Is Hawaii becoming a failed state?

After reading editorials, columns by Lee Cataluna (“Hawaii authorities finally see dangers of over-tourism,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 25), and David Shapiro (“Ige, Kim play ‘who’s on first’ as mauna protests grow,” Star-Advertiser, Volcanic Ash, Aug. 25), a case can be made Hawaii is in trouble.

We face a multitude of serious problems: leadership incapable or unwilling to respond; society fraying due to overcrowding, traffic, cost of living; and an electorate retreating into family/self-protection.

Crises abound, and government seems paralyzed, unable to respond. A failure to achieve compromise for the Thirty Meter Telescope is costly and has done enormous damage to Hawaii’s reputation in business, science and technology.

U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono advocates civil disobedience. Our Public Safety director got a job no one else wanted, with a crisis in the corrections system. Overtourism is a crisis and the vacation rental problem is not going away.

Federal prosecutors indicted former union officials from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1260 (“Former Hawaii union boss and his family members charged with conspiracy,” Star-Advertiser, Aug. 24). Hawaiian Electric wants a rate increase. And we haven’t mentioned rail, homelessness, replacing Aloha Stadium and the Blaisdell Center, Laniakea Beach access or the bulky-item pickup problems. Auwe.

Jim McDiarmid

Mililani

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