Abandoned cars
Driving around the island, I notice that there seems to be a few “No littering” signs along the public roadway. Yet, why do people think it’s alright to abandon vehicles along the right-of-way? Do they somehow think it is not their concern if the auto/truck must be picked up and disposed of by the county?
And why does the county allow this practice to continue?
Perhaps the county workers need to identify the abandoned vehicles, or they don’t know how to match the license plates to said vehicle. Or what prevents these same workers from finding the VIN (if there is no plate), and correlating it to a particular motor vehicle?
The last registered owner must prove that it was sold, presented to a recycler, or taken out of the county — a very easy task for the owner to do. Otherwise, charge the vehicle owner with littering.
But maybe the mayor thinks there is nothing wrong with the current practice of taking $12 each year from every motor vehicle and then having the county disposing of these eyesores.
Consider that the county has no problem catching litterers who throw trash from moving vehicles, but they can’t find the owners of an abandoned vehicle, and in time these vehicles end up burnt or leaking hazardous fluids.
Go figure!
Michael L. Last
Na‘alehu
Battle of the gods
In 1824, Chiefess Kapiolani, cousin of Kamehameha I, colleague of Ka‘ahumanu, and convert to Christianity, prayed to the missionaries’ God to stop flowing lava. She climbed into the volcano crater, ate forbidden ohelo berries, cursed Pele, threw rocks and said the old gods were fake. And the lava stopped.
In 1881, Princess Ruth Ke‘elikolani, who rejected Christianity, invoked her ancient gods and saved Hilo. She stood in front of flowing lava, prayed to Pele. And the lava stopped.
Where are the Christian ministers today? Where are the “traditional practitioners” and kumu hula who celebrate Pele/Hi‘iaka legends at Merrie Monarch?
This is your chance to put your faith(s) to practical use, get face time on national TV, and lots of donations. Ask the tourism office to pay your expenses. Let competing gods battle it out, hope they all succeed, and the people of Hawaii Island will be the winners. True ecumenism.
Kenneth R. Conklin
Kane‘ohe, Oahu