Honolulu police
The Honolulu Police Department officers’ oath of office (Article V, Code of Ethics): “As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.”
Yet, officers continue to intimidate, oppress and murder citizens in Hawaii. The recent death of a man on South King Street in Honolulu just for not being on the sidewalk is proof. What was his crime? Not being coherent?
What if he was autistic? I have an autistic son who acts “erratically” at times and does not comply because of his disability. Will he be killed by police one day?
It is clear they are not properly trained in negotiation skills and lack real compassion. Brute force is not “serving with aloha.”
Shana W. Logan
Hilo
Water catchment and rat lungworm
I was at the rat lungworm meeting at the Pahoa Community Center in May. I went there with something to say, which I think is being understated, or is little regarded, concerning the disease. Unfortunately, because of my own limitations from having the disease, I was unable to muster the energy to speak during the meeting.
Here is what I would have liked to share. I contracted rat lungworm from infected water in my catchment. I think most cases of contact with the parasite are from water catchments.
It is true that Puna — especially lower Puna — has a predominance of incidents of rat lungworm. This is not because of a “plague” of either rats or slugs, but rather from the widespread use of water catchments in the area.
The seriousness of this local health problem must not be left to quick answers and sporadic disinfecting of catchments. My contention is that the widespread use of water catchments in this area must be accompanied by a concerted effort by our local and state governments to confront this potential epidemic!
Attention to catchment health must be periodic, regular and professionally done — and subsidized by the state.
There are plenty of examples where health risks to communities have been attended to by the state. This is not something outlandish; when will people realize the insidious and horrific nature of the disease!
I recall that I contracted rat lungworm during a period when there was a great deal of wet weather and a resulting increase of the slug population. I expect to see another increase in slug populations in rainy areas of the Big Island. Infected slugs will find their way into your catchment.
I appreciate all the attention from concerned friends and scientists at the University of Hawaii. However, the studies are conclusive enough to know now that concerned people must become proactive politically to protect others from getting rat lungworm.
Mikel Roe
Pahoa