COVID-19 is not the only serious health issue facing our community.
The world, the state and our island are worried about the possible spread of COVID-19, commonly known as the coronavirus. The media has many in a frenzy over what I believe will soon pass. Our elected officials on Kaua‘i have other health concerns that need as much attention as the coronavirus and can be just as dangerous to the general public.
Human excreta and the lack of adequate personal and domestic hygiene have been implicated in the transmission of many infectious diseases, including cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, polio, cryptosporidiosis, ascariasis and schistosomiasis, and yet “the Angel at the bus stop,” or as some refer to her, “the lady in purple,” had been living fronting the Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center the last three-plus years. She cannot walk. Therefore she relieves herself of bodily fluids and wastes within five feet of the bus stop. How she gets rid of her urine and fecal waste is the problem. It accumulates and begins to reek.
Eventually, the county will get the biochemical water truck down there to disinfect every time she is taking away in an ambulance or arrested. She was again taken away by paramedics again last week.
She is always released from the mental wards and jails and returns to the same spot, like her own personal “Groundhog Day.”
Why are these shrinks releasing her? How is someone who defecates, urinates and showers in front of the public and oncoming traffic sane? How is someone who lives at bus top 24-7 sane when she’s been offered free housing by many in the community, including a pastor I personally know?
All these medical professionals who say she is fine need to get their heads examined and should have their medical licenses revoked.
El Aina Danine, the lady in purple, is a health threat to the community. Along with myself, two terms of mayors and County Council have driven by her the last three years on a daily basis, along with two different chiefs of police. When she is arrested our judges release her without prejudice and she is back creating a health risk within inches of a county bus stop.
Folks, not only is this a health crisis. What happens should she die on county or state property?
Her family could easily sue for wrongful death. All they would need to do is find a good defense attorney like Micheal Green, the best defense attorney in the state and, presto, easy payday.
I have had this discussion with many of our elected officials. I tell them we live in a sue-happy society and that Kaua‘i County always rolls over and plays dead when they are sued and settles for an easy six-figure payout.
The coronavirus is not the only serious health issue facing our community. There is truly a health crisis that can be prevented with the proper people in elected office. Public urination and defecation within inches of a public bus stop is a huge health risk to the population at large for many infectious diseases.
El Aina cannot continue to sit out there day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, smothered in her own human wastes.
What if this was your friend, relative, wife, aunty or sister? We as a community must do better, not only for her health and our health but for humanity’s sake.
Elections are in November.
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James “Kimo” Rosen is a resident of Kapa‘a.
