Letters to the Editor: March 31, 2021

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Get the oink out of here

Pigs! When I moved here over 50 years ago, we had no serious problems with frogs, wild roosters, feral cats or wild pigs. Even 10 years ago, these annoying creatures were not problematical.

Now, we have become accustomed to coqui frogs as part of our lives. Cats, we can spay and neuter. Roosters we can relocate. But pigs?

Not until this year have pigs invaded my Healing Arts Center in Honaunau, and even injured the knee of one of my bed and breakfast guests who hit a pig while driving up Highway 160. Huge wild pigs are constantly uprooting our garden, messing up our rock paths, pushing their way into our chicken coop, creating havoc at night with their horrific mating sounds, and causing accidents on our highways.

As an island community, I believe we have to band together to eliminate this serious proliferating nuisance. I suggest that the County Council form a pig eradication project. How do we begin this major undertaking?

Barbara Moore

Honaunau

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Why did I get it?

I have lived on Hawaii, near Waimea, for five years. I was fortunate to be vaccinated with two doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in January and February.

I am currently on the mainland dealing with family business related to my 88-year-old mother. I made return reservations to Hawaii for mid-April.

I am shocked to find out that the vaccine does not remove the requirement for a negative COVID-19 test prior to return. Does Hawaii not believe in the efficacy of these vaccines? Or the vaccination process I went through in Kailua-Kona?

If they don’t work and the government doesn’t trust them, why did I get it?

Getting the required negative test is actually now more difficult than six months ago. With the government effort now totally focused on mass vaccination, Hawaii may force me back into quarantine.

Brian McCarty

Waimea

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Mahalo for going above and beyond

My experiences with government employees were mostly negative in the past, so I would like to give a public big mahalo to Ms. Sherlyn Aronce at Hawaii County Tax Board Review. I appealed my property tax assessment, completed all the forms, enclosed my supporting documents, and a $50 appeal deposit fee check. Due to my advanced age, and probably on my way to be not senile anymore, I forgot to sign the check. I would have expected everything to be returned to me as “incomplete appeal,” yet Ms. Aronce called me, arranged to have my check returned, and gave me instruction as what to do in order not to miss the appeal deadline. Thank you, Ms. Aronce, you went way beyond your duty.

John S. Rabi

Kona

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Letters policy

Letters to the editor should be 300 words or less and will be edited for style and grammar. Longer viewpoint guest columns may not exceed 800 words. Submit online at www.westhawaiitoday.com/?p=118321, via email to letters@westhawaiitoday.com or address them to:

Editor

West Hawaii Today

PO Box 789

Kailua-Kona, HI 96745