Create a new county park near Mala

The following suggestions were e-mailed to the mayor and the Maui County Council:

I hope you will consider the following testimony for additional parking and the development of a county park on TMK 45004012000, 2.468 acres located in Lahaina. The parcel is situated between the oceanfront cemetery, Mala and the Jodo Mission. This parcel already has state-operated public restrooms and showers.

Cooperation with community groups, hotel community service providers and the county Parks Department could create an amazing park. New York City’s Central Park is operated by a conservancy. That may be an option for this park as well.

Here are some basic ideas for this project. It would be beneficial for public beach access, Mala Boat Ramp users, Lahaina Jodo Mission, and for overall safety and well-being of the community.

The homeless community’s impact in the area needs to be addressed. In order to make this area safe and public-friendly, we need an alternative place for the homeless community. Cut Mountain is an ideal location. The homeless community has already positioned themselves there. It is far away from businesses, schools and residential, which would help alleviate complaints.

Providing portable toilets and trash receptacles at Cut Mountain would be the first phase, with future picnic tables, BBQ stations and other park amenities if it proves successful. For the homeless community without transportation, perhaps MEO shuttles could have a scheduled route or some other public transportation operation. New York City’s Central Park controls the homeless population by providing alternative solutions. Cut Mountain Sanctuary would be Lahaina’s safe space for the homeless community.

Some ideas for the Mala Baby Beach Park would include additional much-needed parking. Provide parking on each side of the park along the existing roadways. Put a parking lot on the mauka side of the park closest to the pump station and restrooms. Ingress and egress could be accessible from both roads.

Replace the kiawe trees with shade trees. Picnic tables, volleyball, bocce ball and other park amenities could be put in this area. A connecting county property would be an ideal location for a fenced-in, covered playground structure. Please act quickly, as this problem area needs attention for public safety and to resolve the existing contentious situations.

MICHELE LINCOLN, Lahaina

Ka Hale A Ke Ola appreciates donation

On behalf of Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Charitable Trust for its recent donation of $30,000 to help continue our mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness on Maui. This most recent financial support from the charitable trust enables us to serve the needs of Maui’s homeless population with emergency shelter and food. We also compassionately assist individuals and families on their journey toward stable and permanent housing with counseling, job and permanent housing placement assistance, healthcare and education.

The KOR Charitable Trust’s ongoing commitment to our community demonstrates ho’okipa (generous hospitality) and malama (deep care). By directing their resources towards addressing the critical issue of homelessness, they are actively making a positive difference in the lives of countless individuals and families.

At Ka Hale A Ke Ola, we firmly believe that every person deserves a safe and stable place to call home. The support from Ka’anapali Ocean Resort brings us one step closer to achieving this fundamental goal. Their contribution will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on our ability to continue our vital work in the community.

We also thank everyone who has provided financial support for KHAKO. Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

To learn more about our efforts and join us in the fight against homelessness, we encourage readers to visit our website at www.khako.org/ and click on the green “donate now” button.

MONIQUE R. IBARRA, Executive Director, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers

Sports gambling causing problems across the country

The State of Nevada in 1931 was the first to ignore what gambling does to destroy individuals and families and legalized it to lift the state out of the depression.

That sorry-eyed excuse for a public policy was followed by a cascading wave of legalized gambling across the country that has since placed tens of millions of families far down into the depths of economic and emotional depression.

America next decided that legalized sports gambling should be our next great bet, and we are implementing that policy across the country today.

Now comes news that up to 8 percent of 12- to 17-year-olds have a serious gambling problem. So, what has the state of Virginia done? It is putting a band aid on the problem by requiring public schools to introduce curriculum to teach about the risks.

Teenagers can hardly wait to do the stupid things that their parents do, so maybe this approach is too little, too late. Democracy doesn’t do well when casinos and the Internet eat the lunch of working people across the country. But gambling is truly a great policy to further the wealth gap between the ultra-wealthy and the debt-ridden middle and poor classes of America.

KIMBALL SHINKOSKEY, Woods Cross, Utah