‘Channel of caring’
I would be grateful if the mayor and governor would set up public relations presences at the Maunakea Access Road to help quell false rumors and respond to “protector” concerns, etc. Perhaps they could set up a tarp office and open a channel of caring and communication.
JoAnn Garrigan
Hilo
Against TMT
The Thirty Meter Telescope is the biggest conflict in Hawaii for my generation.
There are Hawaiians and environmentalists protesting against the TMT. There is government and university support to put the TMT on Maunakea with the other working and not working telescopes.
I believe Maunakea is a very sacred place. We enjoy the beauty of the mountain and the special treats such as playing in the snow during the wintertime and hunting the sheep and pigs. My worry is that if they put the TMT on Maunakea, there will be limited access to go up there for snow or to hunt.
Maunakea means a lot to everybody who lives in Hawaii. It holds a lot of history for Hawaiians. The people staying on the mountain for almost 100 days are making us think and decide how important is the mountain to everyday people.
I realize the mountain is important to me. I do not want the kupuna and elders to die on the mountain.
Please put the TMT somewhere else, where there’s no conflict with the people. Maunakea is what makes Hawaii our home, and it has a very important role in our life.
I went up Maunakea to learn about the cultural significance and decided I am against the TMT.
Kapu aloha is strong, and aloha will always win.
K. Gomes
Hilo
Trust your gut
We’ve all seen it. The bully at school or work. Or the person who makes up stories we know are not true because we witnessed it.
I’ve seen it all my life, but in the past, it wasn’t a problem as my “gut feeling” was almost always right. Why? Because we had enough information in our head that helped us rationalize and make good choices.
Now, with the onslaught of social media and immediate info from our phones and computers, the information going into our brain is overpowering our senses, making it very hard to weed out bad info from good info.
Making poor choices is really the root problem in this world.
I witnessed this phenomenon at work, in the political arena (national as well as Hawaii) and the Thirty Meter Telescope controversy. In all of these scenarios, there is more inaccurate information out there than good, accurate info.
I ask each of you to do your research, and if you cannot find the true facts or are not sure, just ignore that info, assuming it to be bad info. Your “gut feeling” will take over, and your thoughts will be quite clear.
And don’t forget to vote!
Lance Decker
Pahoa