Let us know
about closures
The transfer stations have closed because of personnel issues and the green waste was closed for several days due to a fire. Many folks travel a long distance from their homes to the transfer stations. It is very frustrating to arrive at the station and find that it is closed.
In this day of technology and instant messaging, it would be helpful if there was somewhere on the web that the county could notify people when a transfer station is closed. It would help most folks avoid a trip that wastes gas and time with no results.
Elizabeth Rawsthorne
Kailua-Kona
Why Hawaiians
won’t go away
Today, I took food and water to kokua our protectors of Maunakea at Puuhuluhulu — the Puuhonua at Maunakea. This is the “encampment” of Native Hawaiian Protectors of Maunakea for both Hawaiians and non-Hawaiians who believe, as I do, that our Maunakea is sacred.
At this site, volunteers provided cooks, food, water, shelter, care for the elderly and young, traffic control, legal observers, food and water runners, first aid, masseurs. These volunteers are devoted to the task of providing a comfortable, stable environment to all protectors so that they can continue the struggle for justice.
Most importantly, everyone, Hawaiian or non-Hawaiians were embraced with aloha.
Approximately, 600 people and their cars were lined up, along the highway with children and adults gathered in groves on Maunakea Access Road — the entry to Maunakea. The mood was happy, serious, somber, jovial, intense.
It was an extremely emotional day for me. Why? As a young law student in the mid-‘70s during the Kahoolawe movement, I was one of the “background protectors” of Kahoolawe.
Yes, we considered and consider Kahoolawe sacred. To see the United States of America use our Kahoolawe for bombing practice was painful and sacrilegious to me and all of us.
The front-line people were the real heroes:. Walter Ritte, George Helm, Kawaipuna Prejean, Ian Lind, Dr. Emmett Aluli, Stephen K. Morse, Kimo Aluli, Ellen Miles, and Karla Villalba. By occupying our beloved Kahoolawe to prevent further bombing and desecration, they risked their lives for justice.
The rest of us, kept the momentum alive on the ground. No cellphones. No Facebook. No Instagram. No gofund me. No computers. But we did it. Together, we stopped the feds from bombing Kahoolawe.
Do I have hope that we will stop the desecration today? Yes, I do. Why? Because Hawaiians will never go away.
About 20 to 30 notable front-line kupuna (elders) lined the ranks today. Among them, Walter Ritte, Momi Greene, Gwen Kim — kupuna, among others, who are not new to standing up for what is pono. Our kupuna represent our past and our future. Seeing our beloved kupuna laying their lives on the line was a heart-wrenching experience for me today.
And what about our opio? Our youth? A significant number of them were present today. Happiness. These young people continue to be well versed in our history, culture, traditions, and our language, and more importantly, what is pono. They are our past and our future, as well. This is why Hawaiians will never go away.
Lei Kihoi
Kailua-Kona
Think twice …
After reading today’s account of the TMT/protectors events at the summit, I’d suggest all would do well to consider:
“It’s hard to make a friend. It’s even harder to lose an enemy.”
Richard Apothaker
Waikoloa Village
