Steps to make crossing Keawe Street safer

If you want to drive/walk from Lahaina Gateway to Walgreens, Burger King, Panda Express, etc. – or vice versa – there are two options not too far apart, but neither one is marked.

It’s been quite awhile since the Lahaina Bypass opened. Drivers coming down from the bypass toward Highway 30 go too fast (going downhill after already speeding on the bypass).

There are three easy options to solve that: a few buckets of white paint, a spray-gun, a couple of people and 2-3 hours to apply the crosswalk stripes; erect a sign saying “CROSS TRAFFIC” or “YIELD;” or put in one of the poles with the blinking orange light, so drivers are aware that cars or pedestrians are going to cross.

Probably, we will need at least one fatal accident before anything is done.

Theatre Theatre Maui’s cast and crew proudly display their T-shirts from this summer’s production of “Legally Blonde, Jr. — The Musical.” All express their thanks for the awesome support provided by the community, families, performance audiences, volunteers, sponsors, program advertisers, donors and grantors. MAHALO! PHOTO BY RAY CHIN.

It took me SEVEN minutes today to cross from Walgreens to Foodland, and if not for a driver of a cab company who stopped, I would still be standing there!

Also, when will we see the originally planned bypass, going NORTH to take traffic off Highway 30 to all the hotels in Kaanapali, Honokowai, Kahana, Napili and Kapalua?

That was the original idea when I came to Maui 36 years ago. All of a sudden, the bypass goes the other way. Our state works in mysterious ways.

JOHN BLAHUTA, Lahaina

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No one is above the law; not even the president

One-hundred-and-thirty – and counting – House members now support opening an impeachment inquiry. They have taken a clear stand against Trump’s corruption and obstruction of justice. I want to see my representative do the same.

Mueller laid out the facts. He made it clear that he did NOT exonerate Trump. Not in his report, and not in his testimony. His investigation found damning criminal activity and has already led to 37 indictments and at least seven guilty pleas or convictions.

Mueller said his investigation uncovered over 100 secret communications between the Trump campaign and Russia or people working with Russia, and at least ten episodes of obstruction of justice.

Obstruction of justice is a crime, plain and simple.

Mueller did his job. In the face of such overwhelming evidence, it’s time for Congress to do theirs.

I want to hear my representative publicly voice their support for a formal impeachment inquiry. Trump should abide by the same standards as any other American.

No one is above the law in our country, especially not the president. That’s why I’m calling on our representative to support a formal impeachment inquiry now!

JACQUI SKILL, Lahaina

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State should expedite homes on ceded lands

Statehood in 1959 gave the “new state” 1.8 million acres of ceded lands, stolen from us, to start a new state – the land for free business model. Billions upon billions have been made by the state government, corporate citizens and so on.

One simple promise the new state made to get that deal was to administer the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act timely. This stuff is not hard; it’s not even complicated.

Has the state… has the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands failed? Yes. Do we need to know all the excuses? No. Make right, before our kupuna pass. Do the right thing, Gov. David Ige. Stand down on court appeals that kill more people on the wait list.

We stand ready to help you make right – to reform an agency you promised to reform five years ago. You promised. Honor your word.

It’s really not as difficult as your advisors tell you. Listen to your honor, not political voices.

ROBIN PUANANI DANNER, SCHHA Chair & Homestead Housing Authority CEO

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West Maui lawmakers should seek funds for Hawaiian homes

I, Kanani Higbee, am an applicant of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) for 13 years. The chairman for DHHL, William Aila, told the packed Lahaina Civic Center room of West Maui community on Monday, Aug. 19, the reason why Upcountry and Central Maui have the most lots of Hawaiian homes built on Maui and are making swift progress on more built very soon. It is because they receive the support of their legislators.

On the other hand, Aila said the reason Lahaina has so few homes built currently, and the progress on existing projects is so slow, is because our West Maui legislators are not advocating for enough funding required for infrastructure for these lots to be made to have homes built on it.

It was very disheartening to hear that. My grandpa was a longtime resident and worker in Lahaina, and he died on the list. My mom has been on the list for 35 years. My siblings and I are all on the list for 13 years. We all have yet to be awarded a home and/or lot.

