Letters to the editor | 8-29-14

Kudos for ousting GMO fanatics

Full marks to the Farmers and Ranchers United in Sunday’s newspaper for ousting the GMO fanatic minority and their scare tactics.

Chef Courtney Larson is not needed to keep her eye on anybody’s nutrition in this time of need and recovery, except perhaps her own. I’m sure she and other GMO zealots have no problems using gasoline (which contains ethanol, made with GMO corn, of course) in their cars.

Michael Bloomfield

Kailua-Kona

Some thoughts on storm response

First, I’d like to thank the Hawaii National Guard for being here, even though a consortium of business and government prevented them from doing anything other than sit in their vehicles. I’m told they weren’t happy about that. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say their assistance would have impacted storm cleanup profits and we couldn’t have that, now could we? Cynical and sarcastic? Moi?

Since there is no danger index for albizias in a storm, perhaps it is time to develop one, as they can be dangerous under nonstorm conditions. In Africa where they originated, there is a six-month rainy season, followed by a six-month dry season, something we don’t have in Puna. As a result of this, the tree continues to grow at a very high rate, it rots and then either large branches fall or the whole tree uproots.

Mahalo to the ground crews who cleared the trees on the highways, and the residents who will never receive any official recognition who did the vast majority of digging themselves and their neighbors out of a most uncomfortable situation, only to be told by those from Oahu who could drive through that it wasn’t as bad as they heard.

If fault were to be found, it would be HELCO and Ormat corporate for the power plant placement, power distribution and easement clearance. How many will go off grid as a result of this debacle? How many want to go off grid?

Dave Kisor

Pahoa