Setting the record straight on Queen’s Bath
In response to editorial and responses, mostly by “First Edition,” drownings at QB (Queen’s Bath) are more close to 11 than 29, marked by an anonymous citizen on the trail (these stats take in the north coastal area).
The model “Lucy” was not “taking in the view,” but being photographed by her boyfriend while sitting on the edge while enormous waves crashed behind her.
Information from the Kauai Fire Department Ocean Safety Bureau shows that drownings at QB are about 4% of Kauai’s total.
Secondly, it is not haole, Princeville residents who are trying to keep people from accessing QB. Just the opposite! A Princeville commitee is trying to keep the trail open for all and eliminate the fence and gate. The PHCA (Princeville at Hanalei Community Association) is (supposedly) a nonprofit corporation where commercial interests have 75% of the votes and actual homeowners have 25%. People who rent or lease have 0% say. See the problem?
The people trying to close Queen’s Bath are investors, developers and politicians (who don’t want to bring negative attention to Kauai or their admin), and whose budgets are being affected. Princeville residents and the public want ocean access for all! None of the almost a dozen drownings this year have taken place at QB.
The “facts” are carelessly repeated and used as arguments for various self interests. Examine the truth for yourself. Let’s unite to keep QB access open and the land protected for historical and protected areas.
C. Ian Miles, Princeville
Shame on Kauai Christian Fellowship
I read with disappointment and shock the article in the 17 June, 2019 edition of TGI, titled “Kauai Christian Fellowship brings youth group to Queen’s Bath.” Not only does taking a supervised youth group there set a horrible example by actively promoting disregard for the law, personal privacy and safety, but the bold act of posting it on social media as something to be proud of shows complete and utter contempt. To make matters worse, when confronted about her actions, the offending principal chaperone seems to be defending her actions by putting herself in a victim’s role.
I am convinced that these leaders are wonderful adults leading a fine group of youths to help avoid the pitfalls of temptation (drugs, gangs, suicide, etc.), but in this particular case they got their priorities wrong, made an unfortunate choice and should be held accountable. There are several entities at state and county levels and within Princeville working long, hard hours to mitigate the Queen’s Bath problem, and they need support and encouragement, not defiance or apathy, to solve the problem.
There are all kinds of excuses and stories that both sides can debate regarding this event, but the gate is closed for a reason and the end result is that the leader of this youth group defied the law, trespassed on private property, jeopardized the safety of young people in her trust and showed by example those actions are acceptable.
I’m not sure if anyone to date has been cited, fined, arrested or charged with trespassing at Queen’s Bath, and maybe because of the “Spirit of Aloha” nobody likes to play hardball when it isn’t necessary, but some people don’t understand softball. At some point in time, a line needs to be drawn and enforced if it’s going to get anyone’s attention. If the county isn’t holding them accountable, then they are simply enabling every visitor/resident to follow suit, and the revolving door keeps spinning. The next time someone slips and falls and dies or has to be airlifted out, we will all shake our heads and say, “Wow, that’s terrible. Something needs to be done.” Well, step 1 is in our faces. Let’s get going on it.
John Oszust, Princeville
Even if you don’t believe KCF’s excuse that they used private property with permission to access the area, which once past the end of the trail is on state land and not under county jursidiction, the country deserves our apathy. They made a deal, the gate would be open when the ocean is calm. They have not kept their end of the deal. And stop it with the safey nonsense already, its June, its no more dangerous than jumping off a rope swing into a lake over there right now. Let the kids play already. This county is not working hard to figure out what to do for our safety, they are working hard to figure out how to reduce their liability. I think they have no intention of ever opening the gate because they’ve realized it was a dumb idea from the start. Even on a calm day, someone will eventually find a way to hurt or kill themselves, and having an open gate exposes them to more liability than no gate at all. They can’t remove it either, because that also exposes them to more liability once news gets out that the gate is gone. So they probably have to be content with the the status quo, a closed gate that reduces liability because they can claim anyone who gets hurt was trespassing and ignoring warnings, all the while not enforcing it so people will be happy. The county and people like yourself, John Oszust, need to expect personal accountability. I’ve seen too many enjoyable places on this island closed off in the name of liability because people like you have to place blame for the decisions individuals make on the government and landowners.
I doubt the liability thing is that complex. They would close every path, beach and hiking trail if that were true. Might as well close the airport.
I think they are busy regulating or trying to regulate something new to open the gate every day.
My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who has ever lost a loved one from drowning in Kauai waters…. I understand that level of pain.
Years ago I lost a beautiful, young Latina friend to the Kalalau waves and she was never found….. Her family came and searched and sought answers to how and why…
Questions that I can only answer with thoughts and prayers, you see….. it was because of me that she came to Kauai.
We must protect our children and women first with laws and enforcement of rules and regulations…
The Garden Island, which bans all sorts of ethnic slurs (as it should) should also start banning the “H” word (used to refer to Caucasians). It is offensive, especially to those of us who grew up here and have heard it used for years preceded by the “F” word. For another thing, the term is inaccurate, referring as it does to someone ‘without breath’. And it is the only ethnic designation used in Hawaii that is not capitalized. Please add this to your style book as an offensive term on a par with the “J” word for Japanese, the “K” word for Hawaiians, and the “P” word for Portuguese. If you persist in allowing it, you are perpetuating an ethnic double standard, and this “Land of Aloha” has enough of those as it is.
Please don’t put all Christians in the same boat with this group. I’ve been a Christian for almost 70 years & would never consider doing such a thing. To do so is a poor witness for our Savior & Lord, Jesus Christ. Tho we are human & make mistakes, we would never deliberately disobey a law or trespass as these people did. I believe they owe the community an apology.
Matthew 7: 1-5
7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.