Mayor needs help
I believe a third-party individual should be brought in to help mediate the ongoing dispute between the state of Hawaii/Thirty Meter Telescope and the protesters/kupuna blocking the Maunakea Access Road.
The governor made a wise decision by giving Mayor Harry Kim the reigns to negotiate a settlement, but I strongly believe he needs help. This is why I believe a third-party individual, with no ties to the TMT, should be brought in.
There are four people who come to mind: Nainoa Thompson, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Barack Obama or Kalepa Baybayan. There are probably others that would also fit the bill, but this is a list of people I came up with who would help with a potential negotiation process.
I was thinking about ways to jump-start these negotiations. The first step is placing a 30-day moratorium on construction and removal of law enforcement, in exchange for the reopening of the Maunakea Access Road.
This would ease the tensions significantly and allow some semblance of normalcy to return. The proposed negotiations would proceed during the 30-day construction moratorium period.
As I stated before, I know the Thirty Meter Telescope has the legal right to start construction. However, the only way I see it happening will result in violence toward the protesters. This is why global settlement needs to be reached with everyone involved. I’ve deeply analyzed the situation; the latter is the path we need to take.
I support the TMT project, but it has to be constructed in the right way. Hawaii is a nonviolent place. If the state and county resorted to violence to push this project through, it would leave an indelible stain on such a peaceful and beautiful state.
We have a real opportunity to show the world how Hawaii deals with impasses such as the TMT in a nonviolent manner
Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona
‘You’re welcome’
As a driver of a fossil fuel vehicle, I would like to give a big “you’re welcome” to all the folks who have the intelligence and/or the wherewithal to purchase electric vehicles. Personally, I’m waiting to get the car that burns $20 bills or single malt scotch whiskey.
As you know, every time the rest of us gas or diesel drivers pull away from the pump $40 lighter (for about 10 gallons), we have the warm feeling of knowing we contributed $9 toward the construction and maintenance of our highways, streets and roads, for all of us to use— gas and EV drivers alike.
That’s about 19 cents federal (soon to go up), 48 cents state, 23 cents county fuel tax and don’t forget the state general excise tax of about 4.25%, but that’s not strictly for roads, although it does get used for Department of Transportation needs.
I just know all those EV drivers are thanking the rest of us for the nice new Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) to Costco to save 10 cents a roll on toilet paper.
Michael Engstrom
Hilo