An open letter to Mayor Kawakami, Gov. Ige, Lt. Gov. Green, and all Hawai‘i leaders:
I would like to begin by offering my most sincere compliments of adoration in the exemplary job you have done in protecting what you love: We The People of Kaua‘i.
Because of your team’s sane and scientific based approach to protecting our vulnerable island from the deadly global pandemic of COVID-19, we are a leader in the world of having zero to no cases on our tiny island of only nine ICU beds.
I first moved to Kaua‘i in 1994 and then vowed to always protect what I love: The island of Kaua‘i and her people. I keep my vow and implore you to please do the right thing: KEEP THE TWO-WEEK QUARANTINE UNTIL THE END OF THE PANDEMIC.
A someone who has been the sole caretaker of my frail, 85-yearold mother, who has lived on Kaua‘i since 2009, my mom has bravely fought cancer, two major heart surgeries, and more, all in the past six years. My mother was in the ICU for three days during cancer as she battled for her life and won, thanks to the amazing job of our dedicated doctors at Wilcox Hospital. We all are very aware how easily overrun Wilcox can be with only nine ICU beds.
Exactly 100 years ago, The Spanish Flu came to Kaua‘i and killed 500 Kauaians. We must not repeat history!
While I am very aware of how much our island is suffering from the economic depression we find ourselves in due to the fact that Kaua‘i is so heavily co-dependent on tourism, the ends do not justify the means. We cannot sacrifice the health of the people for the profits of a few.
Whether you are Hawaiians or not, born and raised here or a kama‘aina, Kaua‘i lives matter! Kupuna lives matter!
We The People of Kaua‘i have done such a wonderful job at keeping this virus at bay. We wear our masks. We social distance. We are following the law.
PLEASE DO NOT SELL OUT THE PEOPLE FOR PROFIT!
Myself, and many others voted for you to protect us, take care of us, as good leaders do.
Let it be known that myself and thousands of others implore you to do the right thing: DO NOT BE PRESSURED TO OPEN THE FLOODGATES TO NEGLIGENT TOURISM!
For once the virus takes hold here, all hope will be lost, and our island will never be the same again. One life lost is too many.
Please help me protect my mother, my neighbor, my community and myself from this deadly virus, of which there is currently no cure. The only “cure” is keeping it OFF of Kaua‘i.
Also, please remember, that during times of a national crisis, the power is bestowed on you, dear mayor.
Mahalo nui loa for continuing to be of great service and protecting We The People of Kaua‘i.
Abundant blessings of health to you and your ‘ohana.
•••
Mahana Dunn is the founder and president of Indigo Foundation, a 503-c-3 nonprofit of Hawai‘i.
II have read your statement and totally agree with your ideals.
Being a timeshare owner and a visitor to the island 20 times plus -it is so important to keep the island as she is meant to be –
With her people heathy , beautiful and safe.
I so miss Kauai .
I do agree with the two week quarantine until we have no worries with the pandemic any vaccine in place.
In regards to the lady who fears for her sickly Mom (cancer and heart disease) the fear that her Mom might contract Covid19 virus. This loving daughter is right in the fact that her Mom has at least 2 of the pre-existing conditions that kill people with or without the Virus.
It is known by many scientists and doctors that the foods we eat, that stock our stores‘ every shelf and fridge and freezer boxes are the cause of chronic long term diseases that are routinely treated with prescription drugs for the rest of your and your loved ones lives.
It is the long term accumulation of the foods of sickness that eventually make you to show disease. Yes it takes usually about 30 years + or – of store and restaurant bought non nutritious junk, fast, and snack foods to discover your disease(s).
As to Covid19, here is the short list of pre-existing conditions that people die from listed by the CDC:
Cancer,
Heart and Coronary Artery was diseases,
Lung diseases (COPD, Asthma, Tobacco use),
Kidney disease,
Over Weight and Obesity diseases,
Diabetes,
Liver diseases,
Organ Transplants,
Stroke,
High Blood Pressure,
And the use of Corticosteroids and Immunology Suppressive drugs.
