Kudos to our police officers
I am writing to take a moment to extend my thanks to the Hawaii Police Department. Their compassion, professionalism and community dedication are a bright light in Kona and should be a model for other police departments.
I am in my 40s and this is the first time in my life that I have felt safe around the police. What I witness in Kona are police officers who serve the community in an effortless way. They do the right thing. They treat people kindly. They treat people with respect, no matter who they are. They try to understand the people they serve and find positive solutions. The whole world could learn from their example of truly caring about their community and how to be the right kind of police officer.
I am a black man, born and raised in America. I have always felt threatened and afraid of the police. Always. I have been harassed, singled out for no reason, suspected, always fearful of a police encounter.
But, here in Hawaii, I feel safe and respected by the police. No one looks at me twice, no one stops me for no reason, no police officer has shown me anything but kindness. I have been here almost four years and have had this experience everywhere, on every island. Feeling safe around the police is a new experience for me and I appreciate it.
James McDaniel
Kona
Lower gas prices hurt the environment
It never ceases to amaze me how some people are so intent to add more carbon dioxide into our environment.
The logic of lower gas prices should not be a reason to go out and buy a bigger gas guzzler. The bigger the engine, the more emissions these vehicles will emit into the environment.
It’s bad enough that all the glaciers are melting and the ocean temperatures have gotten very warm. Soon there will be no ice for the polar bears and the animals who depend on the ice for survival. A loss of habitat means the extinction of many creatures.
Mother Nature must already know that soon there will not be enough food for her children. Maybe it’s the reason the little monk seal was left abandoned in Niihau.
We should all be rejoicing in the lower gas prices but not use it as a reason to hasten our precious planet’s demise.
Colleen Miyose-Wallis
Kailua-Kona