• Schraven good Kilauea steward • Find better words to refer to each other • Objects to ‘untrue’ letter • Suggests clean campaigning Schraven good Kilauea steward Who benefits from putting a slanderous rant on the front page (“‘Illegal is
• Schraven good Kilauea steward • Find better words to refer to each other • Objects to ‘untrue’ letter • Suggests clean campaigning
Schraven good Kilauea steward
Who benefits from putting a slanderous rant on the front page (“‘Illegal is illegal, isn’t it?’” Aug. 31) of the Kaua‘i paper? Calling the new owner of a beautiful ahupua‘a in Kilauea a “European” and making it appear that he is ignorant or otherwise unworthy to own such property is unbelievable! If anyone would like Hendrikus’ number, that’s his name, contact me and he would love to share his views on stewardship of his land. You will not meet a more conscious and hardworking man than Hendrikus, intimately concerned about the sustainability and prosperity of this island and his property. It’s unacceptable to question his merits and purely organic fundamental approach while this county still sprays Roundup and various other toxins without regard. The article insinuated he is instantly without integrity and is insensitive due to his lack of local heart. I and many other “islands born and bred” have had the absolute privilege to work with him for years and learn from his clarity of purpose. Full-body chicken skin persisted throughout the day as I walked the terraces knowing my ancestors flourished there. I too embrace my Hawaiian blood in these sacred places. By the way, he’s not tearing down or altering the hallowed parcel.
After the survey, huts built by the previous owner were deemed “not to code.” Hendrikus wants to remedy the wrong way and live on his land which is his right. Next time, speak directly with him. Dialogue prevents distorted facts and disrespect. An apology is good. Mahalo.
Michael Lyons, Kilauea
Find better words to refer to each other
While I agree that the terms “racist” and “racism” are overused and abused in this country of late (“You got it all wrong,” Letters, Aug. 29), it’s extremely naive to think that words don’t morph and take on different connotations due to the way they are used and the frequency of such use.
Perhaps the denotation of “haole” is the rather prosaic, even wistfully nostalgic, way you remember the word being uttered by your great-aunt. That really doesn’t matter one whit. It isn’t the fault of the “newcomers” for misinterpreting the word, it’s the fault of the people who have abused the word over the intervening decades. It’s no better than the way the “racism” bomb is being dropped all over the place.
Perhaps “haole” is just archaic — fine for your auntie’s generation, but quickly becoming inappropriate because too many people use it in a denigrating fashion. To argue that we should just accept its continued use is ludicrous. And I don’t even know what to think of those who refer to themselves as “haole.” Do you not know what the word means?
Is this some weird form of “white guilt?” Perhaps it’s the same as the frequent use of the “N-word” in rap and hip-hop.
As a member of that ethnic group, I can’t say I approve of that, either.
Find better words to use to refer to each other. Lift your minds out of this sewer that requires everyone to be seen and identified first by their ethnicity. Not hard.
Michael Mann, Lihu‘e
Objects to ‘untrue’ letter
I highly criticize The Garden Island for printing letters with untrue content without checking the facts first. The letter from Allie Valverde yesterday (“Hooser didn’t pay taxes,” Sept. 2) has already done untold damage to Senator Hooser’s campaign no matter what retractions are printed or other letters are published. For anybody that has been in business in this business climate, it is not unusual to have problems with taxes and Senator Hooser paid 100 percent of the taxes that were due. It had nothing to do with his personal values and nothing was done illegally. More importantly is what he has done for the county while he was senator, and everything I have seen him do has been positive. He gave his total support in our attempts to stop Superferry from coming to Kaua‘i without an EIS (environmental impact statement) in violation of state law, and he voted against the unconstitutional Act II that Governor Lingle got passed. His record in the Senate is unblemished and he should get everybody’s vote here on Kaua‘i for Hawai‘i’s next lieutenant governor.
Rich Hoeppner, Wailua
Editor’s note: Hooser said he did get behind on payment of his business taxes before he was elected to any public office, 15 years ago, and paid all his back taxes less penalties and interest.
Suggests clean campaigning
Just received my absentee ballot in the mail. Who to vote for, that is the big question. Half of the candidates are the ones who continue to think their personal agendas are more important than representing the people who elect them.
That would be us, the general public.
A couple of them may warrant a vote from me for re-election; because they seem to want to do what’s right for Kaua‘i.
Then there are several new names on the ballot, that I know nothing about.
So, I suggest a whole lot of clean campaigning if you want my vote. Tell me why you deserve my vote and what you intend to do to help the people of Kaua‘i.
Francine Grace, Lihu‘e
