No one needs to hoard
When some people hoard, shelves go empty and other people go without. When people go without they are apt to get desperate. Desperate people might make trouble that nobody needs. It all starts with some people who hoard.
While it’s good to be prepared, there is no need for panic shopping. Supply chains are open and normal. No one needs to go without. No one needs to hoard. Chill.
We could be in this for the long haul — measured in months. What a wonderful opportunity, during this time, to reflect on becoming self-sufficient, as individuals and families, and therefore as a community.
Aloha kakou.
Richard Morse, Kilauea
At minimum, require 14-day self-isolation
Communities around the United States are implementing shelter-in-place orders. This includes the Bay Area, where I have family and friends. New York City is contemplating a similar order for its roughly 8.5-million citizens. Meanwhile, people in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and New York City can jump on an airplane and travel to Hawai‘i, where we welcome them with open arms to blithely cavort around our wonderful islands with no restrictions. Am I the only one who sees the absurdity in this practice? This seems to be a case of huge government malfeasance at all levels. I ask our government to please make the necessary changes before it is too late. At a minimum all passengers, including returning residents, should be subject to a 14-day, self-isolation period.
You may say: “That will kill our economy.” Well, it will be much worse when we have to do this later at a greater monetary cost. But, more importantly, our population now has a greater health risk, especially our treasured kupuna. Please act now to save us all from the misery of an active and accelerating COVID-19 virus infestation.
Roger McGowan, Princeville
Lack of response from multi-billionaires deafening
With all the news about the hundreds of billions the government is preparing to spend to assist displaced workers in this time of crisis, the lack of any response by the this countries multi billionaires has been deafening.
Jeff Bezos of Amazon is worth an estimated $124 billion. His business is booming (so much so that he needs 100,000 new employees), and his wealth will only grow. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook has an estimated wealth of over $75 billion.
Zuckerberg spent millions to purchase hundreds of acres of land on Kaua‘i, and multi millions more to build a gated, private “compound.”
He could well afford to help his adopted home. Assuming that half the population of Kaua‘i (35,000 people, hopefully not that many) lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 shutdowns of the tourist and restaurant industries, he could easily afford to offer each, say, $500. That would be $17.5 million, or 2.3% of his wealth. He has spent more on building his house here on the island. Plus, by setting this up as a charitable foundation, he would be able to write it off of his income taxes to boot.
While the president’s plans to help are laudable, and necessary, in the end it is still our tax money being used. These billionaires are more than willing to squander their wealth on $50 million yachts, massive homes and private islands. The time has come for them to give back to the people that made them wealthy in the first place.
As for those of us lucky enough to retain our jobs, we can help in our own small ways. Give to the food banks, as they are sure to be overwhelmed with added needs. Donate food or money to the Kaua‘i Humane Society’s pet food bank program to help those affected properly feed and care for their pets.
We are all ‘ohana here on Kaua‘i, and we will overcome this if we all stick together and help one another. We will all be better for the extra effort and our island will be stronger together.
Barry Dittler, Wailua
Enoka funeral Mass canceled
On behalf of the family and friends of Bill Enoka, we want to thank so many people and organizations who have offered us thoughts, prayers and memories of such a great man.
Bill was a captain with Kaua‘i Fire Department and a lieutenant colonel with the Civil Air Patrol.
He was a man who would put the safety of others before himself. In light of the recent events in regard to Covid-19, we are certain that Bill would not want to put anyone in a potentially dangerous situation. And so, to honor Bill, we are canceling his funeral Mass and we ask that each of you honor him by being safe. Keeping people safe was, after all his life-long passion.
Sympathy and offerings of condolences can be sent to: 5135 Hekili Rd., Kapa‘a, HI 96746
With love and God’s blessings,
The Enoka family, Kapa‘a
Roger McGowan is not alone. However, his recommendation of a minimum 14 day of isolation is too little too late. Why not ban (for now) all non-essential airline traffic to Hawaii. Relying on others to do the right thing, will not solve the problem. Witness Kauai’s 3rd case of Covid-19, who traveled from New York to Kauai, coming in contact with who knows how many people en route, then going to immediate isolation upon landing in Lihue. This is just one example of how Governor’s Ige’s plea to “stay away” isn’t working. Shut down incoming airline traffic NOW.
I believe $17,500,000 would represent .23% of Mr. Zuckerberg’s estimated wealth of $75,000,000,000.
Dick,
Thanks for checking my math ! You are 100 % correct, which makes their lack of help even more disheartening !!!
