• Dogs and their people belong on the path • Shoreline setback setback • Governor has a plan
Dogs and their people belong on the path
Dogs and their responsible owners belong on the beautiful, coastal, multi-use path, Ke Ala Hele Makalae. When our gratefully-received, 18-month trial period for allowing responsible dog-walking on the path sunsets, May 31, 2010, I am hopeful that our honorable County Council members will all agree that the trial has been a huge success and that they will all support Bill 2354 introduced by Tim Bynum. Bill 2354 would permit responsible dog-walking on county multi-use paths.
I am sorry I will miss the Wednesday, April 14th, 1:30 p.m. first public hearing for this bill at the County Council meeting in the new, temporary location at Hale Kaua‘i in Nawiliwili adjacent to Honsador Lumber. I am one of a number of official path monitors. I have been actively monitoring the path between Lihi Park and south Kealia Beach for the past 17 months. I typically spend an hour walking three mornings a week and keep track of the number of users, including walkers, joggers, bicyclists, walkers with dogs, bikers with dogs, joggers with dogs, other users with dogs; whether the users with dogs are compliant with the rules or not, check for dog manure on the path or near the path, parking lots, pavilions, and whether there were any dog-related incidents, or stray dogs.
My observations have been submitted on official numbered monitoring logs, to the county at the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center office. One morning this past week, I counted 71 walkers, four dogs (including my own dog) being walked, one dog with a bicyclist, one dog jogging with her owner who also was pushing a stroller, 11 bicyclists, eight joggers, no dog manure on or near the path, pavilions, or parking lots, no dog incidents, all dog owners were compliant with the rules for dogs on the path, and zero strays. These numbers and findings are quite typical for the period of time I spend on any given day of the week. Every once in a while I might find a stray dog-manure pile near the path. When I see an errant pile, I pick it up. Most days I don’t find any manure piles.
I am familiar with many of the people and their dogs who come to the path because they are regular users. I strive to be friendly and helpful to our path-users and have had many occasions to educate some who didn’t fully understand the rules. These days I don’t find the need to correct many dog-owners because most of them understand and comply beautifully with the rules. I only had one man who was belligerent when I tried to engage and educate him about the rules for his off-leash dog. I never saw him again. I believe self-policing is an invaluable tool for this path and that it is a form of good stewardship. I would encourage all of our path-users to be good stewards to help keep it safe and beautiful.
I often receive smiles and endearing comments about my own dog, Tallulah, from many visitors and residents sharing the path. Many people, especially children and seniors, seem to be genuinely happy when they see my dog. If they stop to ask to pet her, they end up reveling in the softness of her plush, curly coat. I hope our community has proven without a shadow of doubt that dogs belong on the path with their responsible owners. I encourage our council members to see and hear the many voices of friends and family who desperately wish to walk their dogs in the safe and beautiful place called Ke Ala Hele Makalae.
Leilani Sim-Godbehere’ Kapa‘a
Shoreline setback setback
The County Council has made another disappointing decision for Kaua‘i’s future with Bill 2319. As stated in TGI on 11/6 : “The legislation amended the shoreline-setback law passed last year that was considered among the strongest in the nation.”
Kaua‘i coastal advocate Caren Diamond argued that the update would undermine the existing legislation. Following the vote she said she wished the bill had been “thrown in the trash.” The amendment gives wide discretionary power to the Kaua‘i Planning Department and its Director Ian Costa.
Costa has demonstrated little understanding of shoreline Special Management Area (SMA) issues or shoreline-setback requirements. He has demonstrated a tendency to bend over backwards for the rich and powerful on shoreline access as well. We should not trust his judgment or give him any more discretion in deciding shoreline issues.
We should all ask Mayor Carvalho to veto this bill!
Juan Wilson, Hanapepe Valley
Governor has a plan
The governor’s proposal for ending furloughs is to put all classroom-related employees back to work. That is, teachers, custodians, cafeteria personnel, counselors and the like. Her plan is to keep the furlough days for non-essential classroom personnel. This means the heavy-loaded employees on the district- and state-office levels, who never see the daylight of the classrooms, will remain on furlough. If the governor’s proposal comes to fruition, it will cost the state around $30 million and the hurricane funds will not have to be touched. Taxes will not have to be raised.
The teachers’ union leaders want every union employee to go back to work. This will cost over $60 million and the union leaders want to raid the hurricane funds to do it. The union leaders asked their members to vote on the proposals. However, only their proposal was on the ballot. The members had no choice. However, a huge number of the teachers’ union (members) did not show up to vote. In talking to many teachers and counselors, I found that most of those I spoke to agree with Governor Lingle’s proposal. I guess it has become fashionable these days for union leaders to not do what is best for the people of Hawai‘i and for their members.
Ron Agor, Lihu‘e
