Please, drivers need
to slow down
This morning’s Garden Island reported on the death of Wilfred Ibara of Kekaha. Wilfred was one of many sons of “Mr. Sharp Ibara,” who ran our machine shop and vehicle repairs for Waimea Sugar Mill Company in our heyday of sugar production.
As a boy, a bit older than Wilfred, I was always at the WSM shop, to have “Sharp” repair my bicycles or motor scooter. Sharp would look at me like I was some kind of pest! All in good humor. After all, I was the manager’s son.
This morning, I pulled out Pamela Varma Brown’s first book: “Kauai Stories — Life on the Garden Island” as told by Kauai People. There, on page 75, is “Innocent Times” by Wilfred Ibara. Pamela and her friend Lincoln had visited me, after her first edition, telling me of a second edition coming. And would I like to write something like Wilfred’s?
Oh, but of course. Pamela then gave me a signed, treasured, first edition, including Wilfred. I asked her how I could get in touch with Wilfred. She gave me a phone number, and I talked to Wilfred. He and Pamela later called to invite me to a second book signing, so I could meet him. Timing was not allowing me, so I missed the opportunity.
The “Ibara House” stands presently as one of our favorite Waimea Plantation Cottages, and when I stayed there recently, I could still feel the fun spirits of all the many Ibara kids.
On the sad side is that most likely, Wilfred died because of tailgating. Awhile ago, I wrote a letter to the editor of The Garden Island, regarding tailgaters. This should be considered just as much a misdemeanor, as DUI and texting while driving.
One day recently, I was safely following a tailgating car that was about one-car length behind another car doing 50 mph. A sudden stop by the followed car would have guaranteed a major crash … like for Wilfred Ibara. And would you believe we all drove past a Hanalei police vehicle on a side street, who watched us speed by!
I tried to signal him but I guess the police haven’t been trained in this kind of vehicle violation; as in this case. I hope that Police Chief Perry will read this letter and have his patrol people arrest violators, as they do for DUI and cell phones/texting.
Wilfred, you may not have died without contributing to our police education and lives.
May you rest in peace, brother.
Alan Fayé
Princeville
Very sad and tailgating was definitely a factor. But, I’m a big proponent of personal responsibility. If, in fact, this unfortunate man was walking in the middle of the road and not in a crosswalk as suggested by the news accounts, why was he not on the sidewalk? Did he dart out between cars? We just don’t have good reporting with the necessary facts to determine what happened exactly. I wish our local journalists would be more thorough in their reporting. My condolences to his family. RIP
What he doing in the middle of the lane???? Not in a crosswalk… speeding or drugs was not a cause of this accident..
Ditto. Prayers for him. R.I.P.
Slow down and drive with some ALOHA. Pretty much every time I go for a ride on my road bicycle some driver – most times speeding – loses focus or just does something dumb that endangers me. Pay attention, use your mirrors and turn signals and remember the posted speed limit is just that and NOT 10 or 20 mph over it.