A tragedy that adults could have intervened in
Just heartbroken. After reading Alexis Lehman-Cabanting’s horrific story in Saturday’s edition, I urge everyone to act immediately when witnessing injuries and hearing a child’s testimony. When my then practice on Pottery Terrace was there and when we saw an abused child, we marched right up to DHS — forget that stupid phone line — and insisted they come evaluate the child.
We dragged them down as we had proximity and a will to insist for the child. With abuse there needs to be a sense of immediacy as once reported the abuse intensifies as this dear survivor is living evidence of. Once identified, the first priority needs to be protection of the child. This is a tragedy that adults could have intervened in.
LoraLee Aller MD
Kailua-Kona
^
Two years is enough
It’s been two years since the first wave of protesters chained themselves to a cattle grate to block traffic up Maunakea. As we all know, hundreds of people not only showed up to express their displeasure of the TMT project, but many of them set up tents and other types of shelters (some with mailboxes).
I’m not writing to express my view of TMT. I’m writing to ask why — as of July 9 — there are still about 20 tents/structures still in existence at the intersection of Saddle Road and the Maunakea Access Road?
If the land is indeed sacred as some claim, why continue making the area such an eyesore. Get up and remove the ugly tents, tarps and lean-tos.
But the second question is why are county officials allowing this to continue? And for how long? The next two years? Twenty?
Would I be allowed to pitch a tent nearby for my own mini-vacation? Of course not. So, how about sending county crews to clean the place and levying fines to those who so flagrantly disrespect the ‘aina?
Two years is enough! It’s time to clean up this blight and restore the area to its natural wonder.
Bob Waliszewski
Waikoloa
^
Goat problem exists outside Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau National Park as well
Great, they are moving the goats out of Pu‘uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park. But how about everywhere else the goats have invaded and causing massive environmental damage? Why is nothing being done to eliminate this problem? Hunting should be encouraged at the least. Better yet establish a reward system to pay people to help us fight this assault. It is done in other States. Why is DLNR avoiding this?
Dale Sarver
Holualoa
^
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