So much grumbling
What is it? Do we want the tourists to come or not? If we do, why are we grumbling about? And why are they stranded without any means or transportation, like car rentals, taxis or whatevers?
And, really, do we need more cars for the tourists to add to our terrible traffic jams that is and cannot seem to be resolved? This is an issue we are facing now, cars and traffic.
We grumble when we don’t have them, and yet, when we do, we still grumble. This is probably just human nature to grumble over just everything, We even send our high politicians to travel all over to promote tourism. Are we forgetting that this is our bread and butter?
So what? Do we or don’t we? Make up our minds.
One thing that we need from those tourists is the respect we deserve. Don’t come here and take advantage of our aloha spirit when you are nasty and rude. No, you’re not? Well, I have come across a lot of people who were. I am a driver/tour guide, and I know.
Anyway, what do we want? Tourists or not?
Ray Domingo, Lihu‘e
No hotel on Coco Palms site
I am completely in disbelief that there is even a possibility that the huge initial mistake of building the Coco Palms hotel in that location, whether it was done intentionally for profit or through ignorance and unconsciousness, is being considered to be done again! Was nothing learned? The Wailuanui ahupuaʻa has been so wrongly mismanaged over the last century.
Many thanks to the group of conscious, respectful, concerned citizens that seek pono solutions to this extremely-significant cultural and historical Hawaiian land. We can’t go back and right the past, but we can move forward building a future that honors the Hawaiian people and history. We can preserve, restore and build a new present that meets the needs of the community and future for the keiki of Hawaiʻi including education, sustainability, the arts, health and much more.
The way of the future is not duplicating the past. We need a new paradigm. Donʻt restore the recent past. Expand your vision. Restore the ʻaina as it was and is meant to be. Doing the right thing will benefit all.
We have enough hotels, and even if we didn’t, that property must be preserved for the present and future.
Noreen Dougherty, Kapa‘a
Free testing the key to managing spread
Another eight cases today — mostly community spread.
And yet I ask myself if any of the thousands of tourists currently pouring into Kaua‘i have availed themselves of the free testing available at the War Memorial Convention Hall.
As the mainland numbers continue to rise, and as we transition into accepting vaccination certificates, I am fearful that our numbers will rise as well. Many tourists refuse to wear masks. Beaches are crowded. We are now in Tier 5, so restaurants will be crowded as well. (We experienced a restaurant last week that was obviously operating at 100% despite the fact that we were still under the Tier 4 50% law.)
The CDC vaccination cards would be ridiculously easy to fake, yet they are being accepted as proof.
I fully understand our current need for tourism (although perhaps not quite so much of it…), but I am also aware that, despite being vaccinated, I can still possibly contract COVID.
Are tourists being made aware of the free testing? Signs or handouts at the airport and at lodging could apprise them of this.
Please, for the sake of all of us here on this tiny island, publicize the free testing and strongly request that all visitors take advantage of it.
Donna Gould Carsten, Kapa‘a
