Kim: Big mahalo to the Benioffs for aid
A phone call in early 2020, initiated by Mr. Marc Benioff, was made to offer planning and financial assistance to Hawaii County government in response to COVID-19. The offer was received with a lot of skepticism, as I had never heard of this person.
That one phone call began a relationship of trust that resulted in planning assistance, 1 million face masks, development of a mobile testing and treatment system, airport screening program, public education activities and other things.
I so well remember Marc Benioff’s request of no mention of his involvement in any way. When asked why, he simply said the ability to help keep Hawaii a nice and safe place was enough.
Recent news of the Benioffs’ generous gifts to Hawaii hopefully released me of my commitment to silence regarding the couple who, to this date, I have not met in person.
To Lynne and Marc Benioff: The deepest gratitude for who you are for caring and respecting the people of Hawaii, and for your awareness of the beauty of Hawaii’s cultural heritage and the importance of preserving its lifestyle of grace of warmth.
“The world will turn to Hawaii as they search for world peace because Hawaii has the key … and that key is aloha.” — Aunty Pilahi Paki, 1970.
From the people who call Hawaii home, mahalo nui loa and the fondest aloha!
Harry Kim
Former Hawaii County mayor
Make housing affordable
I am a student attending Hawaii Community College, and I am writing this letter to express my concerns about housing in Hawaii.
As you know, Hawaii is one of the world’s largest tourist attractions, and many tourists don’t want to leave this place we call home, affecting the cost and affordability of houses and land due to the action of nonlocals buying them all up.
Being born and raised here on the Big Island, I notice the drastic change within our community. Over the years, citizens of Hawaii experience the change in affordability of housing and are now living in it being the most unaffordable it’s ever been.
We see now the amount of individuals becoming homeless being super high, and families start living together in one tiny home. This has become the norm for the culture of Hawaii, and not a lot of people get the experience of buying a house or land for themselves.
It’s concerning to see people who were born and raised in Hawaii being forced to leave just to afford a house of their own. While the people of this land are being forced to leave, billionaires from the mainland are able to purchase big amounts of land.
Being only 19, my journey through adulthood has only begun, and I worry about these types of things on a daily basis. Some personal solutions that I think would help toward housing is by letting us as a community be heard by the government.
Our government should launch housing projects that are in favor of the public’s interest. They need to observe what is happening and learn from what we the people of Hawaii see and experience.
Hawaii is a beautiful place, and it’s understandable why a lot of people want to move here, but I think the people of this land should be able to afford to live on it as well.
Justin Pascua
Hilo