Leash your pets in Kapalua

All dogs in public within Maui County must be on a leash unless they are in a designated “dog park.”

Due to the safety hazard presented by dogs that are not leashed, we are forced to escalate our enforcement with the help of the Humane Enforcement Division of the Maui Humane Society.

Kapalua Security has been diplomatically asking dog owners to leash their pets, but they often remove the leash again as soon as security is out of sight.

Starting this weekend (March 27), an officer will be making random visits to the Village Trails and is capable of writing tickets. Hopefully that won’t be necessary.

Please share this message with anyone you know who uses the hiking trails throughout Kapalua.

FRANK VIOLI JR., Director, Kapalua Resort Association

Restaurants shouldn’t be grouped with bars and clubs

(The following letter was sent to state and county officials regarding COVID-19 counts.)

While I appreciate reporting the numbers in the news, there needs to be better transparency on the counts.

Restaurants need to be in their own category. They can’t be grouped with bars and clubs.

Many of the bars and clubs are not following procedures; that could be seen on St. Patrick’s Day.

Zero distancing; not adhering to 30 percent capacity. If this continues, there needs to be more enforcement at the bars and clubs, Kihei Triangle, both sides of Front Street and other locations.

I know that almost all restaurants follow guidelines. Please do not make them suffer any punishment that was not their doing.

We need to know the MCCC count; I understand that a case is a case, but we can’t control the jail. This needs to be reported in the paper and TV announcements. We need to know at least the locations of clusters. The West Side needs to know how we are doing. I understand the Lahaina paper is being positive, but many residents desire to see the facts.

Many of us on the West Side appreciate the work you continue to do. Thank you for your efforts.

BUFF WEAVER, Buff Weaver Hospitality

Mahalo for supporting Maui OnStage

It is hard to believe that one year ago today, Maui OnStage/Historic Iao Theater closed to the public. We had just finished a successful run of “Xanadu” and “The Ants and the Grasshoppers” (our youth show) on Sunday, March 15th. From March 16-31, MOS staff cleaned up after the shows and prepared the theater to stand empty for an undetermined time.

On March 31st, “Pegasus” (a prop used in Xanadu) was plugged in and became the theater’s “ghost light.” MOS staff (including myself) were laid off, and I locked the door to the theater thinking “Oh, we’ll be back open by June.” How wrong I was.

A year has passed, and we’re still not open. And to be 100 percent honest, I do not know when we’ll be able to reopen. The Historic Iao Theater is owned by the County of Maui, and we must adhere to all county rules, regulations and mandates. As a large indoor gathering place, we’ll be one of the last to reopen.

But things are finally beginning to look up. The vaccine roll-out is starting to pick up speed, the SBA’s Shuttered Venue Operators Grant has been changed to allow community theaters a chance to apply, and other arts-oriented grants are opening up.

I’m crossing my fingers that by this fall we’ll get the thumbs-up to reopen. I will definitely keep you all posted! We may be doing things a little differently in the beginning (socially-distanced seating, mask wearing, shorter shows, etc.), but I will keep everyone in the loop via e-mail blasts and social media.

I want to take a moment to thank every single one of you… for keeping us in your thoughts, for your calls and e-mails of support, for liking and sharing our posts, for participating in our Education and Youth Program and for donating to our fundraisers. I especially want to thank our MOS Star Members for your automatic monthly donations. You are our lifeblood! You are helping us to literally keep the lights on in the theater!

Mahalo to everyone for your love and support of Maui OnStage, the Historic Iao Theater and for community theater here on Maui.

LUANA WHITFORD-MITCHELL, Executive Director

Support the Affordable Care Act

Eleven years ago, I voted to pass the Affordable Care Act when I was a member of the House of Representatives. We passed the legislation without any Republican support. It is the most significant overhaul and expansion of coverage in the U.S. health care system since 1965.

In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, the ACA is more important than ever, keeping 23 million Americans insured and protecting people with pre-existing conditions — including COVID-19.

Tens of millions of Americans have lost their jobs because of the Coronavirus outbreak, and some have also lost their health insurance. It’s never been more critical that every American has access to affordable health coverage.

With President Biden and Democrats in the majority in Congress, we are working to get the Coronavirus under control. Americans still need to be able to see a medical professional or go to the hospital and not face financial hardship.

Families don’t need the added worry of losing health coverage through ongoing efforts to weaken and eliminate the ACA by Republicans, who have had little regard for those suffering during this pandemic.

We must make it easier, not harder, for people to seek appropriate care for themselves and their families. Sign your name in support of the ACA and our work to keep and expand health care for all Americans.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO