Love the land
Love the land
I am writing to express my extreme sadness over the state of rubbish on our roads. I am particularly writing about the Hamakua Coast from Hilo to Waimea, since I frequent these roads primarily.
When we first came here not even a couple of years ago from Oahu, we were amazed at how much LESS rubbish there was along the roads comparatively. Since then, it seems a steady increase has occurred, with little to no effort at abatement.
I have called the state highway office multiple times, as well as my state representative, and received little or no response. Part of the problem is the state highway crews do not pick up rubbish before they mow the sides of the highways. This cuts up the trash into tiny pieces, making it next to impossible to clean up and even more deleterious for wildlife, and contributes to water pollution when the particles are taken away more easily by rain and streams.
There isn’t even any consequence if those who have “adopted a road” never clean it up! It is, of course, far worse after fireworks have been used and the users do not clean up their mess. For shame!
In addition, I constantly see full and broken bags of rubbish on the side of the road that have been road blown out of trucks … on their way to the dump (I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt). Of course, there is the ubiquitous McDonald’s and 7-Eleven rubbish thrown from cars. I don’t know if it’s the type of people that frequent these places, but their trash is everywhere.
If you love this land, I ask that you consider it your kuleana — no, RIGHT — to pick up your rubbish, be responsible for it in your cars and trucks, cover your loads, and never, EVER just throw it out of windows or leave it behind at trails in the forest (I have seen it where the hunters frequent). Auwe!
Love this land, truly.
Jeanne Teleia
Honokaa
Examine priorities
I can’t help but wonder on why every time there comes time to put something up (Obama library), “setting aside prime oceanfront real estate” for a cause secondary to major Native Hawaiian issues, such as housing, there are always major obstacles to overcome and hoops to jump through, but you mention a library for Obama and — BAM! — yeah, we have “prime oceanfront real estate.”
So if the library does not go through, will that “prime oceanfront real estate” still be available for Native Hawaiians?
Kalamakuaikalani DeBolt
Big Sur, Calif.