‘Under the thumb’
‘Under the thumb’
If you take the “Heritage Highway” north out of Hilo, go 4 miles, you’ll reach Papaikou town, an authentic plantation village. Turn right at the store and you’re in Silverton Camp. The sugar mill was at the end of the road by the beach.
I worked for the plantation for 29 years. I am a totally disabled senior citizen and ex-Marine. After 85 years of unobstructed use of the driveway, the ag-lot owner behind us fenced us out of our garage and disability house access.
My neighbor’s “permitted” ohana house and my “permitted” garage both use the road to access our properties. Too bad!
I was told the disability rights only apply to public properties. Why does that give them the right to block my private disability entrance?
Where are my constitutional rights to liberty (the right to come and go) and happiness? Do I lose my prescriptive rights just because I’m a former employee in a plantation camp?
We feel like second-class citizens down here. We are refused door-to-door mail delivery and any time a streetlight goes out, it’s a big deal to have HELCO replace it, even though we’re all HELCO customers. Isn’t that just good customer service?
We never restricted access to the farm lot — we shared and expected the same. Unfortunately, the “new people” have no aloha, and the officials back them up because of misinformation from C. Brewer.
The plantation camp was created to get families to stay in Hawaii and as a way to control the workers. It appears we’re still under the thumb of the plantation. Thanks for listening.
Tony Guiteras
Silverton Camp, Papaikou
No more debt
The March 1 headline (Tribune-Herald, A1) that Hawaii County’s bond rating improves is not necessarily good news.
No more debt is needed and should be avoided.
John Begg
Pahoa
100 years of service
March is Red Cross Month and 2017 is the Hawaii Red Cross centennial year.
The American Red Cross has served the people of Hawaii since 1907 when the Red Cross Society in Hawaii was organized. In 1917, Hilo was chartered as the first chapter in Hawaii by the American National Red Cross.
On Sept. 14, 1917, the Red Cross flag, which Queen Lili‘uokalani sewed as a gift to Hawaii Red Cross, was presented by Col. C.P. Iaukea to Mrs. Henry F. Damon, auxiliary president, on the steps of Iolani Palace. The flag was raised above Iolani Palace and is presently at the Diamond Head headquarters on permanent loan from the state.
The Red Cross flag is flying over the Hawaii County Building this month in celebration of the centennial. Everyone is invited to the Hawaii Red Cross centennial celebration from 2-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 17-18, at 55 Ululani St. in Hilo. Red Cross volunteers will provide entertainment, preparedness education, keiki activities and more.
Donna Goldsworthy
Red Cross volunteer,
Hilo