• Raise your voice • Leading by example • Bringing us together as an island ‘ohana • Starting a trend to share ‘back in the day’ stories Raise your voice More power to the concerned citizens of Kekaha who have
• Raise your voice • Leading by example • Bringing us together
as an island ‘ohana • Starting a trend to share ‘back in the day’
stories
Raise your voice
More power to the concerned citizens of Kekaha who have the right to know what toxins are in the air and soil surrounding the old sugar mill.
The people of Kilauea are just now finding out that their old mill site — that has been excavated and built over — is filled with arsenic and deadly dioxin. I doubt if the practices in Kekaha’s sugar mill were any different.
We are all supposed to be more educated and enlightened now about environmental hazards then when the mill was going full-blast.
Those who don’t have the time or energy to learn the consequences end up at the end of the tail-pipe, and corporations take advantage of those who don’t raise their voices in protest.
It’s always been hard for me to deal with the fact that there are so many chemical companies on the Westside spraying their concoctions so close to schools and homes. I can’t imagine how a big incinerator in the neighborhood is going to improve matters one bit.
Michelle Dick, Kilauea
Leading by example
Everyone wants more money from the Fire Department to the Auditor’s Office. Ever see a department head ask for less?
Well, now is the time every department must look for ways to save and be rewarded for innovative ways to conserve.
One best way is to reduce staff though attrition — someone leaves a government job and that position is not replaced — no one gets hurt.
We as a community, state, and nation must demand that our leaders reduce expenses. Let’s see real legislation, not politics. In a business, business leaders find ways to reduce expenses or they close down.
We can’t close government but we must reduce the cost of government.
For the next election on Kaua‘i, we can vote to eliminate the Auditor’s Office for one positive step. Cut expenses and use some of the money for Parks that most of our population enjoys.
We have some terrific people on our council with strong business backgrounds — hopefully they can lead us in the right direction to solve the challenges our beautiful Kaua‘i faces.
How about a goal of reducing expenses 10 percent within each department? With the loss of property values and hence taxes, I would suspect our tax revenues will be about 10 percent down. Sounds like a good start — we could be a great example!
Tom Bartlett, Koloa
Bringing us together as an island ‘ohana
A year ago my wife and I received a lot of attention as we were both having our 90th birthdays.
I still think it is also a good thing to honor those still active in the arena of life; one such person who comes to mind is The Garden Island photographer and writer, Dennis Fujimoto.
Almost every day of the year we are graced with his contributions of life on this island of Kaua‘i.
It seems that no matter where we go — to the Sunshine Markets, to community events and private parties — there is Dennis, affable and smiling.
Events we cannot attend, such as the many sporting events of our island children and other older amateur athletes, he brings us there through his excellent pictures and helps to fill scrapbooks in hundreds of homes.
I have seen him at church events, such as the Blessing of Animals and the ground-breaking for new churches.
He shows up at political rallies and public events as the celebrations on holidays such as the recent one for Martin Luther King Jr. at the Kukui Grove.
Then he blesses us with great pictures of scenic nature around our island.
As I write this I know that I echo the sentiments of hundreds of people who have benefited from his artistry and sense of humor.
I say, let us not wait until he is retired to thank and honor him for his artistry and community service to us all.
Bravo, Dennis, you are doing a great job and we applaud and thank you for your “Happy Camper” writings and your wonderful photos for all of us to share.
You bring us together as an island family when we see your pictures and read your positive and humorous stories.
Rev. Malcolm Miner, Lihu‘e
Starting a trend to share ‘back in the day’ stories
Thank you so much Brian Gray for your letter (“How wasteful the older generation was,” Forum, April 15).
After my grandmother passed away, we found layers of neatly folded, clean foil waiting to be reused, as well as a large ball of rubber bands in her pantry.
I could tell many more stories about her, but Brian, I hope you have started a trend, and other people will send in their stories from “back in the day.”
LeAnn Jackson, Kapa‘a
