Where is everybody?
I read with interest Karen Cooper’s letter to the editor dated Feb. 4 (Tribune-Herald, Your Views).
I and many residents of the towns along Highway 11 from Panaewa to just before the Volcano transfer station site are dismayed at seeing more litter than ever!
In the 34 years that I’ve made this almost daily commute from Volcano to Hilo, I’m saddened to see the ‘aina treated like dump sites.
Kilauea Lodge and Volcano Rotary club job do a stellar job of keeping their sections clean. But for 24 miles, much of the road is an eyesore.
Paper, plastic, peanuts from Styrofoam, garbage can lids, cans, stink garbage stand out as reminders of our loss of interest in keeping Highway 11 clean.
Where is the state Highways Division? I have left messages by phone and email — never to receive a return call or email.
I’m interested in starting a grassroots cleanup committee but need bags, orange vests and long stick pokes. I’m 80 years old and don’t really want to bend and squat too much.
Perhaps Ms. Cooper and I can hook up to get a community effort going.
But there is no open office on this island for the Highways Division to even find bags and vests — where is everybody? Isn’t it about time state workers got back to being present in their offices and base yards? And return calls and emails?
Let’s make it look like we’re proud of our communities.
Lorna Larsen-Jeyte
Volcano
Trails ‘crusade’
The Ala Kahakai Trail Association recently had a cyberspace meeting with Naalehu residents. Unfortunately, we could not assemble in person.
In the old days, this meeting would be at the community center where everybody could assemble in the same room. These old-fashioned gatherings provided excellent opportunities for average citizens to judge for themselves the integrity of the promoters. We saw them face to face.
On the other hand, this recent cyberspace meeting enabled the Ala Kahakai Trail organizers to force their agenda onto the community without any direct contact. There was no opportunity for people to share their suspicions. We were divided up.
The right to assemble is important. The Ala Kahakai Trail Association should not be allowed to advance their “happy trails” crusade until all common citizens have their constitutional rights restored. Cyberspace cannot be substituted for in-person meetings.
First things first — don’t put the cart in front of the horse. Let’s not go down this slippery path.
Jerry Warren
Naalehu