All of the above slowly accumulate over many years from the grocery store or medical treatments or substance abuse like tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. All of these can be avoided as a prevention to disease.
If you have any of the above you will die earlier than your life was intended.
If you test + for Covid19, more than likely your above conditions will be ignored and Covid19 will receive the blame.
The CDC claims that only 6% of the people who are said to have died from Covid19, actually died from Covid19, the rest died from their pre-existing mostly preventable diseases, or their complications and side effects of medical treatments.
That means that of the over 200,000 claimed by, and still sensationally claimed by the media, to have died from Covid19, only slightly over 6,000 actually died from the virus, which the seasonal flu virus kills more than that every year anyway.
The problem here is ignorance, the public is ignorant of their own bodies, and how to keep them well, and how to restore them to health.
When you are “ordered” to take a prescription drug (which is disease care) or even an over the counter medication, people need to learn to say that they don’t want drugs, that they want to get well (health care), that is they want to live naturally healthy, and not live less than healthy with petrochemical drugs made from carcinogenic petroleum, the same stuff that goes in your car’s motor and gas tank, drugs that only manage your disease but do not restore health, drugs you will will be urged take for the rest of your life.
Prescription drugs sold at 4.4 Billion prescriptions a year in America. Prescription drugs that approximately 80% of Americans take every day. Prescription drugs are an epidemic in America. We are a sick nation, thus a weak nation. And the only solution government and pharmaceutical corporations and the medical industry have offer to the Covid19 virus pandemic is selling us 1. tests to see if we have the virus and 2. selling us upcoming more drugs in the form of hastily made vaccines, which are manmade laboratory diseases.
Those medical drugs mostly serve to only mask your symptoms while your disease(s) continues inside of your body degenerating and malfunctioning your bodies organs and systems.
The difficult, if not impossible dilemma is that, since most of the pre-existing conditions are caused from ingredients in our food, and that food we eat is in almost all stores.
In also every bite of food you take there are chemicals and petrochemicals almost never before seen in food prior to the year 1900. The chemicals in our foods are a de facto experiment, treated with more chemicals in prescription drugs.
Even the animals we eat have the lard, fat, and grease that clogs up our arteries and causes heart and stroke diseases.
Animal muscle like steak and hamburger, etc., that white lard, fat, and grease they call the “flavor”, the “marbleing”, eventually your heart muscle and brain arteries will look like the cow muscle with that fat, lard, and grease, and you will have heart and stroke disease.
And does dairy have that fat in it, you can bet your death on it. And does dairy have cancer triggering proteins in it, protein that God designed for cows’ health only? Yes you can bet your death on that too.
Read the food and drink ingredients, your food is coming from profit driven huge corporate food manufacturers. The food is loaded with chemicals we now know 100+ years later that our food added ingredients are not fit for humans.
And added multiple sugars are also in most every food. The sweetness that has you coming back, sugar the food filler that is cheaper to add to food, than the food you think you are buying. Sugar that feeds the inflammation of the diseases you have.
You would be better to find a Health Coach and get well, not eat chemicals in your food nor need prescription drugs.
It is best to follow the Natural Path for a long Healthy Active Life.
Mahana,
If you started earlier and organized a Go Fund Me for all the the workers who lost their tourist industry jobs maybe we could have just stayed closed. To me some of the greed lies with the very wealthy on this island who didn’t put up and yet demand we don’t open. Those are the greedy ones. How you figa?
Any other bright ideas?
And you did what to help?
You are partially right, the NIMBYs are part of the don’t open brigade but if you watch the social media sites and live shows and the Facebook groups you’ll see way more regular folks preaching the same keep it closed line. Greed is not always concerning money. Greed is greed and comes in many shapes and forms. Greed=Selfishness=Self Centeredness which anyone can let cloud their better judgement, their higher self. And I don’t mean getting high kine either.
we have had months, to expand our hospital bed and ventilator count, health care system….which is way cheaper than the loss of jobs, mental health, tax revenue and basically our entire Kauai economy;
why are we focused on keeping things shut down, but no mention of beefing up our medical capacity to handle a few more cases….hmmm…
It sure sounds like you are in favor of socialized medicine.
