Reassign Volcano
I would like to ask the reapportionment committee to return Volcano to the Puna District.
It hasn’t rained in Volcano since we were assigned to Ka‘u.
Jeffery Lux
Volcano
COVID concerns
(Last month) I had to deliver a document to a vendor at the Kalapana farmers market. I was excited because this was my first opportunity to check the market out.
First I stopped at the Kaimu store to purchase water. Upon entering the store, I saw the sign: “Mask Are Still Required.”
I thought that was odd. The last time that I was in the store, the sign said, “Masks Are Required.”
The cashier was masked and wiped down the counter after each customer, etc.
After getting my water, I crossed the road and proceeded to the market, which was on the former parking lot. As I entered, I was appalled to see people walking around with no masks!
Even more appalling was the sight of most of the vendors without masks!
I quickly delivered the document to the vendor, who was masked, along with her partner. The vendors next to them were masked also.
I expressed my concern to them, then left.
I will continue to go to Maku‘u Farmers Market on Sundays. They follow all COVID safeguards for vendors and customers.
Carrie Kowalski
Pahoa
Dangerous highways
There are two broken and highly dangerous highways on the Big Island.
Highway 19 from Waimea to Kailua-Kona has much more traffic than is safe for a two-lane highway at speed. There are no passing lanes on the entire segment, and that lends itself to dangerous passing events.
Number two is the suicide road — Route 200, the “Saddle Road” — out of and toward Hilo from the Waikoloa area.
What I mean is we have a three-lane highway with many stretches whereby cars can pass in either direction using the middle suicide lane.
It appears that a great many drivers cruise in that middle lane, thus increasing the possibility of terrible head-on collisions.
Years ago, there was such a highway running from Detroit to Lansing, Mich. There were hundreds of head-on fatal crashes.
I would love to see the stats on those two Big Island roads.
George Knutson
Waimea
