Keeping soot out of the harbor, soliciting the Kamehameha Schools board of trustees to protect Coco Palms and preventing Koke‘e from becoming the state’s cash cow shared the spotlight last night, but all took backseat in turnout to opposition of
Keeping soot out of the harbor, soliciting the Kamehameha Schools board of trustees to protect Coco Palms and preventing Koke‘e from becoming the state’s cash cow shared the spotlight last night, but all took backseat in turnout to opposition of prescription-dispensing kiosks.
The measure, Senate Bill 2459, claims to provide more access to patients through “remote dispensing.”
Rep. Jimmy Tokioka consolidated some of the pharmacists’ testimony so that others would have a chance to speak during the one hour, 45 minute town-hall style meeting.
Pharmacists in opposition to the legislation said it would replace the oversight that regulates potentially dangerous drugs with interactive vending machines.
“This bill will effectively stop me from being able to care for your parents, grandparents and keiki,” Brian Carter, a local pharmacist, said. “Machines just don’t care.”
Dozens of pharmacists clammored in disapproval over the bill, claiming it would not only put them out of business, but reduce the quality of health care.
“We’re really shocked it slipped through the house undetected,” Lianne Malapit, a pharmacist of Lifeway Pharmacy, said.
“Two weeks ago a lot of us were answering questions about asthma because of the vog in the air. Just the quality of health care would be significantly compromised should this bill pass,” she added.
Malapit said pharmaceutical companies such as Kaiser that have the benefit of nonprofit status and therefore have been able to purchase drugs at cheaper rates than local businesses, would be able to push those mom and pop shops out of the market.
“We’re at a disadvantage while they’re trying to branch over, keeping their own
regulations. It will push the retail pharmacies out of business,” she said. “What you’ll end up with in five to 10 years is kiosks and no pharmacists.”
Other pharmacists said the bill is unnecessary as there aren’t five miles without a brick and mortar pharmacy.
Adequate health care was also on the minds of other residents such as Carl Berg, Ph.D, who voiced concern over the spraying of pesticides near Waimea Canyon Middle School and cruise ship pollution. Though Waimea Canyon Middle School students will see some reprieve as Syngenta Seeds, which was spraying pesticides at the field adjacent to the school has agreed to stop until the end of the year, Berg said Kauai High School students also are at risk of being exposed to toxins, because of cruise ship emissions.
Berg, a Niumalu resident who, like several others, is concerned about the combination of soot and southerly winds near the harbor, recommended passing the cost of cleaner fuel onto cruise passengers.
“It’s not just that carcinogen compounds and soot are drifting onto the schools but the other aspect is its dumping on my community and the people who live there,” Berg said. Noting Norweigan Cruise Lines hasn’t been “cooperative” with the community, Berg added, “We are not singling out any single cruise line. …It’s a no brainer. It comes out of the stacks and onto the houses.”
Keeping Koke‘e “as-is” was also a top concern among residents, one that could be best addressed, some suggested, by creating a Kaua‘i Citizen’s Advisory Group to the Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Others voiced concern that the DLNR has its own agenda for commercializing Koke‘e, stating that if it were to get funding for its needs from the Legislature, it would run the risk of having those funds taken away in coming years.
Cowboy Malina, of Lihu‘e, said Koke‘e should remain “for the locals.”
“It’s not for people to come up here and enjoy for three weeks and then go back to where they came from,” he said. “Give back to the people what the people deserve.”
Giving Coco Palms back to the people was also addressed, an idea that Liberta Albao, a former Coco Palms employee until Hurricane ‘Iniki, said partnering with another entity and soliciting bids from prospects such as Kamehameha could be the answer to keeping the historical integrity of the former hotel in tact.
“I hope Kamehamea Schools will consider purchasing the hotel,” she said.
