Clarification needed
Aloha, neighbors. I am perplexed as a regular swimmer on the Kailua Bay Ironman course. With the return of tourism, the number of commercial boats carrying snorkelers seeking to swim with dolphins has increased. I recently was swimming toward the 1-mile buoy marker when a notable boat with snorkelers pulled directly in front of me, unloading its snorkelers into the water where a pod of dolphins had gathered. I wear a brightly colored inflatable float and a neon swim cap to be visible in the water, however, I was very nervous with this boat near me, unsure whether it would suddenly drive away not seeing me or the other fellow swimmers on the course. I continued my swim to the 2.4-mile marker, and upon my return the same boat remained at the 1-mile bouy marker. I asked the boat captain to please move from the course, and she responded willingly, but only moved about 10 yards away. Since this episode, I have encountered several other boats dropping their passengers in a similar area, making visualization of the swim markers impossible, and swimmers nervous.
What are the rules, per se, for swimmers and boats in this area? I have searched for clarification, yet am unable to find any guidelines. I am also deeply perplexed with snorkelers diving underwater to chase these beautiful creatures and the boats that chase them. I understand the tour operators’ need for income, yet I am disturbed by their presence in an area known for swimmers wishing for a safely defined open ocean swim course. Meanwhile, heads up, swimmers.
Jeri Gantley
Kailua-Kona
How much more are we going to take?
A friend of mine, who is a single mother, was arrested in a parking lot for not wearing a mask and being in a group of more than 10 people. The prosecutor told her she has one choice: spend three nights in jail and one year probation. She asked if she could pay a fine, he rejected her. Both she and her son have special dietary needs and she has no one to watch him. We should all be irate by this.
You may be thinking, “well, she should have worn her mask.” I ask you, is it so easy to give up your God-given and Constitutional rights and live in fear? Do you want to live this way for the rest of your life? Do you want your children’s children to never know a time without masks?
The reason for the first emergency proclamation was so our hospitals wouldn’t be overrun. It’s been nine months and our hospitals have yet to be in danger.
I’ve compared the number of COVID deaths to the flu for the last six years. We’ve had 17,000 COVID “cases,” many people with no symptoms, and 233 deaths. From 2014-18 we had 1,500 to 2,000 cases of the flu and 336 to 600 people died each year. Heart disease and cancer have each killed 10 times more people than COVID this year. Yet, we are told to live in fear, wear a mask, and if you don’t you’ll go to jail.
How much more of this are we going to take? Do all single mothers need to go to jail before we ask more questions? If you don’t want your grandkids to not know a time without masks or be able to hug their friends, here is a local rally to join www.HawaiiAwarenessRally.com.
Michelle Melendez
Kealakekua
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