Access for all
I am very disappointed the House has advanced House Bill 2024, which would remove the University of Hawaii from managing the summit of Maunakea. The university’s management had left a lot to be desired in the past, but their management of the mountain has greatly improved in recent years.
In other words, there is no reason to reinvent the wheel and jeopardize the future of astronomy on Maunakea.
If this new management structure is put in place, it would cede control of the mountain to the minority that is opposed to astronomy. This would mean the end of astronomy as we know it on Maunakea.
These astronomical facilities contributed $110 million in direct economic impact for the State of Hawaii in 2019. The indirect economic impact doubled that amount.
These facilities have been made a scapegoat by the minority seeking control of the mountain for their own self-centered religious reasons.
The existing management of the mountain should remain in place, as they’ve become good stewards of the mountain. This is why I stand with Sen. Lorraine Inouye in opposition to this proposed legislation.
The summit of Maunakea should be accessible, and used, by all Hawaii residents, not just Native Hawaiians.
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
Trump and Putin
Place the blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine where it belongs, and that is with President Joe Biden. Not so fast, if Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (retired), a member of former President Trump’s National Security Council, has a say in the matter.
Wow, and does Vindman have a lot to say.
Vindman stated that it is Trump, Mike Pompeo and Fox News that helped bring about Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Blaming the aforementioned trio, Vindman held back nothing: “Vladimir Putin perceived that the U.S.A. was distracted and vulnerable. Tucker Carlson (of Fox News) and Donald Trump are constantly being played on Russian TV. What is the impression given?”
Trump, with his divisive policies, weakened the U.S.A. internally. That and a highly complicit Republican Party which did not escape Vindman’s wrath: “There is blood on the Republican Party’s hands. They were partly responsible for what is happening in Ukraine.”
What if Russia retaliates against the U.S.A. with cyber attacks? This could disrupt our daily lives to a large degree. Punishing economic times could ensue.
Will we, as a deeply divided citizenry, be capable of a collective sacrifice should extreme hardships materialize? Well, if we can’t even “bite the bullet” and agree to wear masks during a COVID-19 pandemic, my response is an emphatic “no.”
What is your response?
Kerry E. Meyer
Hilo
‘We need Red Hill’
Seems to me there should be a bonding process on coastal buildings so that it gets properly removed at no cost to the state rather than ending up in the ocean. Perhaps condemnation at some point.
The Red Hill oil facility is the backbone of the U.S. military in Hawaii. Next-closest oil facility might be Long Beach, Calif., or Guam.
Study your Hawaii history. Pearl Harbor was leased way back in the 1870s and led to annexation, in my opinion.
We need Red Hill, just not a leaky one! Otherwise, we may need to learn another language.
Phil Swarz
Papaikou