Getting vaccinated is your duty
I have recently been around several people not vaccinated for COVID. One of them was coughing, and I told them it might be because of vog (volcano fog), because bad vog makes me cough and sneeze.
This morning I was coughing so much I thought maybe I should take a COVID test. I have never ever thought I needed to get a COVID test, until now.
What I wonder is: How would an unvaccinated person feel if they gave COVID to another person(s), who got really sick, and maybe hospitalized, or maybe died….. How would they feel, being responsible for that?
I have never gotten a regular flu shot. But I was first in line to get my COVID shot.
Getting COVID vaccinated is a civic (national and worldwide) duty. It is the humane thing to do.
It is to protect our family, friends, community, the rest of the world.
Kathleen Johnson, Kalaheo
Keiki should be a priority too
What about the kids?
Arriving and living on Kaua‘i in the ’60s, has always been community-oriented, and sports seem to be the lifestyle everyone enjoyed. Participation started with the i na keiki to the i na makule kupuna. It was unique for families to be together to enjoy the football games.
Growing up on O‘ahu, it didn’t seem that way as Kaua‘i because of the population and the many activities that it has to offer. O’ahu didn’t have as many schools as they do today. The old Mo‘ili‘ili stadium ideally and widely used during the football season and they didn’t have to worry about the birds.
I would say that football is one of the leading sports in the United States. During the days of the ’60s and even before that, the KIF games were played at the Isenburg field, which was practically in the sugar cane fields. I recall going to one of the games and there was no parking lot so cars were parked anywhere you could find a space. That evening it had been raining and the surrounding areas were completely muddy and of course the football field too. Watching the game seemed like watching it live on television.
Anyway, throughout the years the Antone “Kona” Vidinha stadium was built and watching a football game was similar to what it is today. High school football games were held on Friday nights and spectators came from the West Side of Kekaha to the North Shores of Hanalei. The stadium was packed to capacity and fans came to support their kids.
What about the birds?
Things started to change and football games were changed from Friday evenings to Saturday noon. Can you imagine playing a football game at that time? It is hot, humid and I sympathize with the kids but because they enjoy the sport and it didn’t matter to them. It does affect the kids and especially the fans who have to sit on the opposite side of the field in Hanapepe, with the sun shining directly on you.
Birds became the reason for changing the games from Friday to Saturday. It was crazy because the kids would be playing and then all of sudden the sun would be going down and the lights were turned on. Then all of sudden the lights went back on because birds were spotted near the lights. I remember the reason for switching the lights off and on was because of the birds.
The lights were affecting the birds and so as Greg from Kapa‘a, reiterated that it became a law and our kids still suffer the consequences.
Jon of Waimea, replied that the folks on the west side have been “fighting “this issue for many years but to no avail. Jon is an alumnus of Waimea and a player, himself, he remembered having pep rallies in the gym on Fridays and the football game was that evening.
Keli’i of Kaua’i, a former coach, having coached at the oldest high school on the island, and that he is trying to preserve the standards that has been set for his school.
Finally Sean Doi, Kaua’i Educational Specialist, who sums it up, quite eloquently by stating that Kauai‘s i na kama‘aina and people in general who have grown up on Kaua‘i have emphasized a community tradition whereby grandparents, parents have tried to instill in their kids. If there is a way to litigate this tradition of saving the birds but also remember that the kids should ultimately be a priority too!
Pa’aluhi Gonsalves, Anahola
