Waine’e Street needs to be resurfaced

Political issues are comparable to the impacts of driving on a bumpy road with some potholes to avoid, like Waine’e Street in Lahaina. Hopefully, with Waine’e Street, our county officials can make a real difference – right now – for a positive impact.

Allocating funds to resurface Waine’e Street should be a priority. Expedited measures must be taken to get the job done quickly.

Waine’e Street should be maintained properly, considering the importance to the community and tourism usage. It is a prominent roadway servicing residential, commercial, churches, schools, missions and historical landmarks.

Waine’e Street deserves attention for the ancient historical relics along this roadway and the ones that still drive on it. I am 85 years old and I still drive. I hope I live long enough to enjoy a smooth, safe ride through this town I love.

BILL SALAWICH, Lahaina

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Hawaii VA needs stable leadership

The Veterans’ ‘Ohana of Hawaii should thank the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center for the services of their director, Bonnie Graham, who is currently “on loan” to provide leadership for our VA Pacific Islands Health Care System (VAPIHCS) until Feb. 4.

VAPIHCS has had a year of 29-day rotating “acting” directors since our last director, Wayne Pfeffer, left suddenly on Feb. 12, 2016, according to records.

I guess my big question is: if VAPIHCS does not need the leadership of a full-time director for a year, why is the VA paying big salaries – not to mention pricy relocation bonuses – to Senior Executive Service-level VA facility directors everywhere else nationwide?

SANDRA DEMORUELLE, Naalehu, HI

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Ringling Bros. and E. K. Fernandez shows targeted at center ring

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is closing after 146 years because of abusive and bogus litigation. In 2000, they became the target of a coordinated legal assault by animal rights groups. Ringling prevailed in court, but the frivolous, unreasonable and groundless lawsuit stretched for years and cost the company tens of millions of dollars.

Animal acts have long been a major part of state fairs and circuses; but following Ringling’s removal of key animal acts from its shows, ticket sales declined, operating costs rose and the business became unsustainable.

Similarly, special interest groups – including the Humane Society of the United States, Animal Rights Hawaii, and PETA – have targeted E. K. Fernandez Shows. If these groups are successful in their efforts to have animal acts banned in Hawaii, an entertainment icon for the past 114 years may well follow Ringling Bros. into the realm of nostalgic remembrance.

Don’t let what happened to Ringling Bros. happen in Hawaii.

SCOTT FERNANDEZ, E.K. Fernandez Shows

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Hawaii could be an example of God’s redemption plan

Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The Bible – God’s Word – is true.

Evil has an expiration date. It’s only a matter of time before Satan gets thrown out permanently.

Hawaii could be a great example of God’s redemption plan manifested in the land.

Hawaiian practices align with Biblical Levitical-law; both retain land within families. That’s one reason genealogies are important. If property is “sold,” the transaction is viewed as a lease. A kinsman-redeemer is a relative who has the means and desire to redeem land and save people.

Jeremiah purchased his kinsman’s land, though he had foreknowledge of imminent overthrow. “For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land’…’As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the good I have promised them.’ ” (Jeremiah 32)

God’s plans work out for good. Restoration is possible as Hawaiians return to the “living God” of their ancestors – acknowledging Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Queen Keopuolani spoke truth: “The Life of the Land is perpetuated in Righteousness of Christ Jesus.”

Revelation reveals Jesus is the Kinsman-Redeemer – “of every people and nation.” He “redeemed us to God” by His blood. Only He is “worthy to open the scroll” containing the title-deed of the universe, so “we can reign on the earth.”

“To Him be praise, honor, glory, and power, forever-and-ever!”

MICHELE LINCOLN, Lahaina

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Trust Ke Akua’s plans

Mr. Trump is president and many are nervous, scared, hau’oli, or don’t know how to “feel.” What I am seeing is major drama everywhere still. Marches for “Women’s Rights” that covertly include in the small print religious, racial and sexual freedoms also. In addition to the previous stated, they want Mr. Trump to know they do not agree with his past behaviors (that may or may not exist), literally, and would like to express their personal feelings they have with his present opinions, especially their disagreement with his new job – the day after he gets it.

