• Likes having military in his backyard • Preserve Kaua‘i while you can • In response to Dennis Chaquette letter • Plant a future for Kaua‘i Likes having military in his backyard Uh, you’re kidding right? Because of Pacific Missile
• Likes having military in his backyard
• Preserve Kaua‘i while you can
• In response to Dennis Chaquette letter
• Plant a future for Kaua‘i
Likes having military in his backyard
Uh, you’re kidding right? Because of Pacific Missile Range Facility we’re likely to be vaporized by nuclear weapons?
I’m sorry but I fail to understand the logic that having a strong military presence in Hawai‘i makes us more of a strategic target than without. I believe if you do your research based on facts and not “fear,” it would support that having a strong military presence in Hawai‘i makes us safer. We cannot change the fact that we are a strategic location in the middle of the Pacific for friend or foe. Who would you rather attack? Someone who can retaliate or someone who can’t? Saying that we WILL become extinct in a nuclear exchange is unrealistic and is fear mongering at its best. Also, how simplistic is it to say that “oh” we could really, really easily just move PMRF to Midway or someplace else. Ok, like where? That’s the old “NIMBY,” Not In My Back Yard attitude. If you really think about it. There are way more important strategic targets than little ole’ us out here. Mr. Chaquette sounds like he’s anti-military. I think he forgot that the freedom he and the rest of us enjoy is largely due to having a strong, strategically placed military might around the world. Kaua‘i, don’t give in to fear peddling. I don’t know about you. But I sleep pretty good at night knowing that the military is there … in my own backyard.
Stephen Shioi
Kapa‘a
Preserve Kaua‘i while you can
Let me preface this letter by stating that I am one of those people that you locals “love to hate,” the hated haole tourist. I have been a visitor to your island paradise each year for the past five or six years. I also had the privilege of living on O‘ahu in the mid- to late-60’s. In those days you could actually walk in Waikiki and see the ocean. Now nothing but high rises and tourist traps.
I would implore you to not let that happen on Kaua‘i. There has been a lot of discussions lately about the ferry and increased traffic. When I was on Kaua‘i last April, it took me 75 minutes to get from Princeville to Kapa’a. With only one main road on the island, this will be a big problem in the future. It won’t take long for us tourists to screw it up. We’ve done it before on O‘ahu.
Having said that, you have a two-edged sword. You need the tourist dollar but don’t want increased overcrowding. I don’t have a solution but please limit the resort building or there will not be much left to see.
I read the Kaua‘i news every day on-line and frankly am a little weary of the petty complaints about Republicans/Democrats/military bases etc. For the uninformed, Barking Sands WILL keep you safer. You are the most isolated island chain in the world. Do you think for a moment that with all of the sophisticated equipment at the site, they couldn’t see an attack coming. Another Pearl Harbor is never happening again. As for the political climate, you elected them so live with it. The liberal give away programs in Hawai‘i make it one of the heaviest taxed states in the union.
I’ll close by stating that I too love the island and am NOT a part-time owner of anything. Thanks to the increased cost of buying land on Kaua‘i, I just can’t afford it. I’ll be content to enjoy my 10-day stay every year and continue to remind you that you are truly living in Paradise and should be thankful that you are able to enjoy it every day.
Preserve the island environment as long as you can. Greedy politicians and resort developers are just waiting for a chance to exploit you and your beautiful island.
Lew Taylor
Alabama
In response to Dennis Chaquette letter
Mr. Chaquette states that “Kaua‘i will be one of the first places hit, if there is ever a nuclear missile attack.” This is because of Pacific Missile Range Facility located on our Westside. Mr. Chaquette is obviously ignorant to the purpose of PMRF. It is a test and evaluation facility, not an operational base for offensive operations against an opposing force.
Mr. Chaquette cowers with the thought we are not safe in our isolation in the middle of the Pacific. He states “because of the military presence here in Hawai‘i, we will be obliterated because we harbor these military bases.” He states these bases present a clear and future danger. Mr. Chaquette does not seem to mind that should the unlikely event a nuclear war occur against a future foe, other communities in the USA could possibly be attacked. That’s OK with Mr. Chaquette, that’s not where he lives.
Mr. Chaquette, instead of cowering, get your life together and support our military and our country. There are thousands of military veterans living on Kaua‘i and I would bet that 99% support PMRF. I know many of them personally and for your information most are local born and raised very proud of their service in the military. There are also thousand more families on Kaua‘i that have active duty relatives serving this country in harm’s way. PMRF is there to develop weapons systems that will not only contribute to the safety of the military, but also to all Americans.
Mr. Chaquette, if it was not for the men and women serving and who have served our country in the military you would most likely be living under another form of government.
Richard G. (Dick) Godbehere
Kapa‘a
Plant a future for Kaua‘i
At this time of year, when so many fruit trees are loaded with fruit, and the food bank is so stressed to feed our needy, it would be a good idea to gather all the extra fruit and give to the Salvation Army, your school or church food program, or better still, the Kaua‘i Food Bank, to kokua our community.
Across the nation, food banks are in great difficulty, not just because the economy is tougher, but because the federal government is cutting back on what it gives from agricultural surplus.
According to the New York Times: “Supplies from the surplus program dropped to $67 million worth last year, from $154.3 million in 2005 and $233 million in 2004.”
So everyone with ag land should be planting trees and vegetables to feed our seniors, our kupuna, our disabled and our needy young families through the Food Bank.
Plant a future for Kaua’i.
Spread your aloha for the holidays and every day,
Virginia Beck
Lawa‘i
