Support for statue
Regarding “New statue raises eyebrows” (Tribune-Herald, March 8): I want to give a hearty congratulations to Parks and Recreation as well as the artist, Henry Bianchini.
This statue is one of my favorites by Mr. Bianchini, and I think it’s in perfect location across the street from the queen’s garden and near the ocean where I have seen many fishermen casting their nets.
It may be difficult for those not involved in the modern arts to see that the “net fisherman” is a beautiful contemporary piece in the tradition of modern masters.
Thank you, Henry, for your donation to Hilo and all of us.
Toby S Hazel
Hilo
Kehena solution
To Mayor Mitch Roth and the planning/zoning board: As a longtime resident of the Kalapana/Kehena neighborhood, I have seen a lot of changes. More residents have increased tax revenues for the county, but we are not seeing much in the way of improvements “down here” from those tax dollars.
An issue that needs addressing is the security and sanitation of Kehena Beach.
The beach is like the orphaned and bastard child of the county who doesn’t want to acknowledge that it is the only safe place to enter the water on this side of the island, and that many people come here. Residents are not keen on having their neighborhoods become the default parking, because unattended cars attracts individuals who would break into those cars.
So, you have the criminal element wandering around the neighborhoods. Nobody wants that as people who break into cars may break into houses.
Here is a viable solution that is a win/win. The county secures an easement (permission) on land that is nearby. It is graded, creating a place to park cars (no asphalt paving!). A job or jobs are created by having people collecting a couple of bucks to park, and that same person or persons act as security for the cars.
Make a perch like they do for lifeguards. That $2 goes to three things — compensates the land holder where the cars will park, pays for a viable composting toilet system, and pays for the person providing security.
I believe there is a willing audience of beach-goers who would eagerly pay a couple of bucks to know their car and possessions are safe and that they have a sanitary solution for human waste.
Crime is reduced, and sanitation improved. Let us be a model for a solution, not a cautionary tale of failure. Our vision must be bigger than the problem to overcome it.
Michael Marlin
Pahoa