Where are the masks? Typical elitists – keep the tourists away, because they’re not part of someone’s social club; and they don’t want to do their own part other than complain. I am a mainlander arriving soon to stay in our timeshare unit, and enjoy the people, food, and beauty of Kauai for 7 days; and it is non-refundable if we don’t show up. While I completely understand the fear that many locals have with tourists, I would like to point out a couple of things. 1) we will have a confirmed negative COVID test prior to arriving; and 2) we willl be wearing masks and staying socially distant the whole time. Why? because we don’t want to get sick either. None of the people in the photo are wearing masks; and when did they last get a test?
I love Kauai, but if the locals have lost their Aloha spirit, then we’ll just go to the beach and not spend our hard-earned money at any restaurants or attractions. You’ll still see me wearing my mask though, so you can throw rocks at me for being a tourist.
“PLEASE DO NOT SELL OUT THE PEOPLE FOR PROFIT!”
which people? the ones like you who are rich and don’t need to work to pay rent, feed kids, etc?
since when do the needs of the one/few outweigh the needs of the many?
i understand you live in fear of a virus that kills .04% of those it infects, but not all of us share this fear. most of us need to work.
unless you are willing to support those of us who are suffering economic misery, stay inside and keep quiet.
It’s not ‘your Island’s. People can be respectful and still visit to keep your economy going. Freeloading off the government to keep people out is selfish. I was born in Hawaii and lived there most of my life, so no it’s not ‘your Island’. Do something constructive and help the residents. Your BS is what ruined the true Aloha. Your ignorance is only harming beautiful Kauai.
The level of fear is sickening. We can’t hide forever. This pandemic has killed a nominal amount of people that does not justify destroying our economy. Everyone is cheering on this lockdown , meanwhile our children will pay for this growing up in a complete welfare state with restricted freedom. We are willingly trading our freedom for a false sense of security from a minor threat. You are all selling out our freedom and economic future to save a few that would die soon anyway. What about the rest of us that have plenty life ahead of us. They won’t tell you how many people on island have killed themselves this year. No one here has died of covid. This is a sham and all you fearful sheep have played right into the hands of the global elite. The people will suffer poverty and lack of freedom for generations to come. Stop living in fear. We are strong and resilient. Open up everything like much of the rest of the nation. The only thing to fear is these lying politician.
My name is Donald Trump and I approved this message.
Has Mayor Kawakami not acquired more ventilators? Has he made no preparation for residents who need hospitalization if harmfully infected by Covid?
If now, where are the CARES funds going, exactly? We have had MONTHS to prepare -get on with it!
Please show us your completed and deeply involved plan to replace what the Mayor is doing.
It seems those in power know we’re not going to need the ventilators. Ever hear about a shortage on the national level? Nope.
CARES money will be given to the Non Profit Industry. They need jobs to.
I see the hope in the eyes of Hawaiians. Returning to Hawaii is the hope for many visitors. We expect to return every year because inconveniences are a part of life which won’t keep us down long. I look forward to our return knowing that Hawaii is just 1 of 50 states that President Trump has made great again.
Aloha
And your are welcome.
What exactly did that imbecile of president do to make Hawaii great again?
Don’t know which Hawaiians’ eyes you’re looking at but that hope you’re seeing is worry and concern because of people who think like you. This pandemic is not just an inconvenience. An active outbreak would decimate Kauai with what limited resources we have. Oh and by the way, only about 29% of Hawaii supported Trump in 2016 who has done absolutely nothing for Hawaii.
Aloha, Manhana. While your article sounds sincere, you are fear mongering. This virus has a 97% recovery rate, even for your mother. As time goes on, doctors understand it better and can treat it better. No, we do. It need to stop our lives for you.
Should we quarantine the island every flu season and require vaccines and shut down when a few people get the sniffles? No, that’s ridiculous. But catching the flu has the same consequences for your mother.
My husband and I were coming to Kauai in November and have canceled because of the Covid. Will miss being there for my 60th birthday and our 15 year anniversary. I so respect what your doing. God bless you and all the people of Kauai. Aloha!
