Letters: Keeping Hawaii going; Store helps seniors during coronavirus crisis; Some cancel aloha spirit

Thanks to all who keep Hawaii going

Thank you to those on the front lines keeping Hawaii going and making it possible for us to do our part and stay home.

We are indebted to: essential and non-essential workers in county, state and federal governments; everyone in hospital, long-term care, office, home, lab, pharmacy, group home and public health settings; grocery, gas, airport and other customer-facing professionals; those keeping our lights, phones, internet, water and roads working; garbage collection, TheBus, Handi-Van and mail delivery warriors; educators adapting to online classrooms; first responders; social service providers; those farming, receiving, cooking, delivering and moving food and essential goods; neighbors assisting kupuna and others who can’t leave their homes; journalists and newsrooms; and all those who are making sure that our infrastructure holds.

We appreciate and support you and know that you are giving Hawaii a chance against tough odds. May we all do our part for that chance.

Rachael Wong

Manoa

Store helps seniors get what they need

I can’t believe it took one reader exactly one day to complain about Target’s efforts to take care of our kupuna and those who are most vulnerable (“Store admits everyone, not just seniors, early,” Star-Advertiser, Letters, March 19).

The writer said that her husband arrived at 8:30 a.m. and Target was letting anyone in. I stood in the line at the Honolulu store, in a queue set up to keep order and everyone spaced out. There were at least 150 to 200 in line; 10 at a time were let in.

By 8:30 the line had efficiently moved in, and workers had different supplies at the entrance to allow one per guest. As demand increases over the next weeks, the lines will get longer and it will take longer to get in. But once the line is gone, there is no need to keep others out.

Be happy that merchants are doing what they can. And get there early!

Adam Myers

Kaneohe

Parks offer relief during difficult time

Why is the mayor closing parks and outdoor places when we’re told by medical professionals that sunlight, humidity and warmth kill the coronavirus?

Additionally, with our local government ordering so many businesses to close, people are going to have a difficult time paying monthly expenses — rent/mortgage, electric, water, food and medicine.

How about some relief for the duration of this situation?

Kimo Jenkins

Waialua

Some have canceled aloha spirit as well

You know that this COVID-19 situation is starting to turn ugly when cultural norms change. Recently, some residents of Maui and Molokai, the “Friendly Island,” held signs at or near their airports openly stating that tourists are not welcome. The mayor of Kauai, Derek Kawakami, said that visitors should not come and that “Kauai is on vacation.”

It seems that with many, the aloha spirit is on vacation.

Doug Rinehart

Salt Lake

Use other options, not shelter in place

To state and Honolulu County officials: Please do not so quickly move to a “shelter in place” edict.

COVID-19 is a serious health crisis that certainly warrants serious measures. But Hawaii is different from New York, California and other places on the mainland. We are an island state. We can seal off our borders far more effectively. Other places have denied all but essential travel by plane and boat and required two-week quarantine for all arrivals. Let’s try that before heavy measures for all residents.

To all residents: Please follow all recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and federal and local governments. There is still much ignorance and arrogance guiding individual actions — people thinking this is all “hype,” or that they are too young or too healthy to get sick.

Even if most of the fatalities are among the elderly, half of those who are hospitalized are under age 50. And anyone of any age can be a carrier. We all must be socially responsible and practice social distancing as much as possible.

Allison Ikeda

Mililani

Council kowtows to big developers

I’d like to know how the Keeaumoku Development LLC rates (“Twin-tower Keeaumoku project wins Council OK,” Star-Advertiser, March 19).

We’ve got a pandemic going on. The whole state is closing down, but final approval for their real estate project is the only item not related to the coronavirus outbreak that gets on the agenda of the City Council.

Haven’t these greedy developers already got enough in the way of special consideration so they can build up to 400 feet instead of the 150-foot maximum currently permitted and be able to ignore the setback requirements for buildings in the area?

Why must the City Council prioritize their selfish needs as if they are in the same category as a national emergency? It’s an absolute disgrace that the City Council should kowtow to them in this obscene manner. It is also a sad harbinger for continued favoritism being given to real estate developers over the needs of the people.

Edward D. Lasky

Hawaii Kai

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