Letters to the editor: 01-26-19

Lava tube hazard maddening

Am I the only person that believes that blocking off access to the lava tube on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway is a great idea? I have almost killed bally idiots crossing the highway to get to and from the lava tube.

I have had to jam on my brakes for bally idiots suddenly deciding they want to stop and see the lava tube – most times with no turn signal, just brake lights. I have had to jam on my brakes for bally idiots merging onto the highway at 10 mph when the traffic is going 55 mph. A left turn lane from the makai side of the highway to a parking lot on the mauka side is an invitation to a head-on collision.

Forget making a parking lot and use the money instead to repave the disgusting Paniolo Avenue in Waikoloa Village. You risk a chipped windscreen from the bad asphalt surface driving on Paniolo Avenue.

Also, I’ve noticed many bally idiots climbing over the lava and descending into the lava tube in flip flops. If they break an ankle the first responders have to now go down and up a dangerous lava slope with a stretcher to bring them out. Very interesting that on the same page in West Hawaii Today one side is clamoring for improvements for visitors at the lava tube and the other side clamoring for no improvements for Keauhou Bay. I very much appreciate West Hawaii Today continually publishing opposing and unpopular views – freedom of the press.

Colin Luck

Waikoloa Village

Congestion cause enough to say no

Sometimes it is best not to speak out and let things emerge on their own. This isn’t such a time.

The 450-plus unit development planned near the Kona Vistas-Pualani Estates areas should not go forward without safe direct access to and from the Queen Kaahumanu Highway. It should not go forward at the expense of the traffic hazards currently hardwired on Puapuaanui Street — a main thoroughfare with ill-conceived blind curves and poorly regulated speed controls that have resulted in several accidents and numerous near misses of pedestrians, especially kupuna and keiki.

It’s a street for which the county has yet to figure out how to mitigate these hazardous problems satisfactorily. Furthermore, proposed connections onto narrow streets and poorly designed intersections within Pualani Estates will elevate the risk of serious safety issues and consequences. The impact on cultural resources such as the Keau Kukui Ula heiau in Pualani Estates should also be included as part of the planning process.

For the sake of argument let’s say half of those living in the proposed units have only one vehicle. That’s adding over 200 more vehicles to the area’s traffic infrastructure. We all know many families have more than one vehicle so it’s possible to have over 400 more vehicles added to the traffic flow on a 24/7 basis. One can only imagine the traffic incursion it would create during commute hours on Queen Kaahumanu Highway. And what about emergency responders?

Traffic flow and safety should first be addressed and fixed on the current infrastructure. Otherwise, any new developments will be adding another layer of problems for communities to “live with.” Not acceptable.

Likeke Bumanglag

Kailua-Kona