Letters | 3-1-15

Police, fire and rescue do excellent jobs

For those of us who are blessed to live on the Big Island, we are also blessed with having Police and Fire and Rescue departments that do an excellent job. Many of the tasks they perform take much more than five hours. Some are very unpleasant.

It’s sad to read about a self-absorbed individual being inconvenienced because of the tragic accident on Valentine’s Day that was referenced.

Mac McInnis

Kailua-Kona

Speeding on Laaloa Avenue must be stopped

I want to comment on the concern raised by Gary Patulski in his Feb. 18 letter to the editor. My wife and I have witnessed speeding vehicles on Laaloa Avenue during our morning walks and also urge the County of Hawaii to address this issue immediately. During the morning and evening “rush” hours, nearly every vehicle is speeding. Today, we saw a motorcycle and old Honda Civic drag-racing downhill while passing homes along Laaloa.

It is unfortunate that drivers cannot be trusted to drive responsibly. On a daily basis, my wife and I see cars, motorcycles, trucks — many with company logos — pickup work trucks, delivery trucks and even public school buses, putting lives in danger by speeding. We hear work tools rattle as they bounce up and down in work trucks as drivers speed over the one and only speed hump in the area of homes. While irresponsible drivers are visibly at fault, the county must also share in this public safety issue.

• Why was a main throughway, which passes through a subdivision opened, without first establishing sufficient mechanisms to slow vehicles down and encourage drivers to adhere to posted speed limits?

• Where are the speed humps and flashing sign like those on Kupuna Street?

• Where are the police to enforce the 25 mph speed limit?

• Is everyone “too busy” to address a public safety issue of the residents?

My wife and I challenge the county to take the Laaloa speeding issue seriously and address it sooner than later.

Mike Carl

Kailua-Kona