The preliminary plan for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine in Hawaii has been shared by the state Department of Health. As a member of the community who does not fall into the over-65 age group, nor the under-22 age group, I’m left feeling like our community leaders need to hear from my age group and consider these thoughts.

While I agree that the high-risk health care employees and first responders should be part of the first group to get the vaccine, why does the over-65 age group come before me? If our goal is to restart the economy, shouldn’t we be laser-focused on getting the working- age adults back to work?

We are the foundation for reopening tourism because we work in hotels, retail stores, restaurants and the service industry in general. This is how we get our economy back.

Those over 65 typically don’t work. They are our kupuna, and we love them, but they can choose to stay home to stay safe.

Denise Frey

Waialae

Innovative masks can help dine-in restaurants

Businesses in Hawaii, such as restaurants and bars, are struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. A solution may include requiring face shields and/or masks while indoors.

Face shields being developed in Japan can block about 70% of oral droplets (“Face shields might offer lifeline for restaurants,” Star-Advertiser, Focus on Japan, Nov. 12). These can be worn while eating since the mouth coverings move to the side.

There are face masks with zip openings that allow you to drink with a straw. Maybe bars can sell them with their logo or brand names placed on them.

In addition, temperature screening and obtaining contact information for contact-tracing purposes would help these businesses safely allow customers to eat and drink indoors. We should strive to be creative to help businesses stay open, while assuring the safety of their customers.

Gene Corpuz

Waikiki

Regarding mandate, what is a face mask?

Lt. Gov. Josh Green supports a mask mandate as soon as possible, and rightfully so.

What is a mask? A customer walked into the Kapolei Longs Drugs store recently wearing a cut-out sleeveless T-shirt over his nose, with the cut-out sleeves’ opening exposed the sides of his face.

If no mask is worn because of health reasons, which can be supported by medical documentation, the alternative is a face shield. This is one of the COVID-19 safeguards.

If a mask mandate becomes law in the next legislative session, what are the consequences for unpaid mask citations?

Johnnie-Mae L. Perry

Waianae

Use CARES Act money to test local travelers

It’s a shame that local residents have to pay for testing prior to travel to the neighbor islands. Families that have been adversely affected financially by the COVID-19 crisis are unable to afford the extra money demanded by the test providers.

As a resident of Oahu, I have not been able to visit my family on Hawaii island since the outbreak. My four children and my wife are expensive enough without the testing expenses. Wouldn’t it be more humane to use the CARES Act money for testing locals and allow us to go home to family and perhaps even contribute to the outer island economy?

Eric Phillips

Kapahulu

Government, HART should finish rail project

I fully understand the major drawbacks to the design/build/operate model for massive projects with so many hidden variables, and how P3 partnerships attempt to address this problem. But this means a blank check, requiring trust and honesty.

As costs escalate, I think the only option is to take this model a step further and simply build and operate the remainder in-house. We must account for every dollar, and the only way to do this is for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, the city and the state Department of Transportation to manage the entire construction — and to form our own construction organization to execute the last section.

Only a government entity will have the power to navigate the complexities of the downtown leg. Let’s plow forward, one pillar at a time, one section at a time, one problem at a time. Do not let red tape crush American ingenuity.

Ryan Routh

Kaaawa

Americans duped into believing election claims

I am dumbfounded how easily duped my fellow Americans are. What happened to our faith in our elections?

President Donald Trump lost both the popular vote and the Electoral College. He declared the election fraudulent, so therefore it is?

Why are people so eager to believe such nonsense? Simply because Trump says so? However unfortunate, I never doubted the election results of 2016. I counted the days until the 2020 election so that I could again vote to end Trump’s reign of terror.

That is the democratic process in America. The fact is that more than half of the voting population in America voted against Trump. There is a winner and a loser. Trump is the loser. He and his cronies are grifters. Look it up.

And while you’re at it, look up “cult of personality” and you will find Josef Stalin as an example.

Jana Centeio

Waipahu

Kudos to Postal Service for delivering ballots

A big mahalo goes out to our dedicated men and women of the U.S. Postal Service, who were timely delivering our ballots for us here and around the country. Even as the service was under siege by the Trump administration, they remained undaunted and committed to the work before them.

Bryan I. Yamashita

Ewa Beach

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