Your Views for January 11

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Lack of oversight

Lack of oversight

The Komohana saga continues.

Yamada &Sons Inc. started working on resurfacing a small section (less than a quarter of a mile) of Komohana Street, between Kuikahi Street and Waianuenue Avenue, in late 2015. They have continued to work in fits and starts since then, blaming the rain gods and equipment failure.

The work done so far is substandard, to say the least. The two sides of the road are not seamless. There are parts that are uneven and dip. They leave significant portions of the road blocked off for weeks at a time, with no concern about disruption they have caused to motorists.

It is now 2017, and there is no end in sight!

I understand the County of Hawaii has a policy of granting contracts to the lowest bidder. However, the lowest bidder might not necessarily be the best for the job. Going forward, we need to change this policy.

Factors such as timeliness and quality of work done in past years should play a significant role in awarding contracts.

Jas. W. Glover recently resurfaced miles of the Hawaii Belt Road, efficiently, seamlessly and in a timely manner.

Work done by Isemoto Contracting on resurfacing the Komohana extension and Kamehameha Street, was done well, though not as timely.

Does anyone in the county bear responsibility for oversight?

Pradeepta Chowdhury

Hilo

Earth to Obama

“I promise you, for the most part, race relations have gotten better” (President Barack Obama, Jan. 6, clearly speaking from another planet).

“… almost every country on Earth sees America as stronger and more respected today than they did eight years ago” (President Barack Obama, Jan. 8, “Obama’s unforced errors on foreign policy,” George Will, Tribune-Herald, again speaking from his podium on another planet).

Your readers might wonder from which planet President Obama is speaking. I, too, wonder, but Pluto feels about right.

Skip Sims

Ninole