Think before sharing opinion
Just a quick comment about the letter to the WHT editor March 23 from Mr. Nelson. I must finally put away my professionalism, as well as my manners, and ask, are you stupid or what? Ban leaf blowers because you are concerned about the dust they cause, that you must breathe. Wake up man! Did you ever realize that you happen to live on an island that pumps out enough vog in one day that it makes L.A.’s smog problem look good.
What exactly is vog you ask? Well, here is your answer: Vog is created when volcanic gases (primarily oxides of sulfur) react with sunlight, oxygen and moisture. The result includes sulphuric acid and other sulfates. Vog is made up of a mixture of gases and aerosols which makes it hard to study and potentially more dangerous than either on their own. In other words, some very unhealthy, “nasty stuff,” and guess what? You breathe pounds of it in every day. And just to prove my point, go out one evening and wash your car. The next morning get up, and go outside and rub your bare hand across the hood of your car.
What is that “nasty stuff” all over your hand you ask? Well, you get two guesses and the first one doesn’t count, Einstein. It is sad to say, but sometimes the First Amendment can really be a dangerous thing. Especially in the hands of people who don’t like breathing dust from a leaf blower, yet they breathe sulfuric acid, or its byproducts every day.
And then they want to call for a ban on the leaf blowers that cause the dust, by writing a letter for everyone to see. If this is the worst you have to worry about I would suggest moving to California, say, where they have a ban on leaf blowers.
In closing please keep your opinions to yourself, you will be less embarrassed this way.
Richard Saunders
Captain Cook
4:30 a.m. is a tad too early
We agree 100 percent with Mr. Lawson’s narrative regarding golf course maintenance. Comes with the territory. However, the practice of blowing the overnight accumulation of leaves and debris (which amounts to what?) from the parking lots in front of the clubhouse beginning at 4:30 a.m. hardly seems necessary. I’ve driven down there a couple of times to see just what they could possibly be doing at 4:30.
We further agree with Mr. Lawson that the early morning is perhaps the best time of day here in Keauhou and Kailua-Kona but 4:30 is too early to be awakened by a team of leaf blowers blowing minimum amounts of leafy debris from one corner of a parking lot to the next. Keep the course prepared and ready for play, yes, of course, but no one cares if there are some stray leaves in the parking area. A little very early morning aloha from the golf course maintenance manager and crew would be appreciated.
And, I’m ready for more noise from the Mountain Course, let’s get that redone!
Doyle King and Sharon Grunwald
Keauhou