Mahalo for supporting Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Enjoy this free story!
Ige’s COVID actions in our best interest
Perhaps the headline should have read, “Ige supports most protective and safest COVID restrictions in the U.S.” — instead of your headline, “Ige defends most restrictive COVID regulations in U.S.” (Star-Advertiser, July 2), which makes it seem like his “most restrictive” rules are not in the best interests of our tourists and resident community.
I am tired of the Star-Advertiser always taking a stand that favors the tourists and tourist economy over the lives of the people who actually live here. It seems subtle but it is a real bias.
Dorothy Pyle
Pukalani, Maui
Governor holds Hawaii hostage
Gov. David Ige is holding us hostage. In March 2020, Ige ordered a mandatory 14-day quarantine for all travelers, followed by his stay-at-home orders for nonessential businesses. Our economy was suddenly demolished and unemployment soared.
We were told we needed to “bend the curve” so our medical facilities would not be overwhelmed — reasonable enough. Well, 15 months later, we have a 90%-plus effective vaccine, including the variants. Our medical facilities are operating well within their patient care capacity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that kids under 12 have little chance of COVID-19 being a health concern and that anyone vaccinated virtually has no chance of being hospitalized or dying.
These are accepted facts, yet Ige still has us wearing face masks indoors with capacity limits. The governor’s decree that Hawaii hit an unrealistic 70% vaccination rate before he releases his grip on our lives seems to be a number choice that he has yet to explain the science behind.
Enough is enough. It’s time for the governor to rescind his emergency powers and let us get back to living life.
Phil Winter
Kihei, Maui
Dedicate ourselves to founders’ ideals
On a Fourth of July many years ago, our fathers brought forth a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
We have fought many wars, physical and political, testing the endurance of that nation.
On this Fourth of July, let us devote our efforts toward achieving the ideal set forth by our founding fathers.
Don Wilson
Makakilo
Salute our nation with gratitude
Our favorite holiday is Independence Day, the Fourth of July, commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776.
Let’s always value the sacrifices made by our forefathers to earn our independence with safeguarding founding principles, granted to the liberty-loving and God-fearing, and self-governed by consent of the people.
E Pluribus Unum — “out of many, one.” A cohesive single nation formed when our 13 colonies joined together.
America is another name for the land of opportunity to make your dreams come true. Allow happiness to find your way!
Patriotism lives in those who love and support our country, and preserve the Stars and Stripes and the national anthem.
Therefore, on this special day, let’s salute our exceptional nation and be grateful for the freedoms we have and proud of the great good fortune of having been born in America.
On the Hawaii side of this wonderful planet, we will be celebrating with barbecue and fireworks, proud to shout loud and clear: Three cheers for the red, white and blue!
Katarine and Bruce Thabit
Ala Moana
Alzheimer’s Act supports caregivers
Many kupuna and their family wake up each morning not knowing how the day will go. The progression of Alzheimer’s and other dementia dictate the flow of the day. A good day for my late mother and me was going to Ala Moana Shopping Center to window-shop as I pushed her wheelchair along from one end to the other. Caregiving is life every day for thousands of Hawaii’s people.
The Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act helps unpaid caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias with training and support. The bill also requires that a portion of funds help diverse and underserved areas, which in Hawaii are dozens of our smaller communities.
U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, our passionate and spirited senator in Congress, can further her malama by being a co-sponsor of the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Act. Please encourage Hirono to be a co-sponsor of this important legislation.
Calvin Hara
Kaimuki
EXPRESS YOURSELF
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser welcomes all opinions. Want your voice to be heard? Submit a letter to the editor.
>> Write us: We welcome letters up to 150 words, and guest columns of 500-600 words. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Include your name, address and daytime phone number.
>> Mail: Letters to the Editor, Honolulu Star-Advertiser 7 Waterfront Plaza, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 210 Honolulu, HI 96813
>> Contact: 529-4831 (phone), 529-4750 (fax), letters@staradvertiser.com, staradvertiser.com/editorial/submit-letter
70