• Are islanders treated fairly? • Rose in the fire • It starts with you Are islanders treated fairly? The Lighthouse Bistro refused to take reservations for a table of two. On arrival, there were many vacant tables which we
• Are islanders treated fairly? • Rose in the fire • It starts with you
Are islanders treated fairly?
The Lighthouse Bistro refused to take reservations for a table of two.
On arrival, there were many vacant tables which we were told for “The Westin and other Hotel.” Perhaps she was referring to the St. Regis.
It appears islanders are “second class diners.” We decided to stay since it was Valentine’s Day. Things did not get better. It took a half hour to get an appetizer. It took an hour for dinner to arrive. We were told there were only two chefs. We also noticed only two servers and no busboys.
The highlight of the evening was my wife’s dinner was properly cooked and was delicious. I however had overcooked food, which I had ordered rare. I was not about to wait for a new meal so I told the waiter and his response was, “Yes, that’s more like medium-well.” When he brought the bill he showed us his order form and said, “See, I ordered rare.” He then left the bill and walked away.
Isn’t it time that the restaurants and other business learned that the islanders are their bread and butter? Give us good food, good service and fair pricing and we would eat out more. They may consider tourist fair game; they should consider islanders family.
Michael Rothman, Princeville
Rose in the fire
Thank you, Ms. Diane Howard for your letter (“We the sheeple,” Letters, Feb.10), and to your stance to accountability to those with our Island “judicial system.”
Our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights were created to protect our basic human rights, basic U.S. rights to freedom, due process, right to counsel, freedom of speech and much more.
There are many Americans who serve our country tirelessly, and at sacrifices as great as laying ones life down, in order that these U.S. rights to freedom due to all our nation’s citizens may be preserved.
It is within the confines of any U.S. courthouse that these rights, of all its citizens, are to be fearlessly defended, never breached nor compromised, and held to stringent and weighty ethical and moral bindings.
My own story would be that as an officer of the courts, and for our Island Judiciary, and to a threat upon me by an offender holding innumerable arrests and charges.
I would be denied protection by way of a Temporary Restraining Order and under this same courthouse roof, where I reported to each day.
I was held to oath, and required to enforce terms and conditions of community members on conditional release. Why would an officer of the courts be denied protection? I would have refused to “turn a blind eye” to a matter.
Another incident of threat by the same offender. In this hearing, I would be denied counsel; I would be denied a continuance. The TRO, for this former probation officer, would be dissolved, in my community courthouse, of which I am a citizen and enfolded in the United States of America where no person can be denied equal protection of the laws.
A third threat — this time it would be our fine KPD which would help me up off my knees. The message was clear: My refusal to be silent would come at a great price to me, and at the expense of my U.S. Constitutional rights.
“A rose is in the fire;” Our courts are the people’s courts. A formal complaint is in progress; community interest grows. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Community Alliance on Prisons, and a number of other doors have opened.
This is our community courthouse. This is where our rights are to be exercised. Let it be known, there are fresh horses at the gate.
Deborah A. Morel, Kapa‘a
It starts with you
Many times I open the newspaper to see complaining about our Kaua‘i county officials and their decisions that continually baffle us. I just want to say that we elected them and less than 6 percent of our population voted.
(Editor’s note: 68.2 percent of Kaua‘i’s 40,323 registered voters turned out, either at the polls or via absentee ballot, for the 2008 general election, according to official election results.)
Lets take the initiative to do our research and vote for better candidates. One way you can do your research is log on to the county Web site and read the planning documents and see who is making those decisions and why.
If the mayor has a report card, let him know how you think he’s doing. There are so many ways you can be proactive about your government other than writing an opinion letter.
Start reading public notices, seeing what the planning department is doing. You will then realize where the problems lie. We do need a more responsible government, but it starts with people voting.
There is even a Senate bill on the books for a more responsible government. You can read that at the state Legislature Web site.
Melia Watanabe, Kalaheo
