Stand up against Trump’s
assault on Constitution
Kailua-Kona residents and tourists have gathered on the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Highway south of Henry Street several times since the 2024 election. You’ve likely seen us there, waving signs opposing the Trump administration’s policies.
We believe that Donald Trump’s attempts to remove the checks and balances created by our Constitution and to endow the presidency with supreme power is a direct assault on our Constitution and our democracy.
The Trump administration’s approach of “flooding the zone” by taking dozens of controversial actions every day is designed to wear us out and demoralize us. But we are American patriots. We will not stand by while our democratic values are trampled.
We are joining with other concerned Americans across the country to take to the streets and to build “people power” to stop this assault on democracy and our civil liberties.
We invite you to join us on Saturday, June 14, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Queen K. Highway, south of Henry Street, and mauka of the Mormon temple. Together we, along with others across the country, can create enough citizen resistance to overcome the current attack on our country and our Constitution.
Maryellen Tuttell
Kona Indivisible
The homeless are
ruining downtown Hilo
I didn’t want to say anything publicly, but I feel that I have to bring more attention to the issue: I am so saddened by the effects that homelessness is having on our beloved downtown Hilo.
It has changed so much since my childhood. I remember being excited when Hilo won the “Repaint the Town” project in 2013. I thought things were going to be moving in the right direction.
Recently as my mom and I went to an appointment with my son, we noticed that the floral shop that is across from Kalakaua Park (that was just open a few days ago) had movers who were packing up the last of their things. The owner said they’re relocating to Keaau because his customers were too scared to come to his business location.
And to be completely honest, my mom was with me and my son, and it gave me reassurance knowing that it was an extra set of eyes to look out for dangerous people.
I was just at Poke Market a couple weeks ago with a friend and had to flee down the sidewalk because an aggressive homeless man approached us and got within arms reach.
A store owner I know made a public post about having to clean feces from his storefront for the second time since recently opening.
I just saw an old article from 2020 about how the Hawaii Tourism Authority was sending people back to the state they flew from if they weren’t able to provide an address for where they were going to stay. Whatever happened to that? I understand it was COVID times, but there had to have been a way to keep that rule intact!?
I know times change, and we have to roll with the punches. But, ultimately, when I see small local businesses (owners, employees — residents who are trying to make an honest living) suffering, it makes me think that our elected government officials need to fully address (not just acknowledge) these issues or come up with legislation to have these thieves stop ruining the livelihood of our island.
Megan Burris
Volcano
