Three reasons why golf
course fence is a bad idea
We live on the section of Kehaulani Street that dead-ends at the Hilo Municipal Golf Course. We strongly oppose enclosing the entire course with a chain-link fence because:
1) It’s not pono. Barricading publicly owned open space is just mean-spirited. The county’s and golf course management’s excuses for fencing don’t justify a draconian and costly measure to preclude neighborhood after-golf-hours use of the green space and pathways.
Course management’s “issue,” as we understand it, is that neighbors “trespass” to walk along the cart paths after golfers have vacated the links in evenings. For sure, this couldn’t happen on a privately owned hoity-toity country club, but this course belongs to all county taxpayers, and this is Hilo, for crying out loud. People walking even with strollers and/or leashed dogs after hours are not going to damage the course.
Another stated issue is unauthorized ATVs being driven on the grounds. Although no Kehaulani neighbors have seen this happen, and we don’t believe it’s a common occurrence, it would unarguably be a bad thing. However, completely enclosing the entire course to prevent a possible re-occurrence is a ridiculously expensive overreaction.
Why punish the entire neighborhood for one or two “bad apples”?
2) It is misdirected taxpayer money. The money proposed for this ugly and unwanted fence would be better spent by the course management to do long-deferred maintenance on the course itself — i.e., disintegrating asphalt cart paths are in dangerous condition in places; a dozen or more greens are in disgraceful condition; the links need more on-course restrooms.
3) The municipal golf course is not a perfect, passive neighbor itself. We are awakened around 4 a.m. daily by the growling motor of the course’s lawnmowers.
We have to put up with it, so where’s the reciprocal aloha??
Jim and Nancy Locke
Hilo
Do not let this bully
ruin the democracy
Our current president is known for distraction while he plans more evil.
In this case, he has kept us talking about cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, while burying in the “big, beautiful bill” a clause that would keep him and his minions from being held in contempt if he defies a judge’s ruling.
The really scary thing is that the media has chosen to ignore this! ! He is bullying the press by bringing lawsuits if they say anything he doesn’t like.
The only way to beat a bully is to call them on their misdeeds.
Our democracy is at stake! Call your senators and ask them to please bring this to light!
Susan Bond
Keaau
