DECISIONS MUST CONSIDER RESIDENTS

The world we knew just one year ago is gone.We can't change the past, but we can focus on finding new ways to better prepare for our future and strengthen what we have now. On Maui, decisions are being considered that could deprive HC&S and our residents of a most basic need, water.

HC&S, Hawaii's last sugar cane plantation, needs water to survive. We, the people of Maui, need water for our social and economic growth. Ignoring our needs and denying the gravity of the current economic crisis that will impact us for generations to come is irresponsible and unacceptable.

We need decisions that are clearly supportive of our residents as a whole and relevant to our present-day predicament, as well as our future needs.

mark rapozo | Puunn, Maui

KAPIOLANI PARK

CITY'S NATIVE PLANT GARDEN WELL DONE

I want to extend a big kudos to the City and County of Honolulu Parks and Recreation team for the wonderful native Hawaiian plant garden at Queen Kapiolani Park in Waikíkí/Diamond Head! The vast array of native Hawaiian plants are beautiful, appropriate and economically sound. I encourage the community to visit the native Hawaiian plant garden and consider using it as an example for one's own yard.

lauren goodmiller | Honolulu

GLOBAL WARMING

DATA FALLS SHORT IN PROVING 'CRISIS'

"Global warming" has not only not been proved scientifically or historically by debate; it can never be proved scientifically or historically by debate. First, because there's no way to know global temperatures since the beginning of the globe. Second, because all the historical data we do know about how warm this planet has been in the past 5,000 years shows it has often been much warmer than it is now. So how about "cooling" all the hysteria about this made-up crisis?

gerald wright | Pähoa, Hawaii

FURLOUGHS

LET'S STOP WHINING, START APPRECIATING

Lately, there has been a lot of discussion about furloughs, mostly opposing opinions. Parents are troubled or discontented about how there are fewer school days. There are also teachers who disagree with furloughs while some feel indifferent. Students don't really mind the three-day weekends, even though there are a few bumps with the class scheduling.

My point is that November is the month known for Thanksgiving Day, yet what have we been doing? We've been persistently complaining. Don't get me wrong; sharing ideas and opinions are important for people to express themselves, but it would be refreshing to hear about the improvements made on Hawaii too.

A while back, carts were distributed to homes. There's the blue recycling cart for mixed recyclables along with the green one for green waste. The carts have been incredibly useful for my family and will continue to. In addition, I believe that they improve the environment because thousands of tons of waste will be averted from landfills and be reused. I'm thankful for the convenience and functionality of the carts. What's everyone else grateful for?

shannon webb | Student, Aiea High School

B&BS

CITY NEEDS TO STEP UP ENFORCEMENT

I have the great pleasure of living directly behind an illegal B&B in Kailua. Every week I have a new neighbor! My most memorable encounter with these strangers is the time one of them climbed up on the wall and asked me to stop mowing the grass so he and his family could have a quiet dinner on their last night in Hawaii. I feel like our home is no longer our home with the revolving door of visitors behind us.

Can something be done? Can the city and county enforce this? I've tried without any results. The homeowner simply shoos away the county code enforcer by lying to him. They claim the guests are not tourists and simply friends and family. They must have a lot of friends and family! A new face shows up every week and has been doing so for over a year.

I beg the city and county to step up and finally do something. B&Bs are illegal and unwanted. With all of the furloughs and layoffs, those who still have a job need to step up and start doing it.

chris clayton | Kailua