Can’t we do better?
I passed a quiet woman in downtown Hilo on a recent night and saw her lie down on the sidewalk to sleep.
I have read about the 25-bed shelter for single men at the old Hilo Hospital. Why do we not have an overnight, dormitory-type shelter for our vulnerable, single women to allow them a safe and warm night’s sleep?
Is the old Hilo Hotel a possibility? The location would be perfect.
Let’s make something happen for homeless women in Hilo.
JoAnn Garrigan
Hilo
Honua Ola blocked
On March 14, Hawaiian Electric asked folks to cut back using electricity because 80 megawatts were off line. Okay, not that unusual. Possible rolling blackouts, they said.
Let’s be 100% self-reliant and use no oil by 2050, the state says. Renewal energy is the way to go, they say. Solar, wind, energy storage, dam the rivers, “go green” is the way, they say.
But not allowing the Honua Ola bioenergy plant start up? The Supreme Court now says no! Long after the plant was built. I don’t get it.
Too much pollution, they say. Even with the high-tech scrubbers in place at the plant. Along with a sensible use for the clean ash produced from burning an evasive tree planted on purpose by the millions, while they block the view of the ocean.
I regret the decision made by a very few to block the benefits of a large swath of good and deserving people that could use the electric power made by this well-built renewable power plant.
So, folks, think about this decision later this summer when millions of acres of forest are burning — and they will burn, just like last year, and not just in this country, but on all the continents. Climate change is a real thing.
But no, let’s just burn more oil. Yeah, that’s it. And keep 250 people from earning a decent living at a good place to work.
Not a day to be proud here on the Big Island.
Marcel Turmelle
Pahoa
Generous person
I publicly would like to thank the very generous lady who anonymously paid for my groceries on or about Feb. 17 at the Hilo Safeway supermarket.
You were in line in front of me but left the store before the cashier informed me of your kindness. I tried to locate you in the parking lot to thank you properly, but to no avail.
It is generous and caring people like you who will redirect generosity and aloha in the rest of us. Many thanks, and an abundance of blessings to you.
Joseph S. Paiva
Papaikou
