• Death to unjust development • Activities planned for Red Cross month • Kaua‘i is a caring island Death to unjust development Driving past the Kaua‘i Hospice some years ago, in a beautiful, peaceful setting, I thought to myself what
• Death to unjust development • Activities planned for Red Cross month • Kaua‘i is a caring island
Death to unjust development
Driving past the Kaua‘i Hospice some years ago, in a beautiful, peaceful setting, I thought to myself what a gracious, meditative place it would be to spend one’s final weeks in paradise.
Passing there recently, however, I was appalled by the development in the area. There is now a new truck service station built directly opposite, with tow trucks reversing past the entrance all day, with revolting choruses of electronic beeps. One can only hope that those responsible, when they reach their terminal days, will get beds in front of the hospice where it is the noisiest.
It is the same with Hanalei ridge and its intended development, by a supposedly philanthropic billionaire, to turn a Garden of Eden into a mere overflow of concrete Princeville.
There is building evidence of wrong priorities in our building and planning departments. People are asking whether it truly represents future generations of Kauaians in our beautiful Garden Island.
Philip Stevens, Hanalei
Activities planned for Red Cross month
March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross wants to thank all who help their community by giving of themselves: our volunteers, financial supporters and those who take our safety training classes.
The Hawai‘i Red Cross is on call 24/7, 365 days a year to respond to disasters and provide emergency communication between deployed military service members and their families. We also teach critical lifesaving skills like first aid, CPR, babysitting and nurse aide training.
The Red Cross in the County of Kaua‘i responds to disasters by helping family members get back on their feet and start rebuilding their lives after tragedy strikes. We provide free disaster response training courses to volunteers interested in responding to emergencies and provide communities with disaster preparedness information.
All disaster response and training are provided free of charge. With the threat of an influenza pandemic, terrorist attack and major disasters, the American Red Cross is more relevant and necessary than ever before.
It is not “if,” but “when” a major disaster in Hawai‘i will occur, and when it does, we must be able to stand on our own until outside reinforcements arrive.
Having trained volunteers on island ready to respond to disasters is critical. We encourage people to become Red Cross volunteers and help us further the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross on Kaua‘i.
There are many ways the people of Kaua‘i County can support the Red Cross during March.
One way to help is to shop at our Awesome Online Auction at www.hawaiiredcross.org through March 16.
From March 13 to 19, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell have a promotion where they will donate $1 to the Hawai‘i Red Cross if you purchase either of these items.
On March 16, we will have our annual Hats Off event where volunteers take their “hats off” for the American Red Cross and ask the public to fill their hats with donations. Volunteers will collect donations at Walmart, Big Save Koloa and Princeville Foodland.
The Red Cross also encourages everyone in March to develop a preparedness plan for their household, become a volunteer or take a first aid/CPR training. For more information, to volunteer, or register for a class, please visit www.hawaiiredcross.org.
Keri Russell, Kaua‘i County Director, Lihu‘e
Kaua‘i is a caring island
My partner and I visited Kaua‘i during the week of Feb. 12 to 19, and we both very much loved our time there.
I read The Garden Island every day as it was available at our hotel (the Courtyard by Marriott in Kapa‘a).
Your issue of Feb. 17 really touched me for two reasons: One of the letters to the editor was an apology for an incident of road rage. A wonderful thing to read.
I was also very moved by the photo on the top of A8 of Hanalei Bay, which was taken at the time of the search for the surfer Rick Proczka.
Kaua‘i is a truly remarkable and loving island.
Annie Weeks, Victoria, British Columbia