I left my heart in the beauty of Kauai in 1978 and there it remains. Whatever is necessary to protect this magical island is what must be done. I will wait until my heart knows it is absolutely safe to return–and waiting is what will ensure the aloha spirit of Kauai continues.
Mahalo.
“one life lost is too many,” she says, as she laughs at the four men who committed suicide on this island in a single week during May. The cost of economic loss, in life, is substantial. This woman is clueless, and I’m just a bit surprised this article was actually published.
“We cannot sacrifice the health of the people for the profits of a few.”
How can one be so oblivious of reality? Profits of a few? Try the livelihoods of thousands of people! If you were “Well aware” of the suffering of Kauai, then you would not make that following statement. You have no clue… what a shame.
Please provide the statistics for the suffering of those on the island.
You are too much.
Got nothing? Make the claim, back it up with science and facts.
Relieved to know the people if Kauai have been protected from the virus and it should remain that way.Thank you for making your voice and the voice of the people heard. Blessings to you All !!!
…. this deadly virus, of which there is currently no cure. The only “cure” is keeping it OFF of Kaua‘i.”
Again, What are you talking about? NO CURE? Tell that to the millions of people who have gotten it and are just fine now… So removed from reality its insane! Kauai is doomed if the majority has as much fear as you do! Deadly??? YEAH OK! We better start talking about anything that kills people as deadly! The flu is for sure deadly and we need to make sure anyone on Kauai who has it needs to go into forced isolation as well.. Probably should ban cars too. Those things are very deadly! Maybe ban swimming in the ocean, the ocean is deadly but not as deadly, but still deadly…
So your cure for this is to get it and take a 1 in 20 or so chance of death. You first.
Meanwhile here in the REAL WORLD where people actually own businesses and have to work for a living (as opposed to standing around in their Bernie Sanders shirts frightened of a flu) we have to come to grips with reality. If you are concerned about your 85 yr old mother, then quarantine her not the entire population around her
Ah yes, force the old and infirm out of my way! I got mine, it’s your problem if you’re poor – you should just stay out of sight.
The Fear Factor is Hillarious! Paranoid people with their Hair on Fire! Get a Grip people it’s only a Cold Virus!
You want to try your luck with it? You want to try the luck of your friends and family, too?
Flower-child nonsense. No one is going to come to Kauai if they have to spend two weeks locked up in quarantine. Obviously this woman and her iffy ‘foundation’ doesn’t have to worry about having her business closed for good or her livelihood destroyed by the outrageous actions of David “Lockdown” Ige. The measures being taken now are just fine. Open up the island!
I agree with the writers of this article 100%. Most have worked hard wearing a mask, social distancing and lots of hand washing and showering. We’ve already had 1 covid19 death and another probable coronavirus death since tourists are not subject to quarantine rules. Imagine a bunch of trumper tourists not wearing masks drinking and hugging each other and giving coronavirus to all of kauai. Scary huh? Its happening as I write this. Get all tourists off kauai, close the Kauai airport. These tourists from America cannot be trusted to follow the coronavirus pandemic protocol
AGREED
I totally agree with these comments. I have seen businesses fail, careers ended, and heard firsthand of suicide. There are far greater problems if we continue to stay closed. The people of this island cannot afford to go without work any longer. Please open the island to tourism and restart our economy. Not everyone has a trust fund as a backup plan.
Why still only 9 ICU beds? The mayor prepares us by spending a million $ on rapid secondary tests! Why in 7 months have we not increased our medical capacity ?
Thousands of people here on Kauai are suffering financially from a virus that kills .04% of people. What happens when then unemployment money and rent assistance runs out. People are going to suffer more then the sickness will cause. Our children will grow up in an era with no economic prospects creating a new generation of welfare dependent drones. We know the aftermath of this virus spreading, it does not cause mass devastation. When the free money runs out and there’s no jobs , we are gonna feel the stress hard here in Kauai. We must end these lockdowns and economic restrictions. Tourism is the only business here that can support the economy we have here. You transition from your main cash flow when business is good not in dire times. We need it now whether people like it or not. The livelihoods of thousands of people here on Kauai are dependent on free and open travel. Businesses must be able to operate unhindered. You can travel around most of the rest of the country without taking a test.
