Letters for July 13, 2016

Letters for July 13, 2016

Donations help fund life celebrations

A celebration of life is a huge affair for Hawaiian families. Relatives come from other islands and even from the U.S. mainland. Food is the center of activity but music, hula, and talking story are also important. Renting a tent, providing chairs and tables, and setting up a stand for the musicians are part of the expense. One wonders how the average Hawaiian can afford this.

The answer is, “They can’t.”

At the entrance to the affair there is usually a table with a box and a slot in it in which to place cards of condolence accompanied by good sized donations to help the family of the deceased and to offset the costs.

In preparation for the first Hawaiian memorial service I attended, I asked, “Is there anything special I should know?” Unfortunately, I asked others as ignorant as I and was not told how we offset the cost. Hopefully, we all know now.

Marjorie Gifford

Princeville

Medical information should not be shared

Medical marijuana is legal in Hawaii. It is not, however, legal at the federal level. This notice was in the paper June 29, 2016.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: Pursuant to chapter 91, Hawaii Revised Statutes, notice is hereby given that the Department of Health (DOH) will hold a public hearing for the proposed amendment of chapter 11-160, Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR), Medical Use of Marijuana. This proposed amendment would amend section 11-160-56, HAR, Confidential information; exceptions, to allow for disclosure of certain registration information from the DOH medical marijuana registry program to authorized persons associated with the medical marijuana dispensary system and with Federal law enforcement officials for official law enforcement purposes.

It proposes a rule change that would allow registered medical marijuana users personal information to be shared with the “Federal law enforcement officials for official law enforcement purposes.” I am not sure exactly what that means, but my PH.D. tells me that it isn’t a good idea.

Any “information sharing” for the purposes of law enforcement can be problematic and an infringement of my right to privacy under the HIPPA law of 2003. My medication is a private issue between my doctor and myself. The Hawaii registry is for a permit to grow and possess marijuana and to protect medical marijuana users from prosecution. This rule change would remove that protection. I am not a marijuana user, however, I support your right to be and for your right to private medical information. Please let your opinion be known.

Sandra Combs

Kapaa

Z wall could affect beach access

In connection with the Z wall, I haven’t heard anyone mention the loss of PaPaa Bay to the public a number of years ago. I was told by the Planning Department that, being a single residence permit, they could not require a beach access as a condition. Will the same reasoning apply to the Z property? Will one or both beaches become private, accessible only by water landing?

Diane Garrison

Kilauea