PUMP STATION STINKS EVERY DAY

With regard to the sewage odor at Kaanapali, the mayor was quoted as saying, “If they let us know when there are odors, we will have the department look at the odor complaints and try to work with it.”

Excuse me, Mr. Mayor; that stink is there each and every day of the year. Do you ever come to West Maui?

SU CAMPOS, Napili

TRAIN IS TOO LOUD

I am talking about the Sugar Cane Train, which many see as a historical part of West Maui. Unfortunately, the whistle and bells are giving off a measured 75-80 decibels. State law limits the noise emissions to 50 decibels in a Zone A (RESIDENTIAL, industrial and agricultural). That is not a county ordinance but STATE LAW.

The air pollution is such that I bet my last penny that it exceeds the maximum allowed for anything run by an engine or machine. I believe no truck, car or whatever would get a safety sticker if it gave off emissions like the train. I am cleaning my porch daily, and the soot is NOT from the highway traffic.

So, is there an exemption somewhere by the state, and if so, WHY? And who has sponsored that exemption?

I can simply not imagine that the train is just unaware of the environmental laws, let alone breaking them on purpose. It would be very interesting to learn who is behind an exemption, if there are any advantages for the politician(s) and what they might be. Passing a law and then giving an exemption? Why bother to regulate air and noise pollution in the first place then?

I am sending a copy of this letter to West Maui Rep. Angus McKelvey, who chairs the Economic Revitalization and Business Committee. An answer from Mr. McKelvey would be enlightening.

JOHN BLAHUTA, Lahaina

DON’T FORGET THE GOP’s MISTAKES

Never forget 9/11/2001.

Never forget Bush at that instant: seven minutes of dumbfounded silence.

Never forget the next-day words of Bush (“Go shopping”) and EPA Director Whitman: “The air is safe.”

Never forget “Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.” — the 8/6/2001 memo of actionable intelligence that Bush didn’t act on, allowing thousands’ deaths.

Never forget where Bush invaded in response: Iraq, where Saddam truthfully denied WMDs, and not Afghanistan, where Osama went then and al-Qaeda still trains.

Never forget the Patriot Act trampling the Constitution with warrantless wiretapping, torture, detaining people without charges, etc.

Never forget two no-bid contracts: Cheney with his KBR and Halliburton, and Giuliani with his Motorola buddies for the FDNY and EMS’ bad radios.

Never forget on Election Day that these and other Republicans never got Osama; Democrat Obama did.

J. ANDREW SMITH, Via E-mail

‘SCROOGE’ PARTY RUINING THE U.S.

Politics, like economics and finance, often seem deliberately obscured so the rest of us won’t understand it.

Instead of left and right wings, or liberal and conservative, why not try using “Scrooge” and “Christmas Spirit” parties?

Astonishing as it seems, the Republican Party was established by a coalition of antislavery and workers’ rights activists, then elected Abraham Lincoln. The Christmas Spirit definitely predominated in the party. Today? Well…

When Warren Buffet was accused of “class warfare” for saying rich people like himself should pay more taxes, because they’re getting richer while so many others have so little, that’s Scrooge at work.

Another president was called a “traitor to his class” for using public money during the Great Depression to create jobs and provide social security for those needing help; that is, for practicing Christmas Spirit policies.

In today’s unhinged politics, a candidate showing any sign of Christmas Spirit thinking is enough to infuriate Scrooge-created media thugs and their whipped up fans into verbal stoning mode.

Even the president, elected on hope and change and Christmas longings, seems afraid to resist Scrooge demands.

Ordinary American people can rightfully demand Christmas Spirit-inspired government — hopefully soon, before Scrooge wrecks democracy beyond repair.

Americans could end corrupt wars and insist the superrich pay in proportion to the wealth they daily squeeze out of us and our injured environment.

Demand a return to the 1950s level of taxing the rich, when Scrooge was restrained from privatizing and largely monopolizing essential services.

DANIEL GRANTHAM, Haiku

MAHALO FOR SUPPORTING SURFING CONTEST

The first annual Grom Magazine Surf Contest took place at Lahaina Harbor in August. The event was a blast and went off without a hitch. Surfers age 6-16 competed in two- to three-foot waves. At the conclusion of the event, the top six in each division received a goodie bag filled with an awesome array of gifts.

