Letters for Nov. 18, 2015

Letters for Nov. 18, 2015

Interisland airfares must come down

There have been many letters to TGI complaining about the high and outrageous prices that Hawaiian Airlines charges for inter-island travel.

On Sept. 8, I had a medical appointment on Oahu and booked travel on Hawaiian Airlines. The roundtrip fare was $345 ($335 + another $10 because I had to pay for preferred seating on one leg of the trip since no regular seats were available). Right now on Hawaiian Airlines it would cost $378 RT from Oakland to Kona, $398 from Portland to Honolulu and $398 from San Diego to Honolulu! That’s between $33 to $53 more than my 25-minute flight from Lihue to Honolulu.

On another occasion I paid $255 roundtrip from Lihue to Honolulu. What a steal! Oh, and their advertised “getaway” fares? One must leave at 6:30 a.m. and return late at night. All other times of the day are as expensive as usual. I find this outrageous and egregious. Most tourists have their interisland fares incorporated into their bargain Hawaiian trip deals. The Kamaaina are the ones who pay these appalling prices in order to see loved ones or go to doctors, hospitals, concerts, events or even to shop and spend a weekend away. As residents we pay far more to the state and locally in taxes, shopping, and dining than any tourists pay during their stay here. Yet, we are the ones who are the victims of a greedy airline that has an insatiable desire to make millions and maybe billions of dollars annually. Where are our great value fares and deals? Is there no limit to their avarice?

It is time for everyone to become proactive and write to the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C. via email. It is easy to find the website and easy to lodge a complaint. I did so. It might be valuable to write to our senators and representatives as well. I firmly believe that if we make enough noise, we will be heard.

Ellen LeClair

Koloa

Welcoming refugees not a good idea

Governor Ige says Hawaii will welcome refugees from Syria with “Aloha.”

We already have an out of control homeless situation in Honolulu. The worst homeless situation in the country. Lawmakers are trying to figure out what to do with our own refugees, yet alone refugees from another country. Send them to a state with a low cost of living and jobs. Hawaii is the most expensive state, very few jobs and has some of the worst traffic congestion in America.

If we are going to be fighting Syria with boots on the ground, then welcome them, just doesn’t sound pono? This would be like welcoming Germans into our country during World War II.

I don’t believe transporting refugees to one of the most remote, small and costly places on the planet is logical. Our grand-standing governor should realize this. I bet he’d rather find a way to ship Hawaii’s homeless to Syria.

James “Kimo” Rosen

Kapaa

Safety a risk with Syrian refugees

I don’t believe Ige is representing the people of Hawaii in regards to the Syrian refugee issue. Ige’s claim that safety is his first priority will be proven to us only by rejecting these refugees. Ige says that refugees permitted entry would have the “highest level of screening and security checks.” Some of the latest mass shooters passed background checks, as well. In fact, the Boston Bombers were refugees who passed the highest level of screening and security checks.

Further, Hawaii has a very high cost of living. The governor must focus on developing affordable housing and food for Hawaii’s existing residents.

Ige, please join the majority of the other states in America and reject these Syrian refugees.

Wendy Logan

Kalaheo