I was visiting Maui in November 2015 when I was diagnosed with a virus, which was complicated with double pneumonia.

I spent two weeks on oxygen at Maui Memorial Medical Center. I thought I would die. The doctors saved my life and the hospital staff nursed me back to health.

I was in no shape to travel anywhere.

It would be a travesty if Maui Memorial had to close or reduce services to the community. Hawaii policymakers should do everything they can to ensure that Maui Memorial can continue to provide health care to the Maui community.

In my case, it was a matter of life or death.

Mal Chernow

Fredericksburg, Va.

Bonds for rail require income

Columnist Richard Borreca’s idea to finance rail through long-term bonds is one that the city has considered, but there are requirements that are not yet in place (“Why not use bonds to fund construction of rail project,” On Politics, Sept. 6).

In order to float long-term bonds for rail, the city would need revenue to repay the bonds, and we are currently limited to two government sources: the general excise tax (GET) surcharge or the $1.55 billion from the Federal Transit Administration.

We will need $8.1 billion to finish rail to Ala Moana, and we currently have about $6.8 billion. We agree that spreading the payment for rail over generations is a fair proposition that should be considered by the policymakers, the City Council and the state Legislature, but it needs a qualified revenue source over the long term.

An extension of the GET surcharge, at least over the time period to repay the bond debt, qualifies as such a source.

Nelson H. Koyanagi Jr.

Director, Honolulu Department of Budget and Fiscal Services

Climate change is issue for youth

Last week two hurricanes brushed by, barely missing us.

In the past, such weather events were rare. Today it happens with regularity. We blame El Nino or El Nina but we know climate change has something to do with it.

Doubters say it’s a hoax, but climatologists agree greenhouse gas emissions influence our climate and a few degrees’ change in Earth’s ambient temperature will melt the ice caps. That would raise the oceans and flood the low lands around the world, including most of Oahu.

We can’t stop climate change, but we can slow the rate of change by limiting greenhouse gas emissions, which would give us more time to prepare for the eventual deluge.

Younger voters should get involved and prevent the older generation from gambling with their future. It’s theirs to lose.

Bill Coelho

Makawao

New workers will lack housing

I read that there is a shortage of construction workers, and increased immigration is discussed (“Firms short of skilled builders,” Sept. 6).

When all the requirements and paperwork are fulfilled, where are all these new workers going to live?

Planning seems to be predicated on the assumption that the habitable part of this island is made of Silly Putty: The more you pile on it, the more it is expected to expand outward.

The reality is that the Ala Wai Canal did overflow in 1992, during Hurricane Iniki, and that is the future of waterfront lands.

Beverly Kai

Kakaako

Carbon pricing is the way to go

The 2016 World Conservation Congress is positive progress toward the U.S. becoming more environmentally aware. However, in discussing these issues, we still neglect the subject of carbon pricing.

Carbon pricing is the most important way to lower carbon dioxide emissions and lift the burden off individuals to be more environmentally conscious.

For example, if one company decided to stop using fossil fuels, it would have a less expensive product than a company still using fossil fuels. People would naturally buy the least expensive products and therefore reinforce the demand for renewable energy and discourage companies from using fossil fuels.

Economically, it would allow our resources to shift to more promising industries. Environmentally, it would reduce CO2 emissions. How? By internalizing the cost of burning fossil fuels.

A dividend would be returned to all households so they wouldn’t absorb the responsibility of the polluters while creating millions of jobs through people recycling the revenue.

Lilly Iijima

Waikiki