No need for survey
There is no need to spend millions of dollars to survey and create an alternate route from Hilo to the Puna District, because it already exists as Railroad Avenue in the South Hilo District, which is interrupted briefly by foliage, before emerging from it as Railroad Avenue in the Puna District. It follows the path of the trains that used to run to and from Hilo to Kapoho.
That would spare taxpayers millions of dollars to survey and build a brand new access road.
Pradeepta Chowdhury
Hilo
Government failure
As a frequent visitor to the Kona coast, I was struck on my most recent visit at the apparent failure of the state and/or county to more adequately promote recycling and to capitalize on renewable energy resources.
Possessing such natural beauty, along with boundless wind and solar resources, I couldn’t quite believe that so few wind turbines or any commercial solar arrays existed to provide more cost-effective electricity.
Additionally, our vacation rental development in Mauna Lani had little, if any, recycling bins or signage touting the importance of recycling.
I saw countless trash receptacles filled with recyclables, including the easiest commodities of aluminum and plastic, #1’s and #2’s, all destined for the Kohala landfill. Mainland visitors were failing to recycle significant quantities of material without an easier way to do so and without proper signage and communication.
I realize that there is an economic equation to consider, but what I perceive is a failure of government and solid waste infrastructure to hold accountable the higher-end developments and to make a more concerted effort toward demonstrating the importance and value of recycling and renewable energy capture opportunities.
We have just one “paradise,” and I would hope that Hawaii, with its unparalleled natural beauty, could demonstrate in a more forward manner that it values this unmistakable concept.
Gregory A. Beltz
Anchorage, Alaska