Letters for May 14, 2016

• Opposed to expanding marine monument • Appreciation for senior’s kindness

Opposed to expanding marine monument

Dear President Obama,

A group of seven Hawaii residents (William Aila, Kamanaopono Crabbe, Isaac Harp, Kekuewa Kikiloi, Marvin Kaleo Manuel, Victoria Holt Takamine, Nainoa Thompson) recently wrote you a letter asking you to expand the current Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument in Hawaii, from 50 miles to 200 miles. There are no clear promises that the expansion will not encroach middle banks and the buoys that many of Kauai’s fishermen go to.

Over the past five years we have attended numerous meetings and hearings. The overall feeling from our community is that we’re being overrun and taken advantage of by the government, regardless of existing state management policies and regulations. Our commercial fishing industry is stressed out about the future of their business, and our local small fisheries are worried about unnecessary fishing regulations that keep us away from our food resources.

The residents of Hawaii have good reasons to maintain our access to our natural resources. We don’t want to give them up to the federal government. The letter this small group sent to you wasn’t given deep thought, and is disrespectful to everyone who lives here.

We urge you to please oppose the expansion of the current Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument.

Isaac Moon

Shyla Moon

Kalaheo

Appreciation for senior’s kindness

A big Mahalo to Ashlyn Segucio and her friend Kiara Rapozo for collecting $213 for the Saint Catherine Food Pantry in Kapaa. Ashlyn is a senior at Kapaa High School and a fine example of helping the less fortunate of our community.

Mark Whitson

Food Pantry ops manager