Let’s get right to it. While there’s a lot of arguing and finger pointing over many issues on this island, Thanksgiving is at least one day we can agree to be thankful. For those of you who just can’t get
Let’s get right to it. While there’s a lot of arguing and finger pointing over many issues on this island, Thanksgiving is at least one day we can agree to be thankful. For those of you who just can’t get by without making some nasty comments and would rather not be thankful, you can get back to your complaining about everything and blaming others tomorrow. But for today, on Kauai, we have a lot to appreciate and offer some thank yous. It’s not a long list, and far from complete, but here goes:
• The aloha spirit on Kauai. It’s been tested like never before but it’s still alive and well and people feel it.
• Ohana. Nothing beats family. Stay strong.
• This island. It’s beauty is second to none.
• The ocean. Despite its mistreatment at our hands, it still looks after us.
• Green sea turtles. Who knew turtles could be so majestic and become a major tourist attraction?
• Gray whales. Just to see the water rise from the creatures, to see their tails slap the water, is thrilling.
• The lifeguards who make our beaches safe. We can swim with confidence when they’re watching us.
• The Kauai Historical Society and Kauai Museum for protecting, carrying forward and bringing to life the island’s history.
• The guys who pick up the cones on Kuhio Highway each day and evening. The traffic would be even worse without you.
• Craftsmen and women, farmers, hunters and fishermen who make their living from the land and water.
• Ke Ala Hele Makalae. A path along the ocean. Enough said.
• The Kauai Humane Society. It faces a thankless, difficult task of dealing with the island’s homeless pets. Euthanizing animals is, sadly, part of their duties. They handle it with grace and dignity.
• Tahiti Nui. Sure, it’s the bar/restaurant in Hanalei with the George Clooney seats (where he sat in the movie, “The Descendants”) that has been around 50 years, but it has character, class and personality all its own.
• The many faiths here. Seems there’s a church on every corner. It’s unlikely any local pastors are getting rich financially but spiritually, Kauai is wealthy.
• Sunsets from the Hanalei Pier or Salt Ponds.
• The Na Pali Coast and the Kalalau trail.
• The Kauai Marathon. It’s a great race and a major undertaking.
• The families that work two and three jobs to survive. The cost of living keeps rising, and they push ahead.
• Our beaches. Kalapaki, Poipu, Tunnels, Ke’e, Kekaha, Donkey, Anini. They are magical.
• Lydgate Park. A crown jewel by any standard.
• Waimea Canyon. Wow.
• Our nonprofits that serve those with little. Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, Kauai Economic Opportunity, food banks, all go to great lengths to help those in need.
• Our rotary clubs. People with the means to help others, and by God, they do it well.
• Our kupuna. We can learn much from them if we will only listen.
The list could go on and on, and we could list hundreds and hundreds of people. But we won’t. We will say, happy Thanksgiving and today, let’s be thankful for all this island and its people have given us.
