Not with my taxes
Tax money to buy Fissure 8 lava land area is absurd and disrespectful. What mainland mentality thought of this stupid idea? The lesson of this living island is that unpredictability of nature or this island. The eruption, destruction and rebirth of this island puts us humans in our place that this earth island is finite and can destroy us due to bigger natural forces beyond our control. Really, you want a “museum piece of Fissure 8” to, what get up close to, an inactive dried up lava flow or what you think will be controlled glowing lava vents. And pay for this with my taxes? Nope!
Paulette Roberson
Kailua-Kona
Kona is a real estate market
On Monday, Catherine Hopkins wrote the essay “My Turn: Real Estate greed eclipses the aloha spirit,” and it took my mind back over 15 years ago.
In August, 2004, in a West Hawaii Today story I said Kona is a real estate market that appeals to many developers, traders and investors. This creates a demand which feeds itself to grow without restraint.
You own a property and I buy it from you, then I sell it for a higher profit. Then someone buys it from me and repeats the cycle. We can’t keep going on like this forever. Lack of ethics keeps continuing sad to say.
We live in a society of freedom and constraints. However, we live with too much freedom and not enough constraints.
Neither the real estate industry nor the government would impose controls to provide affordable living for working residents.
I remember living aloha instead of selling its spirit like a commodity.
Kona’s lands are naturally beautiful to be cherished by all.
Harold Murata
Kealakekua
Why is one correct?
I was amused when I read the article about Michael Cecil Lee on Tuesday. I will not report on the guilt or innocence of Mr. Lee, however, when I read that Lee told the officers that “God” killed the victim, I was beside myself with laughter. What a great concept to think that a mysterious all seeing and doing person(?) could and would do this is unbelievable. Have you lost your sense of reason?
Why is it when someone such as a suspect invokes God, they think he’s crazy? Yet when a preacher mentions God, folks fall over themselves with support. Why is one correct and the other not?
You have a right to believe whatever you feel is correct; however, let me do the same if I have no faith in God. I obliterate the word God on my folding money. (Coins I find are too hard to remove the word!) Keep believing in God or whatever mystical and magical being you want, and maybe, just maybe your wishes will come true. I know it won’t.
Michael L. Last
Na‘alehu
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