The COVID-19 virus has changed our lives, elections have kept us on edge and as we approach the holidays, we are all struggling with feelings of anxiety and grief due to loss of our normal routines. It is more important than ever for families to support one another, especially our keiki. Here are some suggestions to help families:

Create and stick to new routines; check in daily as a family; identify and catch signs of anxiety early on; teach and demonstrate appropriate coping skills; focus on what you can control; encourage positive thoughts with an attitude of gratitude; stay connected to others and if problems are escalating, seek professional help.

We will get through this and life will return to normal. Challenging times remind us why it’s so important to celebrate each day. Focus on the present moment and practice gratitude during this pandemic and beyond.

Dr. Theresa Y. Wee

Mililani

Pali Lookout visitors fail to wear masks

I have taken the welcome opportunity to stop off at the Pali Lookout on the two days since it reopened. On both days, apart from myself, absolutely no one was wearing a mask.

If we are to control the virus and protect Hawaii’s tourism industry, we’re going to have to do a lot better.

Joe Mercer

Pacific Heights

Accept prescribed tests from other laboratories

The state’s adamant refusal to accept COVID-19 test results from accredited laboratories using the prescribed testing protocols (high-throughput nucleic acid amplification platforms), but that are not on the “trusted partners” list and therefore unacceptable, is patently ridiculous, demonstrating once again that Hawaii’s leaders prefer politics over science.

The science shows the individual does not have the virus, but the politics consign that person to quarantine anyway.

Why did the governor invite tourists back to Hawaii, conditional on having tested negative within three days of travel, and then confine them in their hotel rooms for 14 days because although the test results were valid, the testing sites were not approved?

Test results from accredited laboratories using the correct testing protocols should be accepted here even if they are not on the politically correct “trusted partner” list. Until that happens the signs at the airport should read “Hele Aku,” not “Aloha.”

Dick Porter

Ewa Beach

Invest in our future by tackling climate change

The time has come to invest in America’s future together. Most Americans are ready to tackle climate change.

We didn’t know fossil fuels that powered our industrial revolution had a big downside: The byproducts linger in our atmosphere and prevent some of the sun’s heat from escaping back to space and heat our land and water instead.

Now we are spending billions each year to recover from increasing natural disasters, and we are still subsidizing the fossil fuel industry with $20 billion a year. It’s time to clean and cool our planet by refocusing our national investments on clean energy, carbon sequestration, energy efficiency and technology jobs.

We were successful investing in fossil fuels. Now let’s do the same for our future. Part of that investment must go to help fossil-fuel workers transition. Time for Democrats, Republicans and all parties to unite for this common cause.

Virginia Tincher

Aina Haina

Earth will keep warming even without our help

Regarding Dr. Diane Shepherd’s commentary (“Climate change during social upheaval,” Star-Advertiser, Island Voices, Nov. 4): She wrote, “Without human-induced climate forcing, over the next few thousand years we would be slowly heading into the next ice age.”

We are, at present, living in an ice age that began about 2 million years ago. We are in a glacial warming period (Holocene), within this ice age, that began 12,000 years ago.

Before our present ice age, average Earth tempera-tures were approximately 20 degrees F warmer.

The Earth will warm up with or without mankind. However, I applaud Shepherd’s concern that we may be causing a more rapid increase in global temperatures by our presence; by how much is still hotly debated.

We must all be shepherds (pardon the pun) of our Earth.

Tony Russo

Downtown Honolulu

Racism out in the open this election season

Well, 2020 has been an eye-opener! The one thing that the Trump administration has done is bring racism out in the open.

The racism that many people have said was happening has come to the forefront and finally put in the spotlight. The administration has brought out the true feeling of these United States, by its words, actions and the people who support it.

Everyone has been shown the racism is out there. We as a people can do better. Here’s hoping that we enter the new year with our eyes wide open and not with our hands covering them.

Let us, the people of Hawaii, show the mainland how a connected community can control this pandemic. Let’s all at least try.

Craig Kutsunai

Kaimuki

TMT project needed now to boost economy

With all this talk about diversifying our economy and using small amounts of the CARES Act money to assist small businesses, one needs to wonder why our state government is not pushing the Thirty Meter Telescope project to start immediately. This is especially significant in the social distancing and non-crowd gathering rules and regulations currently in effect.

I would think a $1 billion-plus project from outside money sources would be just what our economy needs right now. Perhaps we should use the CARES Act money to implement and start this project.

There won’t be a better time to help our economy. If the protesters gather in violation of the social distancing and non-gathering rules, we should hold them and their organizations economically liable for all losses incurred.

Carlton Chang

Waialae

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