Almost every reply on this post disagreed with the “protect us in fear” sentiment of the article and of the way this has been handled here by the administration. Also the ever present question of Covid funds and why the county has never set aside a place for some additional hospital beds and bought more ventilators nor has the mayor ever addressed those questions comments. I have to disagree with the writers of the article and agree with the sentiment, which has changed from the “Let’s live in fear” consensus in the early stages of the pandemic, to the questions as to what is more important living in fear with the unrealistic expectation of little or no cases and a reaction based approach to a proactive plan with thoughts towards the future which involves trying to salvage as much of the economy as possible. If that approach would have been in effect from the beginning then we would have more ventilators and another temporary hospital wing somewhere instead of being in the same place but with more ill conceived solutions like the “Tier” system which they do not even understand how it will work themselves at this point. Call 241-1800 and ask them about the details of how the system will actually work. Questions like if the case count changes when does the tier change? The next day? In a week? And if there’s a lag before the protocols change and the tier changes during the first lag again what then? I asked those questions on Friday and got an empty line. No answer then when prodded a bit the answer became we are improvising. Improvising? But the overall desire is to protect the people of Kauai? Really how? I know it’s last minute these required changes were needed but the fact that the Tier system idea was there and put to the governor suggests some forethought. But how much forethought? Evidently not more than an outline which begs the question what were they doing leading up to the eventuality of the day tourists came back. Which then begs the question perhaps that was the plan all along to “Protect the people of Kauai”. Perhaps the idea is to do as much to discourage tourists as possible. To discourage people moving here. To remain a land that time forgot stranded in a place that has long ago passed but some people still cling to hoping that if fear and non Aloha is peddled that will somehow solve the pressing issues of today. Meanwhile where are the additional hospital beds and extra ventilators and how does a rational human being answer the detailed questions about the tier system to people planning to come to kauai? I suggest you all call the Kauai Emergency Management phone land ask for details of the Tier System for yourselves. Like my questions above. Perhaps they have an answer. Kauai needs to remain open. People have to learn that some people die all the time. People need to understand they are responsible for themselves first and foremost. We need to embrace the tourists that come no matter what in order to start to climb out of the hole that fear and over protections has wrought on our community.
I am a tourist from the east coast who owns a timeshare. I postponed 2 times to this thanksgiving week. It’s this type of native sentiment that may keep me away. I really want to come and keep my vacation money in the US but based on the draconian actions by the Hawaiian government and some of the natives thinking it’s still not enough I am afraid to commit again. I hate to say it but it may be a lot less stress rerouting to Mexico
Thanks for the memories Kauai maybe we ll come back in a few years from now
I think Mexico is a good option for you.
We would love to come back to Kauai in 2021, but coming from Canada, two issues. How do we get tests from approved labs in Canada, plus we have to wear masks for 24 hours on planes and airports. We like to think of Kauai as our second home, but it is not easy to get there for us. So although Kauai is opening, other factors are at play. Our hearts are with all Kauai residents.
I cannot ignore this comment !!!! “Flower-child nonsense. No one is going to come to Kauai if they have to spend two weeks locked up in quarantine. Obviously this woman and her iffy ‘foundation’ doesn’t have to worry about having her business closed for good or her livelihood destroyed by the outrageous actions of David “Lockdown” Ige. The measures being taken now are just fine. Open up the island!” I hate to even repeat the message this person is trying to make to who????
Good Grief – I move here because of the aloha from Jessica Else/ The Garden Island Organizers and members of Kauai 4 Bernie, Laurel Brier, Mahana Dunn, Seth Keller, and Desiree Hoover I moved from the mainland where covid is rampant. How many people have you lost? Open up the island to what? I came from an OPENED UP concept and it is still horrible.
If you open your business who will come if the covid is rampant like the mainland?