Each one of these letters were excellent. It seems the newspaper has stepped up its quality control at long last. I am also far more pleased with the coverage being more pandemic centered and less “whatever”, news.
Free up the hotel rooms to isolate our kupuna and vulnerable people with heart conditions high blood pressure and diabetes. Multi family dwellings such as public housing, condo units and other buildings housing fifty or more people, should remove the at risk people and house them in places like the hotels. that way the hotels can be reimbursed for housing them as a government service and recoup some losses.
Also, may I suggest the old Kmart and location as a triage unit or off site medical facility.
Further lets get all the sewers together on the island and sew up some gowns and masks. perhaps singer sewing and Walmart could supply some sewing machines and fabric. I believe any material with a neoprene, or plastic non porous tight weave would work. there are medical mask patterns online. i believe there are also scrub patterns and gown patterns as well.
A lot of our sewers are elderly, so that would be a great way to keep them busy and have something enjoyable to do while helping out.
thanks for all of the letters i agree with them all.,
Great letters today! Especially Richard Morse’s well written letter about hoarding selfishness! Then, of course, we come to Barry. He and his liberal loser friends miraculously know how to spend other peoples hard earned money better than the one’s who earned it. Only second to the Corona virus catastrophe, is the whiny, little minded people’s call for Socialism and confiscation of what others have earned! Why? Because they say so? You like that kind of existence, move to Russia. There, they tell everyone, even Barry, how to spend their money! But then, the little snowflakes and under achievers among us just can’t help themselves. Shhh…Nobody tell Barry and the other snowflakes that over 205 billionaires, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have publicly signed pledges to give their entire fortunes to charity upon their death, totaling over $ONE TRILLION DOLLARS! If they knew that, they may just go out there and make better decisions in their own lives, work harder, and compete like grownups to become the next Billionaires; all so they can give it all away – because Barry says so!
“over 205 billionaires, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, have publicly signed pledges to give their entire fortunes to charity upon their death, totaling over $ONE TRILLION DOLLARS!”
Interesting to note who is NOT on this list: Trump and most other billionaire Trump supporters like the Walmart heirs, Koch bothers, etc. Who IS on the list? Mostly “snowflakes”. Research it if you don’t believe me. Tells you a lot about people and how charitable they are. But why make things political when we all have to face this situation together? SMH.
Response by billionaires deafening to those who feel entitled to someone else’s money. First off, how do you know if money has been donated? And quite honestly it’s none of your business if or where they choose to donate.
Stop crying because someone is vastly more successful than you are.
For those who complain about the uber wealthy not doing anything, you’re just not informed. Here is just one example of those who help in times of crisis. I’m sure there are more.
https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/marriotts-ceo-shared-a-video-with-his-team-its-a-powerful-lesson-in-leading-during-a-crisis.html
hmmmm….lets bash billionaires all year long….then ask them for help;
pick a side;
The only thing I came up with, with the coronavirus is to stay in doors and in a quarantine area isolated from crowds. This meant in doors for about a week now. Except for store visits at nights. And I’m fully covered so as not to come in contact with direct sunlight. So that means in a month, I’ll get whiter and look more like Chinese. Still good to go. No virus on me. We live in a crowded area.
Not all of us feel the same way as Barry Honestly I’d rather Mark Zuckerberg just move off the island take his money with him give back the land he stole I don’t like the vibe he puts off here.
For those who fear the appeal of socialism, I remind you of the conditions in Russia that brought about revolution.
The economic and political system benefited the Czar, the nobles and the capitalists. The peasants (like 52 million low wage American workers today) struggled to survive and joined the revolution. The old society was overthrown.
Initially a democratic government took power. When it was unable govern, the Bolsheviks outmaneuvered the competing parties and seized power. The rest is history.
James,
SHH, nobody tell James that the problem with his nasty comments is that I am a died in the wool conservative Republican !!!! So, based on my suggestion that some of these very very rich people step up and help those that made them rich is socialism ??? I am heartened to hear that when they die, they are giving their money to charity, but there are people going hungry NOW ! For your information I built and own a multi national corporation worth more than you will ever make in your entire life time, or maybe 3. I have written my checks to the KIFB and Humane society already. Have you stepped up to help at all. I doubt it, as you are too busy judging people with no idea who or what they are. Unfortunately, your attitude makes more sense coming from a liberal. To be clear, I never asked for their wealth to be confiscated, simply buy one less 50 million dollar yacht and help the people that allowed them to buy them in the first place.