Highway 130 delay
Highway 130 delay
I thoroughly enjoyed your political cartoon on Sunday, March 4, regarding the debacle and extenuated delay with Highway 130. It was not only humorous, but depicted the very truth about the run-around (like “round-abouts”) we’ve encountered over the decades.
The constant scene of the Department of Transportation coming over from Honolulu to engage the general public in discussion relative to “overall road improvements for Hawaii County” just shows delay and distraction.
DOT merely wishes to wear down the people of Puna/Hawaii County so they’ll eventually accept (possible) improvements to our shoulder buffers at the very least (Hmmm … Helene Hale promised us that, as did Russell Kokubun and even Linda Lingle years ago). Absolutely nothing has transpired!
They wish to quiet the crowd that seeks an alternative route from Puna to Hilo. We’ll end up with nothing but clogged traffic for years, given their third-lane plan.
It’s time for Puna (and other outlying districts) to force the issues with DOT and give us some remedy! Our congressional delegation has been zero help. A groundswell of grass-roots demands is the only solution!
Dean Reinking
Keaau
Extra hour of school
Teachers agreed to one more hour of instruction per day. Hurray!? We will have extended learning time because Hawaii was at risk of losing a $75 million grant.
Students are already questioning the extra hour of school. Don’t get me wrong, extra learning time is good, and education is good, but how will one extra hour help?
Our kids go to school for about six hours a day, and teachers pass them from grade to grade. The Department of Education says they are not making acceptable progress on the comprehensive school reform plan.
Maybe it’s not the students who need that extra hour. Maybe it’s the teachers?
We need a total reform — one where we focus on the students individually. Define struggles individually versus holding everyone back.
I think teachers should use that extra hour to improve their own teaching skills and make learning meaningful for students so they can receive the education they need to survive.
Kuuipo Kalani
Hilo
About that oil …
President Obama is calling for an end to oil subsidies. Ending them would make gas prices appear higher, but that is because it would reflect the true cost we are already paying.
Under the current system, your tax dollars subsidize oil companies. You scrimp and car-pool and use the bus, but your taxes subsidize all the wastrels in the country!
Gas hogs, heating oil, air-conditioners, mountains of plastic, are all subsidized by you. This is grossly unfair. Fairness is a concept understood even by dogs and cats, but apparently not by Republicans.
G.O’Connor
Ola’a