Rescued swimmers should donate
For the past two days, I have read about the recuse of the YWAM students and thought what a bad example these young people are setting for their peers.
First they were breaking the law when they trespassed on private property. Landowners put up signs for a reason, to keep people out of their land and to safeguard their property. Anyone who disregards signs should be prosecuted. No excuses.
Also, those YWAM students’ parents should make a donation to the fire department for all the trouble they put those men through. The youths can do community service all over the island to make restitution for their actions.
Colleen Wallis
Kailua-Kona
Hold YWAM students accountable
The bald-faced trespassing by the YWAM students is inexcusable. They are not the only ones who come to our islands and think they have a right to covet whatever. We constantly see this behavior in places such as Boiling Pots, Waipio Valley, Volcano, and other places. The pattern goes on and on.
When the YWAM students appear in court in December, the court should throw the book at them. How about a book on how to be law-abiding citizens? The excuse from a spokesperson of the University of Nations is, “We will be reviewing our policies and work to ensure everyone learns and understands about respecting the ways of the land.”
That’s not good enough. The organization needs to be on a mission to take action and make sure it never happens again. Mere words aren’t cutting it!
Likeke Bumanglag
Kailua-Kona
TMT argument 2 ships passing in the night
Decisions based on the result of an argument whereby opposing parties merely defend their stand have all too often resulted in poor choices.
When the pros and cons of gun control are argued the issue of adequate health care, the real problem, is obscured, and, in this case, lost. Closer to home, when the argument for fixed rail raged, the real issue, evolving technology, was ignored while the desire for more jobs prevailed. Consequently, we are continuing to build infrastructure long obsolete while unwittingly compromising the aesthetics of the island.
This procedure repeats with the proposed telescope atop Maunakea. The argument for the facility furthering the exploration of the heavens while bringing economic participation is being opposed by the counter argument that it defiles the customs and culture of this place.
Both arguments are valid but what is being missed is that the advantage of looking into the sky from atop the mountain was dismissed a decade ago when we discovered that a better viewing platform can be achieved with a satellite.
Like fixed rail, TMT is obsolete. So, the cultural issue notwithstanding, why on earth would we want to further desecrate our mountain with yesterday’s ideas?
Like the discussion surrounding stricter gun laws rather than available health care, the opposing parties arguing TMT need to focus on a compromise that sees the real issue, one that will benefit us all.
As for the jobs, perhaps we could build a medical center instead.
Kelly Greenwell
Kailua-Kona