A racist attempt to deflect blame
I read the Dec. 15 article about missing and murdered Hawaiian women. And was so disappointed in state Rep. Jeanne Kapela’s response, wherein she blames colonialism for the problem. Not only is that a totally false and racist attempt to deflect blame, it also shows complete denial and lack of knowledge of traditional Hawaiian society, which was brutal and feudalistic. The maka na aina (average persons) life was fraught with fear of the alii. One could be beheaded simply for letting an alii shadow fall across them. Unwanted offspring of chiefs were often kill, and sometimes their mother. Not facing reality is not going to solve the problem. Let us hope that someone who is better educated run against Ms. Kapela next time.
Henani Bell
Captain Cook
^
News people need to know about
In March of 2021, Levana Lomma traveled to Oahu from Kuaui and stood in her God-given right to travel as a healthy American without restriction. She challenged the airport’s quarantine guard and got through without signing their agreement to self-quarantine. She was later arrested twice for standing up for her constitutional rights.
This month, on Dec. 13, the state put in a motion to dismiss all charges and the Kauai judge approved it with prejudice, which means they can never bring it back again. They dismissed her disobedience of the governor’s proclamation during the emergency management period.
The sgtate acknowledges that a governor’s mandates are not laws. To have a law, a legislator creates a bill that the legislative body passes and then the governor signs. The governor has no power to create laws by himself. Americans cannot be mandated unless they agree to be mandated.
Levana is taking the governor to court for violating people’s constitutional liberties and depriving us of the right to due process. This is not a communist country and yet we were treated like it was.
The government cannot take healthy people and force them into house arrest against their will. For them to control people, people must forfeit their rights willingly and Levana did not do that. She stood up against tyranny and won! Thank God for her!
She has shown us the path. If the laws are unjust, it is our duty as Americans to stand up for our freedom. In my opinion, I believe some years down the road there may be another situation like this and I pray that I’m as brave as Lavana Lomma when that happens. I pray we all are.
Michelle Melendez
Hakalau
^
Never forget
Thank you so much for publishing the column written by Holocaust survivor David Lenga on Dec. 21. As a member of the Jewish community in Kona, I appreciate seeing the words of Mr. Lenga in today’s paper, the fourth day of Hanukkah.
Joan Jackson
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. Email the West Hawaii Today newsroom at news@westhawaiitoday.com and share the information with our readers.
^
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 https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/letter-to-the-editor/ or address letters to:
Editor
West Hawaii Today
PO Box 789
Kailua-Kona, HI 96745
Email: letters@westhawaiitoday.com
