Vote Bernie
The concern about how the federal government will affect legalized medical cannabis (marijuana) dispensaries in the Hawaiian Islands (as a state of islands marijuana sales tricky for Hawaii, Feb. 29) is another reason to vote for Sen. Bernie Sanders on the March 26, Democratic Presidential Primary Caucus. Sanders, is committed to removing cannabis from its historically discredited Schedule I substance classification alongside heroin (while meth and cocaine are only Schedule II substances), which will allow interstate and interisland commerce without threat from the federal government.
Stan White
Dillon, Colo.
Hawaii government out of control
Called the “Republic of Hawaii” by prestigious Forbes magazine and labeled as an anti-business state by many networks, politricks is out of control in so called “paradise.” With the cost of doing business in Hawaii so extremely high and cost of living exorbitant, the Hawaiian Independence government in many minds must take place soon otherwise citizens of so called “paradise” will be most likely paying 6 percent general excise taxes in the near future which is way too high.
An illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy definitely took place and I strongly feel what was stolen must be returned. The great Bible states that “Thou shall not steal.” I don’t see why more Christian churches don’t support the Hawaiian Independence movement for their own great book the Bible states “Thou shall not steal.”
If the majority of people don’t want to see a change in government, current government must definitely downsize to say the least to avoid tax increases. If the state of Hawaii can privatize hospitals, it can surely do the same thing with the state of Hawaii operated University of Hawaii system and public schools, which have been extremely controversial in addition to costing taxpayers. One with a sane mind would think health care is more important than education. Enough said!
Dean Nagasako
Honokaa
Dengue not changing tourism patterns
I read with interest your front page report that dengue had not deterred visits to the Big Island. There are a couple of obvious reasons for this.
First, many of us make our travel plans six to 10 months in advance. If the state of emergency had triggered a further travel advisory, beyond the threshold required for travel insurance to cut in, there might have been a flood of cancellations.
Secondly, one had to scan mainland papers very closely to be aware of dengue here. Zika took the focus away from dengue and the state of Hawaii only declared a statewide emergency after Zika loomed large.
We are two weeks into a four-week stay. We have seen very little behavioural changes among tourists or residents. No repellent spraying, no staying indoors at sun up and sundown, no long sleeves and pants. We all seem to rely completely on civil authorities to knock out the mosquito vector. After all, if long sleeves and pants were really needed I could have as well stayed home.
Make no mistake. If mosquito-borne disease becomes endemic to the Big Island tourists will back off. Keep up every effort possible to save the tranquility and ease for which we love Hawaii.
Mark Proctor
Burnaby, British Columbia