So is this a women’s, racial, sexual identity, or anti-Trump march? I don’t think I have ever seen a political march so mission-disoriented in all the history books. In addition, people are still not talking to each other, blocked on Facebook, separated, and phone calls/no calls back.

I believe we are existing in a world that most thrive on, even if they are not conscious of it, drama. How I long to be a part of societies that don’t care for multimedia, The Kardashians, or what “Mary” said about you yesterday after lunch.

Even if you are an unbeliever of Christ Jesus, I am sure you will be able to follow this viewpoint. Ke Akua (God) says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” So basically, Ke Akua has appointed every person into authority. Good or bad. He did it with kings, judges and leaders of the past, present, and will do it in the future. Ke Akua has a plan. Some things we will not understand, because He is sovereign and it is simply not our plan to understand. Again, our awesome God gives us instruction, whether we choose to listen to it or not. Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart. And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

Our way, or “man’s way,” is deceitful, full of emotions, crookedness, selfishness, vanity and lies, and plan out a “me attitude” or posture. Basically sin – the dirty word. We need to get over and call it what it is. So God’s way is pretty trusting to me; much easier, safer, smarter and way better for us in the long run.

He put Mr. Trump in the White House, just like He put King Saul to reign over Israel. And He can keep him there to do a great job or not. Ke Akua can drop the Holy Spirit on him, like Saul and King David, or he can leave him as-is. We just don’t know right now, but we do know is He continues to say, “Don’t worry, trust me, don’t be anxious.” So, what’s it going to be? Who do you stand with? We can honor God by submitting to those in authority, whether we like them or not, because it is who the Lord appointed – and trust that our big Papa in Heaven knows what He’s doing.

Stop wasting time with drama and getting caught up in it. Then, get going about our Father’s business, like we should, to glorify him. Matthew 28:19-20: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” If we are not doing this, then what are you doing?

JAHANNA NAGANUMA, West Maui

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An odd coincidence?

My mother-in-law says that Trump will fix everything in three months. Just after she had departed from her last visit, I noticed the refrigerator magnets had rearranged themselves into a pentagram.

Coincidence?

RICHARD NEQUAM, Lahaina

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Credit Trump for exiting the TPP

Elections have consequences, and the globalists lost with the victory of President Trump in November. The Trans-Pacific Partnership was always an ill-conceived attempt to usurp U.S. sovereignty and harm American workers by shifting more production overseas.

President Trump’s withdrawal from the TPP keeps his promise to put America first and to refocus U.S. trade policy away from massive, multinational deals to bilateral agreements that serve U.S. interests.

Many politicians say one thing in a campaign, and do another once elected. Ending the TPP was a foundational part of the Trump campaign agenda, and today, Trump has demonstrated to the American people that when he said it was a bad, bad deal, he meant it.

RICK MANNING, Americans for Limited Government

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Trump’s America, and ours

Abraham Lincoln once said, “My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of Earth.” Donald J. Trump’s Inaugural Address offered us exactly the opposite vision – one of a selfish, insulated America responsible only to itself, committed only to fixing the supposed “carnage” here but unconcerned about global poverty, Earth’s deteriorating environment and ecosystem, and human rights here and everywhere.

He made all the usual, and unfulfillable, promises about jobs, terrorism and corruption – and avoided all the problems he has always avoided, such as health care for all, equal opportunity for all, his own record of irresponsible behavior and “a decent respect to the opinions of mankind.”

President Trump doesn’t understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism. Charles de Gaulle did: “Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.”

Trump’s “American First” doctrine was falsely presented as the former when it clearly is the latter. Putting America first may sound like a noble patriotic idea, but in reality it reflects a careless, ultimately dangerous worldview. Walling America off from Mexico, keeping out Muslims fleeing war and oppression, denigrating China, and undermining our European allies have nothing to do with love of country. These promised policies exemplify narrow nationalism of the sort that will reduce respect for the United States and undermine national security.

“There are seasons in every country,” Alexander Hamilton said, “when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism.” This is such a time, and Donald Trump is such a man.

MEL GURTOV, PeaceVoice