Trust parents and teachers to do what’s best for keiki

(The following letter was sent to the governor, Board of Education and other officials.)

I teach special education at King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina. I started my teaching career in Torrance, California during the winter of 1978. This means that I taught during the smoking crisis, HIV/AIDS crisis, obesity crisis, SARS, EBOLA, Swine Flu, attack on the twin towers, diabetes crisis, hypertension crisis, homeless crisis, War on Poverty, childhood hunger crisis, Bird Flu, Legionnaires’ Disease, 16 percent home mortgage interest rates, MTV, leisure suits, mullet haircuts and 58 Kevin Costner films.

Most of those events were very bad. Some disrupted schools and learning, but none of them EVER had the negative effect on education like the current COVID-19 policies are having on public schools in Hawaii.

Teachers are leaving the profession because of the hassles, harassment and tumult caused by the COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.

PLEASE STOP THE BLEEDING and reverse the COVID-19 policies in Hawaii. They are hurting students and teachers.

In just the past month, we have had two outstanding teachers at our school leave because of the vaccine/testing rules that were put in place. This loss of quality educators is disturbing the learning of students in those classrooms plus all the other classes in that grade level. It’s difficult to get a substitute teacher already, and it becomes more challenging for the school to get substitutes when teachers leave and have to be replaced by a long-term substitute, thus diluting the sub-pool even more.

A parent of three children in my school recently told me that her kids have been sent home to quarantine a total of 50 days so far this year because someone in their class tested positive for COVID-19. Her children have not been sick a single day but still had to quarantine. She’s terrified to answer her phone or e-mail because there might be another message from the school saying one of her children has to stay out of school for ten days again. This is crazy!

I realize these are very confusing times with no easy answers; however, the answer is not your overly-restrictive COVID policies. I think the solution for schools is simple: if you want to be vaccinated, get the VAX. If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask. If your child is sick, keep them home until they feel better. Trust parents to do what is best for their children. And, trust teachers to do what is best for their students.

Thank you for your time.

DAVID BROWN, Lahaina

Rogan and Rodgers are fools

Aaron Rodgers lied, saying he’s “immunized.” Giving COVID-19 to his teammates — what a guy!

The Green Bay Packers quarterback is a nut. Aaron Rodgers should most definitely be cut. Even Jake from State Farm can’t fix this one, because Mr. Rodgers is just way too dumb.

Jeopardy thought he’d make a good host? Are you kidding? Bless Alex Trebek’s ghost!

Rodgers has made himself into a tool of “Covidiots,” like that Joe Rogan fool. Eat your horse paste, Aaron, like Rogan says.

Vaccination is a conspiracy, says the Internet. Aaron takes medical advice from a UFC guy?

Send this Cheesehead to the Jets!

JAKE PICKERING, Arcata, CA

Leadership moves at the Statewide Hawaiian Home Land Coalition

The Sovereign Council of Hawaiian Homestead Associations (SCHHA) is a coalition of homestead communities with individual enrolled members that serve on the board of directors of two nonprofit corporations to advance the interest of families on or near Hawaiian Home Lands. The first is the Homestead Community Development Corporation (HCDC) dedicated to housing and job creation, and the second is Hawaiian Lending & Investments (HLI), a loan fund focused on deploying capital to families and businesses.

This month, HCDC and HLI are making leadership moves to respond to the demand for services on every island in the state.

Rolina Faagai, age 38, from Oahu, has been promoted to deputy director of economic development, overseeing social enterprises that create jobs and support micro business. “Rolina is a natural talent in business,” said Robin Puanani Danner, SCHHA chair. “She brings an analytical mind and a business acumen to our economic goals on Hawaiian Home Lands.” Faagai also volunteers as a policy analyst on the SCHHA Homestead Policy Committee, supporting state and federal policy priorities.

Vaipuarii Kight, age 35, from Tahiti, has been promoted to deputy director of loan fund operations, delivering financial services statewide, including loans and grants along with home loan packaging. “Although HLI is only two years old, Vaipuarii has grown our capacity to deliver meaningful financial products, like the Food Sovereignty Savings Match program, and adding mortgage loan packaging to help families build or purchase homes statewide,” commented Sybil Lopez, SCHHA vice chair. Kight is a certified home loan packager and HUD counselor.

Kara Chow, age 37, from Kauai, hired on at the end of October, is a new deputy director overseeing Corporate Administration. “Kara is a seasoned executive, having worked at the legislature for eight years, really a great addition to the HCDC and HLI leadership team,” Danner said. Chow resides on Oahu.

These management actions represent a next generation leadership transition of two significant nonprofit corporations dedicated to trust land solutions first and foremost, and the larger Native Hawaiian community in the field of community development.

“We are very much a strong homestead coalition, representing the interests of our constituents at the SCHHA, and also delivering meaningful services across our homestead communities through two substantive nonprofit corporations working on the ground across the state,” said Lopez. “It’s exciting to see.”

SOVEREIGN COUNCIL OF HAWAIIAN HOMESTEAD ASSOCIATIONS