Commission failed
In my opinion, the Planning Commission failed to address the concerns of the public in its review of the permit applications of both cell towers.
With so much vacant area available at both locations, why limit yourselves to the fall radius of the tower height?
AT&T’s permit application gives it easy access to erect and maintain the site. If it wants to be a good neighbor, then locate those towers at least 500 feet away from any existing development or future development, instead of using the fall radius as your safety limit.
Yes, you might have to start your permit process again, but you knew that already. This is not your first rodeo, and how arrogant to say that the commission is not capable of denying the permit based on fears of cell tower radiation.
Federal Communications Commission parameters can always be challenged. Would you rather build your tower or wait through the court process?
Robert Yamada
Hilo
Ditch Jones Act
Young Brothers asked for $25 million to continue operating. Instead, maybe now is a good time to request relief from The Merchant Marine Act of 1920, which created all of our shipping monopolies.
I am old enough to remember the passenger liners SS Lurline, SS Matsonia and others on boat day carrying our friends to and from the mainland. Matson Navigation Co. kept the names, but different ships now carry only cargo.
Worldwide, the cruise industry is in trouble. We could lower prices on everything and become a shipping transfer place for direct commerce from Asia, South America, Canada, Alaska and the rest of the world.
I would rather have a cabin with a cozy bunk and a porthole with three square meals a day than being crammed into an aluminum tube for five hours.
This Jones Act law does more harm than good and takes away our choice of going by sea or air. Let’s save a cruise ship or two from the scrapyard.
Brian Daniel
Volcano
Better late than never
Happy to hear, finally, roadwork is planned for Kilauea Avenue as far as Wailoa Bridge.
I certainly hope, along with hundreds of daily commuters, this road project involves the widening of the Puainako and Kilauea intersection, including badly needed left-turn traffic lights.
Sometimes drivers can’t move when they have the green light to go forward because of a car ahead wanting to make a left-hand turn, and often traffic has to wait for about two light changes before doing so.
Also, Puainako Street is the main road used by very large commercial trucks going to and coming from the Daniel K. Inouye Highway — more reasons to widen this area.
On the makai side of Kilauea Avenue at this intersection, that huge, grassy traffic island needs to be changed into a designated left-turn lane, so cars can easily get around drivers wanting to turn left.
Rick LaMontagne
Hilo
