Hat tip to Donna Whitaker
Mahalo nui loa for all your hard work as executive director of the Hawaii Island Humane Society. Your experience and passion for animals helped create the current and future success of HIHS.
You, along with the exceptional staff and volunteers, built a great organization, something that will benefit all future generations on the Big Island.
Staying for almost 10 years has allowed HIHS to get the new facility in Kona and so much more islandwide. You have made us so proud to be a supporter of this organization. We wish you success on your next adventure. Almost 20 years ago we nicknamed you Animal Goddess, and you are.
Thank you.
Nancy Jameson and Sharon Pike
Kailua-Kona
CCL fighting against climate change
When William Aila Jr., the former chief of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said that Hawaii lacks the political will to tackle climate change at the recent UH-Manoa climate change conference, it was a call to action to the people of Hawaii. He asks, what are we going to give up to reverse the consequences of climate change?
It is frustrating for state planners to be aware of sea level rise, higher temperatures, drought or flooding that will affect food production, and not feel confident that the citizens and elected legislators will do their part to help facilitate the needed changes.
The 2017 Hawaii Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Adaptation Report indicates how huge the damage will be: 25,800 flooded acres and 20,000 displaced residents. Add to that billions to safeguard fresh water sources, upgrade and relocate water pipelines and to raise or relocate roads and bridges.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a grassroots organization with chapters in the islands, knows how to build the political will William Aila says is lacking. CCL trains members to build relationships all across the political spectrum, transforming members from spectators to engaged citizens working for a solution, the true nature of democracy.
Standing together as a CCL force, members can support leaders to take action to preserve a livable Hawaii, and to promote national policies such as the recently introduced congressional House and Senate Bill 7173 Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, that, if passed, would charge a fee on all raw fossil fuels and return the monies collected to all U.S. households to balance the increase in consumer fuel prices.
The effect would be to quickly flip the energy market to renewable technology and to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide fast to reverse rising global temperatures.
Merle Hayward
Mountain View
Welcome, but now what?
I would like to take a moment to welcome in our new county council. Welcome, and thank you for being willing to lead. Thank you for your commitment to our county and communities.
Now that you are in office, have hired your staff, and enjoyed your holidays, I have a few questions to ask you all.
Last year, right around this time, I emailed all nine council members with my concerns. Now that it is a new council, I am hoping for things to change for the better.
Can we get the 24/7 crisis text line number 741-741 printed on all the county buses now?
Can we get the Department of Parks and Rec to print their quarterly activity flyers and deliver them to all the A+ site coordinators in all the schools in their areas now?
Can we get money for more community police officers to hold a bullying prevention series in all of the schools now?
Can we get public transportation to make consistent bus stops at all of the healthy after-school activities in the communities now?
Can we get some internships for middle and high schoolers in all the county divisions now?
You might ask me why? That’s fair. The studies show that when our youth have something to care about and adults in their lives who care about them, they don’t try to kill themselves.
That’s a pretty good reason to do these things, right?
Mahalo in advance.
Zahava Zaidoff
Captain Cook