Outreach ongoing
Outreach ongoing
In response to Ron Baptista’s letter (May 30, Tribune-Herald), we agree that getting out as much information as possible is one of the priorities with the changes to the requirements for driver licensing.
We have shared the county webpage address in the ongoing press releases and on the new driver license renewal notices. At all driver license office locations, we continue to distribute fliers and display posters stating what is needed, what the web address is and where to send questions by e-mail.
There will be ongoing community meetings to inform residents and answer questions. The county’s Vehicle Registration and Licensing Division wants all residents who will be applying for a driver license, permit or renewing their driver license to know that the changes to the requirements can be viewed online at www.hawaiicounty.gov/finance-dl-hi-legal-presence. Questions may also be emailed to: vehiclerl@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Lee Lord
Division manager,
Vehicle Registration
and Licensing
Name games
The Tribune-Herald’s recent article on the new driving license law reminded me of my February encounter (with government). I had to change my name on my license to reflect my birth name, Carmelo, instead of Carmine.
Changing my name on my car registration cost me an extra $35.
During my service in the Navy during the Korean conflict, I was known as Carmine, which was OK with the Navy. During my employment with the Treasury Department until retirement, I was known as Carmelo. My pilot license reflects Carmine, and my FAA aircraft repair license shows me as Carmelo.
If Homeland Security and the Hawaii driver’s license department are worried about where a person was born, how about the government issuing a naturalization ID to all citizens of the United States? Also, the use of “aka” (also known as) would ease the confusion at the state level.
Typical governmental mentality: Make things worse if you can!
Carmine Spada
Pahoa
Space science leader
William Wade (“Out of this world,” May 21, Tribune-Herald) bloviates about the uselessness of creating an aerospace district in Hilo.
As an ex-NASA contractor, I would like to educate Mr. Wade that the Big Island is already a world leader in space science, including astronomy. Rather than insulting graduates of the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s outstanding science programs, Mr. Wade should perhaps learn a bit more about science on the Big Island.
Mr. Wade seems unaware that the lower slopes of Mauna Kea have areas that greatly resemble the lunar surface. NASA conducted lunar rover studies on Mauna Kea, and the PISCES project continues lunar rover simulations and testing. It is not so much about launching rockets than it is about studying environments and possible habitats. The Big Island is a perfect choice, with many scientists already living here.
David Cook
Keaau