Rebuilding Lahaina
The most important thing long-term is that Lahaina be rebuilt for the people who were there.
All those people who survived and wish to return. Their homes must be rebuilt. Their property taxes and assessments must be locked in. For those who perished, their homes must be rebuilt for their heirs.
This cannot become an opportunity for speculators. Rebuild Maui for Maui.
Lorelei Armstrong, Princeville
Sea Glass Beach
It may seem trivial compared to the horrific losses Maui is experiencing, but I hope to bring a little incidental joy to the islands.
Here’s how: The Sea Glass Beach in Port Allen was long ago stripped clean even with signs asking visitors to enjoy the glass but not take it home.
I’ll be on island Aug. 17-24 and am bringing a gallon bag of sea glass with me from California beaches where it is not protected.
It will be my pleasure to ‘salt’ the surf at Sea Glass Beach with dozens of nice pieces. Hopefully, they will find a home there.
P.S. To the editor: My wife and I come to the Coconut Coast five to seven times a year.
Kaua‘i is definitely our “happy place,” and we’re always looking for ways to give back. I’m a member of Vietnam Veterans of America, Chapter 1139, Kaua‘i, and will be working with them on Maui relief while on island.
Jim Williams, Aptos, California
Capitalists
As we all can see, money and the capitalists that have bought out the islands many, many years ago will not protect Hawaiian culture.
I am not Hawaiian, but I fully support the Hawaiian kingdom and hope that this horrible tragedy on Maui will finally end the illegal occupation of Hawai‘i.
More development is not the answer. The old ways are, and if Maui does not see that then all hope is lost to stop this.
All the money in the world won’t protect the next generation. The decisions you make now can, if you stand up Hawaiians.
Norm Smith, Toledo, Oregon
Island car
Aloha. Just wanted to let you know I bought an electric car. It’s amazing, perfect island car. Highly recommend anyone thinking about it to do it. No gas stations, grimy handles, no emissions, The future.
Linda Bothe, Kalaheo
Linda, just one question…..where do you think 80% of electricity comes from in the USA? So, um, it still take lots of “emissions” to create your electricity. Carry on.
Norm, what is the “Hawaiian Culture”? Would that be going back to grass huts, living on the beaches, fishing, and starving at regular intervals? I think the 5% of Native Hawaiians still living on the islands are happy about the progress. While Hawaii produces nothing in 2023, as compared to the Sugar Plantations of long ago, tourism is what almost all islands depend on……Hawaii, in 2023, only produces sun, surf, and the best weather. Learn from the past,,,,don’t relive it.
One more thing Jake.. If Lahaina burning to the ground is progress… Count me as one who wants nothing to do with the millions of tourists who are the economy that is so much better for Hawaii. The only thing left now is to give Hawaiians the land back and let them build casinos like the mainland tribes.. so the remaining 5% can take care of their families.
Congratulations Linda.
You beat out Bernard Carvalho to making more money. Tough economic times.
You’re the leaders of Kauai.
Enjoy your car.
Jake… I’m only suggesting that Lahina should be Hawaiian territory …as the tribes on the mainland have. The land was taken illegally,therefore return it and let the Hawaiians build casinos to take care of their families.. To say that the Hawaiians weren’t forced into becoming the 50th state of the USA is laughable.
Instead of taking our glass containers to recycling, take it back to the ocean from which it came and to restore this iconic beach to it’s former glory. After all, it is made from sand. Just thinking out loud!
Ms. Bothe, “congratulations on your purchase(EV)!”
What and where are you going to throw/store the old batteries when you need to change for fresh batteries?
Howard Tolbe
The batteries have a half life of 30 years before it decays. Because they’re nuclear. But still good point. Did you fly to Las Vegas lately? The carbon emissions off the Boeing 737 or Airbus is a lot. Really polluting the air. If we were to follow that rule, no longer can we go to Las Vegas because polluting the air. That already violates what they’ve just proposed. No emissions. Clean air. Wrong. Still not so on their theory. There is such a thing in physics as conservation of energy. To spend energy, you have to use energy. Polluting the air is part of energy use. So no way around it. Stuck here in the 20th century. Pollution.
Like Linda Bothe, while living on The Garden Isle, I owned an electric car. Bolstered by PV panels, using the car was “free”. An electric car continues to be part of life, now in California. I encourage everyone to experience the joy of owning an EV and help reduce your carbon footprint.
Michael Diamant
Santa Barbara, CA
Maui disaster. So I’m saying that all the politicians who I have mentioned before are not qualified to get a pay because they make no payments to anything and are a worthless group to the community. As a whole.
Mel Raposo
Ron Kouchi
Billy Decosta
Ross Kagawa
Bernard Carvalho
All these people played high school sports and flunked high school and are not qualified to deduct from any unemployment fund for the disaster that just happened. Lame duck politicians.
Thank you for hearing me.
The other two commenters: I applaud the efforts on trying to make Kaua’i a better place. Have you gone to Kapa’a lately? Today we went to Kapa’a High School and Kapa’a. And the place looks run down. Who are the politicians in Kapa’a? Bernard Carvalho, Jimmy Tokioka, Nadine Nakamura. Taking care of Kapa’a. I mean don’t want to be nit picky, but what are these politicians doing? Nothing. The place in Kapa’a looks run down. And the former mayor? He is from Kapa’a. A useless job and person is him. No pay. No job. No improvements to Kaua’i. Totally politics has lost reality. We don’t need politicians like them. Showmanship. No real thing or improvements done to Kaua’i. Why? I don’t know. They’re trying in politics. But too busy kissing each others butt and trying to look good for the media. Baloney are them. What now?