• Living in the past • Leave my kupuna in peace • Trespassing situation • Where the heck is Bud? • GMO seeds aren’t better? Living in the past Cruelty to animals, simply said, is dysfunctional behavior. If not just
• Living in the past • Leave my kupuna in peace • Trespassing situation • Where the heck is Bud? • GMO seeds aren’t better?
Living in the past
Cruelty to animals, simply said, is dysfunctional behavior. If not just plain ignorance. Please let me prove my point with the following.
Starving horses, shooting a monk seal to death because they scare the fish away. Keeping dogs penned up on chains with no water, food or shade. I would bark all night to if I had a monster for a master. Keeping too many dogs crammed in a non-covered cage in back of a truck or unsecured.
Then there’s the person who dumpster dives for their dog food. If there would be any reason to bite the hand that feeds you, please be my guest. Just a short lesson on salmonella in food. It can infect an animal as well as a human. In a dog, salmonella causes diarrhea, fevers, vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, urinary tract problems and death. The FDA routinely tests dog food for salmonella.
Oh, how could I forget about the roosters that have to fight for their lives? So someone fills there need for a blood sport and don’t forget that $5 they just won on a bet.
The only way this will change is if we as intelligent people living in the 21st century change the law. Not like the ignorance that is born from living somewhere in the ‘50s, “Well, that’s what my father did and his father before him.”
We need to find a lawmaker willing to fight for what is right. This won’t be an easy fight, the ignorance I speak of runs deep in the older members of local and state government to the point of dementia.
It’s a felony now to endanger or harm a monk seal. We now have the state criminal legal wording in place. We just need to widen it to include all animals. I’m aware that the monk seal is endangered, but to say other animals don’t count is a very dangerous mindset.
God gave us domain and stewardship over all living creatures. The State of Hawai‘i has been living in the past for to long. It’s time to change the law; it’s time to stop turning its back on animals and God.
Dr. Donald Hansen, Kapa‘a
Leave my kupuna in peace
This is in response to The Garden Island story concerning the widening of Kuhio Highway in Wailua.
Wailua, or Wailuanuiaho‘ano has been a very sacred place in the history of Kaua‘i, and the history of Hawai‘i. For centuries, my ancestors, the Po‘e Kahiko, have held religious ceremonies at the heiau there at Wailua, Hikinaakala Heiau.
As a kanaka maoli, a Native Hawaiian, it grieves my heart, and saddens me to know that the iwi of my kupuna mean nothing to the State of Hawai‘i and to Judge Watanabe.
Shame on you judge to state that their are no burial grounds there. I thought the State of Hawai‘i was supposed to protect sacred sites, and preserve the history and the culture of Hawai‘i and her people.
My spirit cries and my heart grieves for the desecration of the ‘aina there in Wailua. I am ashamed and appalled at the elected officials who would let this happen.
Do what is pono, what is right, leave my kupuna and their iwi alone to rest in peace. If you disturb then you will have no peace.
Edward E. Goias, Lihu‘e
Trespassing situation
Recently some friends and I attempted to go to Rainbow Falls. I have been there before I wanted to share this natural hidden gem with them.
At the gate entrance we were met by private security guards who informed me that that land was private property and we were not permitted to go any farther.
I understand the trespassing situation but why set up security now? Is something special happening on those lands? Are the owners really that selfish?
It bothered me tremendously. I just hope there is a good reason.
Wil Parubrub, Kalaheo
Where the heck is Bud?
After many years of traveling the road on the North Shore of Kaua‘i, it has come to my attention that I no longer see our local hero, Bud White, out there on the side of the road, tirelessly picking up other people’s litter.
He is like an icon, often miles from either direction of Kilauea, in all kinds of weather, wearing his bright orange vest and carrying a large bag in his single-man effort to beautify our roads.
Often times, no matter how distracted I would be by the activities of daily living, just seeing Bud would refocus me and give me peace of mind to remember how lucky we live Kaua‘i.
Bud, thank you so much for all you’ve done and I hope to once again see you out there on the road. God bless.
Nancy Soppeland, Ha‘ena
GMO seeds aren’t better?
I am writing this letter in hopes of some clarification.
In response to the letter “Is Kaua‘i toxic,” I was surprised to read that Haiti is not going to accept the seeds that Monsanto had offered the farmers of Haiti. Why would they not accept these seeds? It is hard to understand why a country in need would not accept these seeds.
What is different about these seeds that Monsanto sells? The letter said something about the seeds being treated with highly toxic chemicals. Why would a food product be treated with toxic chemicals?
Well, it must be a serious concern for the farmers of Haiti, for they are claiming the only thing they will do with Monsanto’s seeds is burn them.
Can anyone can explain why this is, I thought the GMO seed was better?
Todd Thrasher, Lihu‘e
