Politicians need to take a look at Hawaii’s tax laws
Given the political season and the continuing practice of our elected officials to tax the local residents least able to afford it, I am compelled to make comment.
Michael Wilson’s letter in the July 20 edition of West Hawaii Today touched on this. His letter suggested exempting food and medical from the state excise tax. As a 30-year resident of this island, I have never heard this suggestion from an elected official. In many areas of the U.S. mainland this is normal practice. There are many regressive aspects of Hawaii’s tax laws. This is but one.
It is going to be difficult for me to support any entrenched politician in the upcoming elections.
John Totten
Kailua-Kona
A positive perspective
It was refreshing to see two letters in the July 19 West Hawaii Today with a positive perspective on two controversial topics — or at least views that supported my opinion as well.
Regarding the Queen Kaahumanu Highway improvements, I think Goodfellows has made a far superior effort than Hawaiian Dredging did on the first phase. If you saw the size of the boulders on the makai side of the road between NELHA and the airport at the beginning of the project — some the size of a truck or a small house, it would give you some perspective of the massive scope of the project. Sure there have been some traffic delays, but many of the large road closures have been accomplished at night. And don’t forget the bidding conflicts at the outset and the numerous setbacks they faced with archeological finds. Kudos to Goodfellows.
And regarding the TMT project, kudos to the Kids of Hawaii NEI for recognizing the huge contribution to science, education, and the economy the TMT could make to our island. And also the tribute it would be to the early Polynesians who used their knowledge of astronomy to even find this place we all call home.
Nancy Bloomfield
Kailua-Kona
Be informed before criticizing
On July 16, a letter to the editor suggested that Janice Palma Glennie, in an earlier opinion piece, should have kept her thoughts local.
This is his opinion, of course, but to the holder of that thinking I would say that were it not for Janice Palma Glennie, there would not be a public shoreline park at Kohanaiki, and that perhaps you should find out who the leaders really are and what they have accomplished before you criticize them for viewing the larger picture.
Kelly Greenwell
North Kona