Letter: Despite promises, TMT convoy blocked traffic

We live in Hawaii Kai and knew about the Thirty Meter Telescope protesters’ convoy. Your paper reported that they were required to stay in one lane and follow all traffic rules (“Sunday protest convoy could cause traffic delays,” Star-Advertiser, Sept. 7).

The article repeatedly stated that the protesters did not want to disrupt the community. We therefore expected delays but did not expect traffic to be stopped at the intersections going into Kalaniananole in Aina Haina.

We were stuck at the shopping center. We did our grocery shopping and were concerned about our milk and other perishable items spoiling since the police told us they didn’t know how long the roads would be closed and it could be over an hour! Luckily, the employees at Foodland were sympathetic and put our groceries in their cold storage. Mahalo to Foodland, but auwe to the miscommunication from the protesters, the police and your newspaper for not accurately explaining the situation. This did not endear their cause to many of us who were frustrated.

Nadine Cui

Hawaii Kai

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