Mahalo to all who love people first and money which is necessary is not first if there is no one to share, yes share the world in a healthy, respectful way.
Mahalo to Hawaii for your hard work – side line – industrial hemp has been legalized and is growing like a weed chuckle seriously with Kauai Island Hemp – jobs for thousands, growing, harvesting and building – cannablissshopping.com This is the economic answer for Kauai and to share with the other islands. Local residents are doing a phenomenal job and are securing the future – open a business, save yourself and Kauai without giving in to covid. It is serious and preventable, Thank you Kauai
Seriously ENOUGH WITH THE FEAR!!! Get educated! I agree with everyone who commented that Mahana is totally out of touch with reality !!
Three Words: “Trust Fund Babies”
I love your letter and I hope all the Trump supporters are right and you will reopen and all will be right and the fake virus will not hurt anyone. I would also like to ask all the people who think this is not a problem to go down to Wilcox Memorial and sign a non treatment form if the hospital becomes crowded with covid patience’s. It seems fair.
EXACTLY
EXACTLY
I just want to make it clear that this is just an opinion of one individual. The photograph accompanying it was taken 4 years ago and has nothing to do with the article at all except that the author is also in the picture. In no way does this opinion piece correctly convey my husband’s or our families viewpoint on this issue.
If Kauai does not re open and welcome us back and by us I refer to your customers, we can only assume you don’t need our business. Business goes where it’s wanted and stays where it’s appreciated. The truth is you will be committing financial suicide. Please don’t make that mistake. I have saved for ten years and we are 30 days away from closing on a condo at the Islander in Kappa. We spend thousands every year and tip huge. We are respectful of your beautiful people and home. Your time is limited to a few months after that the word will get out and it will be years for recovery. Remember the Hurricane.
Promise not to bring Covid with you? Please enumerate the ways you are helping to prevent the spread.
We have been visiting the beautiful island of Kauai for over 35 years. While I think that closing it to tourists was a good call for the first few months, I now feel the beautiful island you are trying to protect will no longer exist as we know it, if it remains closed to tourism and your economy fails.
Also, looking at the photo heading this article. It doesn’t look like you are exactly practicing what you preach?
“We The People of Kaua‘i have done such a wonderful job at keeping this virus at bay. We wear our masks. We social distance. We are following the law.”
Aloha, I have been a visitor to Kauai over 30 times for both work and pleasure. I love surfing, snorkeling, and swimming there along with hiking on your incredible island. I would think that the lack of visitors, I say visitors as I view tourists as ignorant kooks, has probably renewed the island eco system due to the relaxing of population pressure as occurred on the north shore after the floods a couple years ago. I can’t help but think this is contributing to your desire to keep visitors out. Please know that not all visitors harm the environment and when I travel I always take only photos and leave only footprints.
I say this because you must not be impacted financially by the shut down. Good for you and glad your doing well in paradise, too bad for the rest that NEED the “profits” from from those horrible despicable tourists.
I have a 90 year father that is high risk also. I take the responsibility to make sure he’s safe. Me, not society at large. You should keep mama safe and not rely on the local government to do it for you. Please allow Kauai to open to those with negative tests as a start.
Perhaps these instant kamaainas can evac grandma on the superferry
Well put
Visitors braving the long airplane ride to Kauai are likely wondering if their favorite restaurants, shops, and attractions will be open. They are certainly wondering if they can be treated for Covid 19 or any other serious illness, if Wilcox still has so few ICU beds and ventilators. Considering the above letters, it seems we are all wondering if anything has been done to increase the island’s capacity for treating critically ill patients.
Stop being afraid, my state of South Dakota has been open since March. no masks bars and restaurants all open. We hosted 500,000 bikers at the Sturges rally we have 200,000 hunters and fishermen here now from all over the country, everyone is fine. Stop killing jobs for a fake virus. Turn off the TV and go back to normal. Nobody thinks or worries about corona here anymore.
Stop telling lies. The biker rally alone was a spreading event. Those people mostly took it back out of the state with them to their home states. Lucky you.
The only spreading event are people like you and the news spreading fear.Get off your knees and take back your life.