LETTERS for the June 8 issue
Create a new nine-day holiday
Memorial Day began during the American Civil War to honor those who died in battle. In 1971, it became a national holiday. Flowers or flags placed on graves remember fallen soldiers, deceased loved ones and ancestors. Some holidays, originated from tragic circumstances, inspire reflection and gratitude.
Let’s start an annual international “1-9-Day” holiday. COVID-19 worldwide “shelter-in-place” mandates showed it can be done. However, God deserves the holiday’s credit since it is like the “Festival of Shelters,” a joyous Jewish celebration dating back thousands of years.
Essential services with limited hours would give everyone a chance to enjoy the festivities. Ceasefire agreements, industries, businesses, restaurants, schools and government agencies would close for nine days. The global pandemic shutdowns prove it is possible.
The elderly population suffered the greatest losses, and with them history died. Commemorate history with traditional food, games, dance, music, films and other cultural, ethnic and religious events.
Remember the past, starting with world history, national, state/province, region/county, town/city, community, family and personal stories.
Recounting history would be an opportunity to discover the good and bad that occurred throughout the ages. The challenge and goal would be to find how it ultimately turned out for a greater good.
Ignite a spirit of unity, forgiveness for past offenses, hope for the future, with conviction to improve our faults and failures and encouragement to keep doing the good things.
To counter COVID-19’s isolation regulations, respond with food, fun and fellowship. Rested, restored, rejuvenated and being thankful is the “1-9-Day” holiday aspiration.
MICHELE LINCOLN, Lahaina
Address the parking issue by reducing cars
(The following letter was sent to county officials.)
Related to the old administration parking meters, it’s just that. Now old ink press. Going the wrong way with this.
Part of the entertainment for years on Front Street has been watching our visitors try to parallel park. Then giving hell, saying, “This is not a mall.” More so from street people.
We need to cut back on the number of rental vehicles being rented at a given time. What we need is a train.
LEO THINER, West Maui
Help the Green Party stay on the ballot
The annual Green Party of Hawaii (GPH) State Convention will be held on Saturday, June 10, via video and phone conference from noon to 3 p.m. State party officers, delegates and alternates to the Green Party of the United States National Committee will be elected.
The GPH first successfully obtained a ballot line in Hawaii for state and national partisan races in 1992 and had secured a place on the ballot for the past 30 years. For the next elections in 2024, the GPH will once again need to successfully petition to remain on the ballot in Hawaii.
Please sign the petition and keep the GPH on the ballot in Hawaii. One does not have to be a member of the GPH; however, one must be a registered voter in the State of Hawaii. Give voters more of a choice when voting.
In the early years of the GPH, we had numerous successful campaigns, all on the Big Island, where over eight elections, three Greens were elected to the Hawaii County Council in seven elections, from 1992 to 2006.
Join us. People, Planet & Peace!
To register on Zoom, go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrdeygqD0sHtMBuytzUM84PlJh1YGMlmvU. There is no charge to attend our annual state convention.
Contact us, join, donate, volunteer — visit www.greenpartyofhawaii.org or e-mail gpofhawaii@gmail.com.
NIKHILANANDA, Huelo
Action Alert: Reach out to Gov. Green today
Even though the state Legislature wrapped up its work for the 2023 session a few weeks ago, our work at the Grassroot Institute continues.
Out of the more than 3,100 bills that were introduced this year, there are 280 bills that are still left standing. Well, actually, these bills are currently sitting on Gov. Josh Green’s desk awaiting his signature or veto.
They encompass some good and some not-so-good measures that were passed by the Legislature and cover a variety of topics. Two of the “good” bills that Gov. Green should consider signing include:
SB674: This bill would allow Hawaii to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and make it easier for out-of-state doctors to practice in the islands, which could help relieve Hawaii’s doctor shortage.
SB1437: This bill would result in lower taxes for certain local businesses by authorizing members of “pass-through entities,” such as partnerships and S-corporations, to deduct their state income tax liabilities from their federal income tax liabilities.
In addition to signing these bills, the governor should veto the following “bad” bills:
HB525 and SB945: HB525 would exclude cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin from the definition of “money” under Uniform Commercial Code without explicitly mentioning it. SB945 would establish a highly complex and restrictive new licensure scheme for cryptocurrency companies and create high levels of regulatory uncertainty.
SB1057: This bill seeks to promote “transparency and equal pay for all employees” by requiring certain businesses with 50 or more employees to disclose their hourly rates or salary ranges on job postings. Equal pay is already a part of Hawaii’s statute, and this bill would only increase the administrative paperwork for many local businesses.
Gov. Green has until July 11, 2023 to make a decision on these bills. This means there is still time to encourage Gov. Green to take the proper action on these bills. Any bill he neither signs nor vetoes will become law automatically after this deadline.
TED KEFALAS, Director of Strategic Campaigns, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii