Your Views for June 29

Ige should lead

Of all the wonderful gifts nature has bestowed on Hawaii, one that stands out in the science world is Mauna Kea as an astronomy site. Our low-latitude, high mountain and clear, high-altitude air comprise a precious gift to Hawaii and the world.

Our warm climate and ocean, scenic mountains and many beaches have brought us a tourist industry with many jobs and abundant revenue and taxes.

And our strategic location has brought the advantages of military bases and more revenue.

But, alas, we have lost most of our agricultural export industry to real estate developers who have sold off our precious lands for “gentleman farms.”

So, since we still have one of the best astronomy sites, we should be doing all we can to assist the astronomers in building and using telescopes, and replacing them with more advanced scopes, as the science of astronomy evolves.

But, unbelievably, Gov. David Ige wants to tear down 25 percent of the existing telescopes, as though the science on the mountain was over and done with.

How wrongheaded can a politician be? Ige should be leading a charge of government, business and community leaders to get the Thirty Meter Telescope for Hawaii and to assist any telescope in replacing or upgrading.

Jack Roney

Hilo

Good work

On behalf of the children and adults who use the Hilo NAS swimming pool, we are sending out a big mahalo to Dennis “Fresh” Onishi, County Council member, District 3, and contractor Craig Takamine and his work crew for doing the re-roofing of the NAS swimming pool May 21.

The NAS pool is a county swimming pool located across from the old Hilo Airport. Onishi arranged the funding for the project and Takamine volunteered his work crew.

Thank you for really caring for the people of Hilo by providing a safer place for recreation.

Also, thank you to Wendy Okamura and Bertha Nagata who provided drinks and snacks for the work crew.

Joanne Yokote

Hilo