What makes Hawaii special?
Hello! I am a third-grade student in Northern Virginia. Our class is learning about the United States, and I will be teaching our school about the state of Hawaii. In the month of May, I will create a display for our State Fair that I hope will make you proud.
Although I have gathered facts about your state from books and websites, I think that I can receive the best information from the people who live there. This is why I am writing to you. I am hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. You might consider sending items such as postcards, pictures, souvenirs, this newspaper article, or any other unique items that would be useful or show your state pride. Here are a few questions:
• Why do you live in your state?/What first brought your family there?
• How do you make money?/What is your job?
• What does your state look like?
• What do people do for fun?
• What animals live there?
• What traditional food/recipes does your state have?
• What type of music is native to your state?
• Do you have a state athletic team?
• What geographic features are unique to your state?
I will need to gather all of my information by the second week of May. You can mail items to: Mr. Gilchrist’s Class; The Langley School; 1411 Balls Hill Road; McLean, VA 22101 .
I really appreciate your help!
Alex
McLean, Virginia
^
War bonds for Ukraine?
Outraged at the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Want to offer meaningful support to Ukrainian defenders? Here’s an idea we can all get behind.
The U.S. government should issue Ukraine Support War Bonds to the public. These bonds would be backed by the U.S. government, but the money raised would be managed by our government so that the funds would be devoted to financial support of the current government of Ukraine. These funds would enable the U.S. to provide more help to the people of Ukraine to stave off the Russians and even to build back parts of the country destroyed by the war.
Further, they would be tangible proof of public support for Ukraine, not just government support.
When the war is finally over, if Russia is the victor, the money could support the inevitable Ukrainian insurgency. If Ukraine is the victor, the money could be directed to rebuilding the country. If Ukraine ends up divided into East and West, as Germany once was, the money would support West Ukraine.
Working out the details of this plan would be a rat’s nest of complications, but war calls for difficult problems to be tackled immediately and efficiently. The sooner the better. Let’s do it.
John Sucke
Waimea
^
Property assessments don’t add up
Would someone in the Department of Finance Real Property Division please explain why my home and those of other homeowners are assessed at slightly less than the market value, while the Kona Bay Hotel, which recently sold for $21 million, had a listed market value of $4.42 million and presumably was assessed at an even lower value? I presume this is not an isolated case of commercial properties being assessed more favorably than homeowners properties.
Burt Masters
Kailua-Kona
^
Tell us about it
Do you have a story idea or news tip?
Is there a community problem that has not been addressed?
Do you know someone unique, whose story should be shared and enjoyed with the rest of the community?
We want to know.
Call the West Hawaii Today newsroom at (808) 930-8600 or email news@westhawaiitoday.com and share the information with our readers.
It’s our community — and we care.
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. Email or address letters to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona HI 96745
Email: letters@westhawaiitoday.com