Rigging: Nan Scoops $190M from Big Island Rebid

Dear Editor,   Sept 18, 2024

The County of Hawaii recently opened the bids for the rehabilitation of the Hilo wastewater treatment plant. The three accepted bids were in between $367 and $444 million dollars. Nan Inc. is the lowest bidder at $367 million dollars

The county solicited bids for essentially the same project in 2023. Nan Inc. was the sole bidder at $177 million dollars, but the county mysteriously canceled the solicitation and decided to rebid.

Their decision really grinds my gears. They could’ve done the necessary upgrades to this facility for $190 million dollars less if they decided to proceed with Nan’s original bid.

The county’s decision to rebid has painted themselves into a corner. They have to move forward with this project regardless of the cost or face the looming environmental disaster and subsequent political blowback. The citizens of Hawaii County will be ultimately footing the bill for the county’s costly mistake.

Aaron Stene

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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Divided Truth

Dear Editor,  Sept 17, 2024

Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” 

We are a divided country because BOTH sides can find THEIR “truth” on the internet or whatever source of their CHOOSING.  Liberals believe CNN.  Conservatives believe FOX.

Who would have thought that having INSTANT INFINITE INFORMATION on voice command would actually NOT make us SMARTER?  But the reality is that there are so many answers on the web that many people simply give up and choose the one they WANT to believe.  Obi Wan said, “you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.”

The old saying, “Don’t believe everything you read” is MORE valid now than ever.  But “seeing is believing” is almost meaningless with the technical video wizardry we have at our disposal today.    

The biggest threat to democracy is the closed mind, so practice listening graciously. 

Leighton Loo

Mililani, Oahu