• Question authority • 1 for the USCG, 0 for the judge • Not all on ‘Ridge’ oppose amphitheater Question authority I won’t take sides in the argument about the proposed county-manager system. However, I do take issue with the second
• Question authority • 1 for the USCG, 0 for the judge • Not all on ‘Ridge’ oppose amphitheater
Question authority
I won’t take sides in the argument about the proposed county-manager system. However, I do take issue with the second “reason” put forth by Alfred Laureta in his letter to the editor about this matter (“7 reasons county-manager proposal shouldn’t fly,” July 3). He states “… there has been no showing or evidence identifying specific instances of failure or neglect by past or present mayors in the performance of their responsibilities and duties…”
Really? Our collective memories are that short? One only has to read the Hawai‘i-state-government-sanctioned Godbehere Report about the KaLoko Dam breach, or to have watched the “20/20” segment on the disaster, to remember that a certain recent Kaua‘i mayor was implicated in burying a county engineering-department grading complaint about related activity by a man who has since been indicted for seven felony counts of manslaughter in the case.
Forgive, perhaps. But we are all fools if we forget past transgressions of magnitude by past, current, or future politicians, or future county-managers for that matter. I strongly suggest that we all spend some time remembering when we next go to the polls or have dealings with those who have failed us in the past, especially those who have done so in their capacity as a public servant.
Question authority and don’t accept shenanigans. It is a mentality that will serve us all well.
Bruce Fehring, Kilauea
1 for the USCG, 0 for the judge
That was one lucky 18-year-old man, “Visitor airlifted from Hanakapi‘ai,” July 3. Found in distress by a USCG pilot visiting from Oregon 10:30 p.m. at night on the Kalalau Trail, the pilot knew instinctively what needed to be done and took tremendous personal initiative to overcome local policies and logistics to get it done. Kudos to the USCG and one of their own!
The story sheds light on the possibility that our fire department is crippled by a lack of night-operations equipment to affect a timely rescue in the dark. Why else would night-helicopter operations be against their policy? I know they’d be out there if they had the equipment and training. It must be a lack of funds.
Once informed of the situation, why didn’t our 911 staff request assistance from the Honolulu USCG on their own initiative? Did they not believe the assessment of a trained military pilot? Are their hands tied too? Is the Honolulu USCG the only agency that can perform medical air support at night?
That 18-year-old probably owes his life to that pilot. I wish him well and a speedy recovery. To the unknown pilot, thanks alone are not enough.
And there goes Mr. Laureta again ( “7 reasons county-manager proposal shouldn’t fly,” July 3). Keeping his law skills honed, the retired judge continues to submit his “reasons” against a county-manager form of government before us in general via The Garden Island, but specifically writes to a commission composed of a small group of people hand-picked by our mayor. They sound like closing arguments before a rigged jury, but I have faith in our current CRC like I have faith in the law. I believe they have the strength to do the right thing.
In my opinion, Laureta’s lists of reasons continue to be baseless and sometimes contradictory. For example, he’s presenting his arguments before a small group of people responsible for making a decision affecting us all isn’t he? So, if 30,000-plus voters have more wisdom to decide who actually runs our county operations than seven elected councilpersons, then why can’t these same voters decide, in their inherent wisdom, to shift this responsibility? Our seven elected councilpersons are a small group of people making decisions that affect us all aren’t they? At least their positions are not based on the whims of one man. In other words, 30,000-plus voters are better than whom at making this decision? We’re talking about the same 30,000 people aren’t we?
Don’t get me wrong. I do respect Laureta as a person and judge. I just don’t agree with his logic on this issue. Where is it written that we can’t render a fair judgment on our own? He, like any other voter on this rock, has the right to render arguments for or against, but we should have the right to hear the evidence and draw our own conclusions. No system is infallible, but when things go wrong, we won’t have to wait several years to make a correction.
Vince Cosner, Lihu‘e
Not all on ‘Ridge’ oppose amphitheater
Concerning the recent Kalihiwai Ridge supposed opposition to the Kilauea community facility Anaina Hou, I would like to say that the KRCA (Kalihiwai Ridge Community Association) does in no way represent the feelings of all the residents that live in this neighborhood. Having lived on the ridge for 20 years, I am embarrassed by the action of our board for making this broad statement. I am saddened that my hard-earned money paid for fees to hire legal counsel to represent us without knowledge of how people really felt on this matter.
Shame on them! We feel that this project is amazing for our community where there is little community left. In this day and time, I can think of nothing better for a family to do than sit together in an outdoor amphitheater and listen to plays, music and anything else that will lift the spirit and inspire people of this community. Let there be joyful noises and be reasonable about a time to turn them off. This project will not “clearly adversely” affect our neighborhood, it will do the opposite. We look forward to one night when we can sit under the stars and listen to some good-old neighborhood community talent and if the sounds of ‘ukuleles and voices vibrate over the airways it will be a better world for it.
Sharon and Doug Britt, Kalihiwai Ridge
