Fireworks noise was horrendous

I am appalled by the insensitive, selfish residents of Napilihau and Hale Noho. I have lived here in Napili for over 47 years, and this New Year’s Eve was the worst ever with the illegal fireworks.

Thank goodness it rained all day to prevent fires, but the noise was horrendous. My house virtually shook.

Do any of these idiots have pets? Do they just think of themselves and no one else? Is this what Maui has turned into?

Please think twice about what you do and who you effect by your actions. Stop being so entitled!

SU CAMPOS, Napili

Illegal fireworks cause fear

Illegal and arrogant; a disgusting superstition!

No good is created!

Harmful to life: polluting and fearful.

Piercing wails and bombs with light, it’s a War on the neighborhood!

We close all the windows to protect air and ears; hold small ones close, promise assurance of soon… but hours go on!

Blessing or curse? Happy (?) New Year… thank God it rained is all we can say.

LINDA LYERLY, Kahana

Mayor has duty to enforce Maui County laws

(The following letter was sent to Mayor Michael Victorino and other county officials.)

Please see below the Maui County record that provides incontrovertible evidence that the building permits for the Brown development in Napili (permit B2020-0447; permit B2020-0449) are legally invalid. It is the Mayor’s duty to ensure that the Stop Work Orders remain in place, that the permits are deemed invalid, and that the developer eliminates the unlawful construction.

As confirmed by the County Inspector, “[t]he main home permit B2020-0448 was designed and reviewed under 19.14.050 of H-1 Hotel district standards as noted on the cover page of the approved plans.” As you know, Brown obtained an SMA exemption to build a single-family home. It is plainly unlawful to issue permits to build a hotel under an SMA exemption for a single-family home.

Accordingly, the permits are invalid and the construction is illegal. In addition, the structure’s height brazenly violates the black letter law limiting new buildings in Napili to two stories. Thus, the structure is unlawful as a matter of procedure and substance. The Planning Department and Building Department have no power to accept revised plans on a legally invalid permit, and it is your obligation under the Maui County Charter to ensure that they don’t.

According to the Maui County Charter, the Mayor shall “[e]xercise supervision directly or through the managing director over all departments enumerated in Article 8 of this charter and other agencies as provided by law.” (See Section 7-5, clause 1). The Charter also provides that the Mayor shall “[e]nforce the provisions of this charter, the ordinances of the county and all applicable laws.” (See Section 7-5, clause 17).

If you do not fulfill your duty to supervise your administrators and enforce the law, you will attach your name and record to a viscerally ugly Tower in Napili that has become the symbol of lawless and cynical development on Maui.

I wish no contention with you as Mayor or any official of Maui County. I understand that your office may be concerned about litigation from the developer for having previously issued invalid permits in contravention of law. But wouldn’t you rather correct your administration’s mistake and fight a developer in court, based on a position that is true and just, then fight your own citizens, based on a position that is clearly incorrect and unjust? And don’t you also appreciate the beauty of Napili, and not wish it to be blighted by a towering hotel?

I pray that you will make the right decision, and avoid the painful litigation that will commence against you if you fail to do so.

JOSH DOWNER, Napili

Think in terms of eternity

Rather than living in fear, COVID is a wakeup call to live intentionally with thoughts of eternity.

Statistically, there are many other ways for me to die besides my invasive and aggressive type cancer. For instance, learning the car’s steering column was cracked minutes before driving. How ironic would that have been careening off the Pali on my way to be COVID tested for an upcoming cancer surgery?

This summer, my brother and uncle died. In my brother’s case, the symptoms indicated cancer but unsure, since he never went to doctors. My uncle fought cancer with all the latest treatments. Both had great attitudes, stayed active and suffered excruciating pain. Two paths taken in life with the same outcome. What really matters, though, is they’re both spending eternity with the Lord.

Honoring my brother’s memory, we posted on YouTube amateur video footage for public viewing: “Kendall Korthuis Celebration of Life.” Playing an audio cassette of his testimony at the funeral, though he was a young man at the time of the recording, the words from the Gospel of John were appropriate for the occasion. Considering many attending where homeless, like Kendall was, made this especially touching.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Compared to eternity, time is short. Live life to the fullest, enjoy relationships, and do what God created you to do. Whatever happens, live joyfully and thankfully. Most importantly, make sure to end up where you really want to spend eternity.

MICHELE LINCOLN, Lahaina

Deciding national elections

On January 6, 2021, an organized political force challenged the authority of the U.S. Congress to certify the returns of the 2020 presidential election.

Control of elections by the people’s representatives is not an easy thing to achieve. British historian David Hume mentions that the British Parliament struggled for hundreds of years to get to the point that they could “judge solely in their own elections and returns.”

Prior to the 1600s, English kings kicked out members of Parliament that they didn’t like and called new parliamentary elections whenever they wanted to. The crown also called into session and dismissed sessions of parliament at personal whim without any reference to legal timetables.

Hume adds this about the electoral decision-making power: “A power like this, so essential to the exercise of all their other powers so essential to public liberty… must be regarded as an inherent privilege.”

Serious effort must be made to prevent any further attempt in 2024 to overthrow this essential power of the people.

KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY, Woods Cross, Utah

Officials choose business over residents’ health

After listening to the news today, I have a question for the Oahu mayor. He says now the greatest increase in COVID is manageable. I want to know why they were not manageable back when we had restrictions and lower COVID numbers?

It seems that the governor and all mayors do not care about the welfare of the residents, but rather the mighty dollar!

ROBERT POTTER, Napili