Breaking News

Letters to the Editor

Televise Trump trial to eliminate bias

A Quinnipiac University poll found that an overwhelming majority of Americans, 71 percent, want television in the courtroom for the federal trial of former President Trump on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 election. It’s not surprising, given the trial could be the most consequential in U.S. history; indeed a majority of Americans believe the charges are “very serious.” Given the strong public interest in viewing the trial first-hand, it’s disappointing that a federal court rule-making advisory committee determined it has no authority to waive Rule 53 that ...

Thanks for covering restaurant closings

Thank you for covering Health Department restaurant closings. I particularly appreciate the details of why the restaurant received a red card and a picture to illustrate the violations. You are the first newspaper that I’ve seen keeping it this real. Journalism is truly public service. Rebecca Sharad Haiku

First lady made a difference and believed in America

Rosalynn Carter believed in America. She came from rural, impoverished Plains, Ga., a predominant Black community with of history of cotton pickers. She grew up with Black people. When she was the first lady, she and President Carter decided to send Amy, her daughter, to public school in the same district as the White House. Most of the children in the district were poor. She and President Carter are one of the only first couples to send their child to public school. Amy invited all her classmates to the White House, many of whom were poor minorities, and poor whites. When ...

Tax incentive misses mark for transient rentals

The mayor’s plan does not take into account the many housing units which were recently reclassified as short-term vacation rentals even though they are in fact not STVRs. The current property taxes on a typical two-bedroom condo in Maalaea are currently around $12,000 to $13,000 per year, even if it’s never rented out. If “shared sacrifice is necessary at this time,” perhaps those property owners classified as residents who pay less than $1,000 per year in property taxes should participate in the sacrifice. Frank Pace Maalaea

Why not mobile homes for temporary housing?

Been reading your many articles on the temporary housing problems for the victims of the Lahaina fire.  Across the USA, when a natural disaster affects a certain area, causing a need for short-term housing, FEMA has brought in mobile homes for the victims.   These mobile homes can be placed on their property and provide them a sense of community. Have not seen this option mentioned once.  A mobile home can accommodate a family and provide more space than a small, short-term condominium.  They are easily assembled and can be placed on cargo ships from the mainland.  ...

Build above Kahana instead of rebuilding Lahaina homes

If I was in charge of restoring Lahaina homes, I would get control of about 3,000 acres of land above Kahana and create 2,000 one-acre lots. I would offer these lots to anyone who has a burned-up lot in trade for theirs. There are thousands of unused vacant acres of land above the highway that would be ideal for new homesteads. Allow two homes per acre lot and use septic systems with leach fields for each house. The bulldozers can start right away making roads and trenches for water and electric lines. I think this can be started much quicker than trying to detox Lahaina ...