasked to serve. I think many will gladly accept digital, only in exchange for a solid ...

Giving up water rights should not be debatable

I’d like to address the proposed water agreement between the county and Free Market Ventures. I’ve been involved in water issues as a developer and builder in Oregon for many years. I’ve dealt with irrigation water rights and domestic water delivery on every level. I built our home in Kula over 20 years ago and have been involved in several other building projects on Maui. I am well aware of the wait time for meters and the dwindling water supply the island is facing. So, I’m curious why the public comment period for this was cut off over two months ago? Is this a done deal ...