TMT questions abound
1. Why is Hawaii state so inept that they do not follow proper procedure, environmental studies, hearings, etc. before trying to short track items that are important such as the hydrofoil ferry from Kauai to Oahu, Maui and Kawaihae or why did they permit housing developments in the immediate vicinity of geothermal areas on Hawaii Island?
2. Why not place TMT on the location of one of the telescopes that is being scrapped?
3. Have all Hawaii Islanders been polled about TMT?
4. Who determines what is sacred? And why is Mauna Kea more sacred than Mauna Loa where Pele dwells? What is sacred? Churches, mosques, synagogues, graveyards, human remains inside lava tubes? Who sets the boundaries of what is sacred? Were there any burial sites on the selected location for the TMT?
5. William Freitas says kupuna in a dream instructed him to build an ahu on the TMT site, therefore it cannot be moved unless kupuna instructs otherwise. Who is this kupuna?
6. Do the protesters come by canoe, climb Mauna Kea on foot, wearing lauhala sandals, make Hawaiian tapa clothes, grow their own food and use coconut and gourd vessels?
7. What would King Kamahamaha have done? He used the best technology of his day, weapons purchased from Europeans to help conquer Maui and Oahu. Kauai surrendered. Would King Kamahamaha have used the best technology of today to conquer the stars? Will his kupuna tell us? We can only gain wisdom by learning from history.
David B. Gomes
Waimea
Hit ant problem at nursery source
There are many well-meaning people involved in little fire ant control and mitigation, but the one approach I feel is lacking is stopping the spread from the origin as opposed to putting out the fire once it has spread.
What is needed is an approach similar to food safety in restaurants. Ag inspectors should go to the plant-growing nurseries and give a clean bill of health or not. Set traps for little fire ants, go at dusk to listen for coqui frogs and based upon the findings, they may sell and distribute their plants or fail, in which case they have to wait for a clean bill of health from the ag department to resume business.
The origin of these pests is the plant nurseries selling to the public, either through retail or contractor installation. Self-regulation does not work as monetary gain usually trumps moral conscience.
We continue to throw state money at this issue but due to the resistance of East Hawaii legislators protecting the financial stability of these nurseries, we never address the problem at its source.
Please, council members, legislators, senators and the governor, this situation does not affect only our tourists, but those of us who contribute daily to the economy of this state.
We are on an island, or eight to be exact, it is incomprehensible the ag department has allowed the spread of these invasive and disruptive species. To the state, step up and put money where it will be effective, not just where it sounds good.
Gwyneth Wrixon
Waikoloa