School mask policy can cause cases to skyrocket

My name is Cody Gima and I am a part of Troop 40. For my Communications Merit Badge, I am supposed to write a letter to my local newspaper about any opinion I have.

Bruce Anderson, director of the state Department of Health, is saying that teachers and students do not have to wear face masks during school. I think that this is not a good idea, especially when the cases of COVID are going back up all over Hawaii.

I think the Department of Education should let students and parents have the decision on whether or not students should be going to school virtually or in public.

Since Dr. Anderson says that teachers and students do not have to wear masks during school, I feel like this is going to cause the rate of cases to skyrocket. their families because the salaries here are so low and cost of living so high.

Reality is the resident struggles to survive and quite often lives in poverty.

Without wanting to go on I have a suggestion: we as a state need to have some sort of tourism tax, $80 / $100 or more per visit to go exclusively to the people of Hawaii (really!) to make their lives happen through affordable housing, insurance and survival. Here we are in the most powerful country in the world and this is the topic.

I have a 3-month-old daughter and I’m more concerned about her future as I have ever been about mine. I’m a certified sommelier that worked extremely hard all my life trying to make ends meet for my family.

Today, for the first time, I accepted Salvation Army’s donation of a box with fresh produce. It was a great feeling to know that someone out there cares, that I matter, but it was scary to feel with the need for food, housing and health how vulnerable we are.

As you may know, Maui United Way has awarded Community Impact Grants to 39 hard-working, impressive charities that serve our Maui community. Not readily visible is the extent of effort and countless hours that Nick, Makana and the MUW Board have put into a months-long process to streamline and review all the different applicant organizations.

During the process, the pandemic hit us all and they managed to re-set the process for online interviews and inspections. It was amazing work, and many mahalos and congratulations for completing everything seamlessly.

They were the first ones to tell everyone that the biggest thanks go to all those in our Maui community who have generously given to support Maui United Way, which in turn has supported all of us. In the case of our Lahaina Arts Guild, we can increase our teacher base, purchase more art supplies, and expand our reach into our public schools and low-income housing complexes.

Mahalo Maui United Way!