Aila told us that there are plans to build 260 lots at Lahaina Leiali’i 1B, but they are doing it 50-75 at a time. It will take at least seven years to get the first phase of 50-75 lots built.

However, Central Maui does not have phases like Lahaina has. They get their projects done at one time.

I ask that our legislators, Senator Roz Baker and Representative Angus McKelvey, please advocate for more funding from the legislature to get these homes built in a timely manner. This will help Native Hawaiians to have a home.

My mom is already 60. I fear she does not have much time left. Tiare Lawrence told Aila that her mom has stage four cancer and has not been awarded a home either. Hawaiians are dying on the list before they get a home.

It feels that when legislators fail to advocate for sufficient funding to get infrastructure built so Native Hawaiians can build their homes, the legislators are not looking out for the best interest for Native Hawaiians.

Why do you want to slow the process of getting Native Hawaiians on the land? If the funding is there and it’s just a matter of you advocating for it, why don’t you advocate for the funding?

KANANI HIGBEE, Lahaina

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Theatre Theatre Maui thanks sponsors and supporters

Theatre Theatre Maui (TTM) wrapped up its 27th summer season of youth theatre culminating in its production of “Legally Blonde, Jr. – The Musical,” thanks to the phenomenally creative team of Kristi Scott, Vania Jerome, Francis Taua, Felicia Chernicki-Wulf, Bailey Miller, Annabehl Sinclair-Delaney and Mary Beth Chin.

Heartfelt thanks for the generosity extended to us by this summer’s venue providers at The Westin Maui Resort and Spa and Sacred Hearts School; our silent auction sponsor, The Boeing Company; and the fab-five team of Salon Bella (Kathy Perry), Head To Toe Salon (Hollee Guthrie), and Attorneys-At-Law Kristen Spees Marchello, Gary Robert and Walter Vierra for sponsoring our T-shirts.

We are indeed grateful for the special services and supplies provided by Lahaina Music, Maui Preparatory Academy, Tropic Water, Envisions Entertainment, 5A Rent-A-Space, Old Lahaina Luau, Harmer Communications, Surf Rentals, Whalers Village/Brooksfield Properties Retail, Lahaina News, The Maui News, MauiTime Weekly, Ricky Jones and Ray Chin.

Very special mahalos to our community of parents and their keiki for their trust in us and to the many volunteers, donors, sponsors and grantors who provide invaluable support to make these productions possible: the County of Maui’s Office of Economic Development, Maui Visitor Industry Charity Walk, The Somerville-Olsson Charitable Trust, Jack & Annie Wilder, Lisa Hawks & Debbie Brooks, The Riley ‘Ohana, Tom van der Linden & Jean Silberman, Jason & Vania Jerome, Mike & Nancy Montoya, Rotary Club of Valley Isle Sunset, ProArts Maui, Maui OnStage, Maui Academy of Performing Arts, A Special Touch, Alex and Ani, Bank of Hawaii, Body in Balance, Captain Jack’s Island Grill/Cool Cat Cafe, Davo, Hawaii Pacific Solar, HoiHoi Patisserie, Hyatt/Drums of the Pacific Luau, Island Sotheby’s International Realty/Rob Shelton, BIC, Lahaina Grill, Lahaina Ice Cream Parlour, Leilani’s on the Beach, Mahina, Maui Ocean Center, Maui Prime Fine Foods, Pacific Whale Foundation, Plush Beauty Lounge, Seashore Couture, Van Quaetham Chiropractic, The Village Galleries and our faithful past and present board of directors.

Mahalo nui, our ‘ohana, for making another great year possible.

For more information about Theatre Theatre Maui, go to www.ttmwestmaui.org, call 661-1168 or e-mail admin@ttmwestmaui.org. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

During the month of September, TTM’s banner will be displayed at Lahaina Foodland for their annual “Give Aloha” fundraising campaign. TTM’s number is 78402: present your Maika’i card at checkout and help continue to support community theatre on the West Side. ??

THEATRE THEATRE MAUI, Lahaina