We would like to thank the event sponsors, including Honolua Surf Co., Hi-Tech, Hurley, HIC, Volcom, Pakaloha Bikinis, Leilani’s, Rip Curl, Quiksilver, Maui Surfboards, Honolua Underground, Maui Rose, Bella Kai Fluid Marketing, Schweitzer Sports, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, and Maui Yogurt.

GROM MAGAZINE

RELAY RAISED OVER $60,000

There is a Hawaiian saying that reads “Malama Kekahi i kekahi.” A simple translation? Take care of each other.

The 2011 West Maui Relay For Life took place on July 30, 2011. Together as a community, we raised over $60,000 to support American Cancer Society’s efforts in cancer education, research, advocacy and patient services.

This would have never taken place without the generous support of our community and volunteers. From the 2011 West Maui Relay Committee, mahalo for your kokua to malama kekahi i kekahi.

CHRIS BROWN, 2011 Event Chairman

BOO BOO ZOO NEEDS THE PUBLIC’S HELP

What is really going on here? The East Maui Animal Refuge, a.k.a. Boo Boo Zoo (www.booboozoo.org), has been helping animals in need on Maui for 30 years at no cost to government. Now, when we hear about all the financial challenges of both the federal and state governments, and many vital services being eliminated or reduced, we see a huge coordinated sweep by armed enforcement agents of various federal and state agencies upon this little animal sanctuary on Maui.

What right-thinking official decided this was the best way to spend our tax money to import all these guys from numerous areas of the country? Who authorized this? Who decided this was of paramount importance to swoop into Haiku on this hotbed of “illegal activity?” What harm were they wronging? Who was being negatively affected?

I guess they have everything else in order now, so they went to the bottom of the priority list and said, “Let’s go kill some helpless, injured animals, and upset these people who are harming no one.” I guess that’s what we pay them for, right?

Someone, somewhere is obviously misinformed, misguided and immoral, and never heard the word “pono.”

If you want to help, Sylvan is still looking for volunteers and donations to help the wounded animals that can’t help themselves. Check the website for contact information.

MIKE MORAN, Kihei

OHA IN TRANSITION

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) has begun its search for a new Maui board member to replace Trustee Boyd Mossman, who has accepted an important assignment by his church and plans to resign as of Nov. 1, 2011.

I’m taking this opportunity to send my deepest mahalo to Trustee Mossman for his years of dedicated service to our beneficiaries, not only within the County of Maui but the State of Hawaii. I offer my fondest aloha and best wishes to Trustee Mossman and his wife, Marvalee Maile Kaiaokamalie Mossman, as they begin their new positions as temple president and matron of the Kona Hawaii Temple.

The search for a new chief executive officer will begin soon. On Sept. 1, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser ran a front-page article stating that OHA was preparing to replace its CEO, Clyde Namu’o. I am grateful for the professional leadership that Namu’o has brought to OHA during the past decade. Our agency has grown by leaps and bounds over the many years that I have been a trustee. Through the years, there have been many changes in our programs, personnel and in our strategic plans.

While some people may be hesitant or resistant to making changes, I look forward to change with great enthusiasm and always with the hope that it will bring new energy, ideas and challenges to take on — whatever the future may bring.

In our search for a new trustee and a new CEO for OHA, candidates must have a vision for the future, dedication, a belief in the goal of attaining sovereignty and self-sufficiency for our Hawaiian people, patience and tolerance, because it will require all of these qualities — and more — to serve our people.

When serving as a public servant, too often people forget about the “servant” part of the job. When that happens, you have lost sight of your propose and can no longer serve effectively.

Currently, there are two subject-matter committees under the Board of Trustees: the Committee on Asset and Resource Management (ARM) and The Committee on Beneficiary Advocacy and Empowerment (BAE).

In an effort to involve more of the trustees in leadership, OHA Chair Colette Machado appointed Trustee John Waihee IV late last year as chair of the BAE Committee, and with the departure of Trustee Mossman, there will be further changes made to our committee structure.

As we search for a new trustee and CEO, I am hopeful that we will have many applicants who will submit their resumes to us, so that we may choose wisely from a large pool of talent.

OHA is currently undertaking the enrollment of our Hawaiian people, which has been mandated by Act 195 (SB1520). We look forward to this endeavor and embrace this challenge with the assistance of the five-member Native Hawaiian Roll Commission.

To this effort, let us all move together in one canoe and agree ahead of time to “agree to disagree” if need be — but always with aloha for one another’s thoughts and opinions — and it will be possible for all of us to move forward.

ROWENA M. AKANA, Trustee-at-Large, Office of Hawaiian Affairs