• Hannemann won the night • Don’t vote for lies • Retire Kaipo • Lights at go-cart track could harm birds • Bring back Michael Soong • Over cautious
Hannemann won the night
I want to thank the organizers of the recent gubernatorial debate at Kaua‘i Community College. It gave this undecided voter the opportunity to see the two candidates side-by-side and afterwards I believe that the night clearly went to Mufi Hannemann.
He had a better command of the issues and was able to best articulate his position on the questions that were posed.
Mufi has had a well-balanced career with experience in the public and private sector and this is one characteristic that distinguishes him from the rest of the candidates running for office today.
His belief that strengthening our economy should be the first priority is one I also share because without a strong economy we won’t have the revenue we need to strengthen core government services and our education system.
As a former undecided voter I now firmly believe that Mufi Hannemann has what Hawai‘i needs and will be voting for him in the fall.
Kalani Delapenia, Lawa‘i
Don’t vote for lies
I’ve been planning to vote for Neil Abercrombie all along, but the Hannemann campaign flier I received in the mail Friday left no doubt.
We’ve all heard the phrase “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God.” It means if you intentionally only tell part of the truth to trick people… that is lying. If you are late getting home and you tell your wife “I had to stop at the store” and you did stop at the store, but you also stopped at the strip club… that’s lying.
Hannemann’s flier lists “Recognitions” for both candidates and for Neil Abercrombie it lists a silly award he won at Lahina Whaling Days. There are probably some silly singing awards Hannemann won too but are not listed. What is not listed are all the important awards Neil Abercrombie has received. Just one example, Neil Abercrombie recently was awarded the Harry S. Truman award, the highest honor given to an individual by the National Guard Association of the United States.
There is a word for distorting the truth by telling only a few trivial facts and not telling the really important facts that you know. It is called lying… and if Hannemann will lie to us to get elected, what kind of governor will he be?
Walt Barnes, Kapa‘a
Retire Kaipo
It’s time for Council Chair Kaipo Asing to retire. Yelling and screaming is not a leadership style. Neither is bullying and making threats.
That’s what a preschooler does when he doesn’t get his way. The people of Kaua‘i deserve better from their council members. Mr. Asing has served on the council for many years and deserves the public’s thanks for this.
But his recent behavior on the council is shameful. Worse, it blocks real progress from happening on Kaua‘i. Maintaining “business as usual” is a political agenda — one that benefits the rich, the powerful, and other members of the old-boy network.
If he won’t retire, then the public needs to do it for him. Let’s end the yelling and screaming. Let’s remove the biggest obstacle to creating open, transparent governance for Kaua‘i County. Let’s remove the biggest obstacle to letting the public have ready access to county information and really participating in county government decision-making. Let’s start moving Kaua‘i forward to a sustainable future.
Please don’t vote for Kaipo Asing. For the sake of Kaua‘i’s future generations, we can’t afford to have the old-boy network calling the shots anymore. And while we’re retiring Mr. Asing, let’s remove the old-boys’ other protectors — Derek Kawakami, Dickie Chang and Jay Furfaro.
We must build a new Kaua‘i, one built around a win-win — all the girls and boys on Kauai‘i network — a 21st century Kaua‘i ‘ohana.
David Thorp, Kalaheo
Lights at go-cart track could harm birds
We have decided that our keiki can no longer play football at night because the lights will distract the shearwater birds’ migratory path. So why would we allow the proposed go cart track to operate with flood lights in Kapa‘a until 9 p.m. or later (after the customers leave)?
There has been much said about the noise pollution, and it is true for the close residents, but what about the lights to operate the track at night?
Mark and Karen Whitson, Kapa‘a
Bring back Michael Soong
Concerned, flabbergasted, amused, alarmed… all words that I’d use to describe how many of us in the Kaua‘i community feel about the condition of the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. From dismissed cases due to lack of follow through to alleged criminal activity by the prosecutor, it seems the county is allowing incompetence (not justice) to prevail.
I’ve always believed that one should not complain without coming equipped with a solution, but I’m perplexed at what I can do? What can we do as concerned citizens? I vote to reinstate effective past prosecutors like Michael Soong! At least his term was honorable.
Lydia Nelson, Kalaheo
Over cautious
Just returned from my third visit to your lovely island. It is truly a pleasure to spend time on Kaua‘i. Your people are very friendly and the island is beautiful.
The only thing I would change are those 25 mph speed limits.
Even by Hawai‘i time standards, those are a bit over cautious as evidenced by the fact that no one drives that slow unless a police officer is around.
Once again, mahalo.
Jeff Broussard, Austin, Texas
