Nowhere to hike
I would like to comment about the Youth With a Mission hikers who got caught in the flash flood at Anna’s Pond (Tribune-Herald, Nov. 5).
First, I would like to thank the rescuers who saved numerous lives.
Second, I would like to say that I have been on a number of hikes with Youth With a Mission students, and they have been very bright, enthusiastic, wonderful young people committed to helping people through their missions.
The problem, as I see it, is that, with the exception of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, there are almost no legal hikes on all of the Big Island.
Unlike on Oahu and Maui, the Department of Land and Natural Resources has refused to engage with private landowners here to make access available to our amazing natural places. As I have heard it said: “All good hikes on the Big Island begin with a ‘No trespassing’ sign.”
Because these hikes are illegal, there is no system to warn people when conditions are dangerous, and it makes lawbreakers of people who have been going to these places their whole lives.
I have been trying to get the DLNR and other state officials to deal with this issue for years, with no success. I hope it doesn’t take the loss of life to get them to do their jobs.
Matt Binder
Waimea
Caravan questions
When the several-thousand-member immigrant caravan arrives at the United States border, how many should be transported to Hawaii? What would be our fair share for which to house and care?
Most of these people will be poor, uneducated, non-English speaking and perhaps in poor health. Some will be criminals. State funds and resources would probably be required in the long term for them.
If we welcome the immigrant caravan across our border, how many more caravans would we be encouraging to do the same?
If we want open borders, should local police also ignore trespassing laws in our neighborhoods and homes?
If an unknown person says he has a need to be on your property, does that mean he has that right?
These are fair questions that help to frame the illegal immigrant discussion correctly and concretely rather than in the emotional abstract.
Leighton Loo
Mililani, Oahu
