Letters for Friday, November 16,2012

• Brennecke’s Beach Broiler fine • Hanalei needs to stay a ‘Garden of Eden’ • In favor of restoration not development • 1% not hurt by economic depression • Repeal Act 55 for us and future generations • Honesty or perjury? • They weren’t there for me

Brennecke’s Beach Broiler fine

Regarding a story about Brennecke’s Beach Broiler paying a fine to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to close two large capacity cesspools in Po‘ipu:

Now let’s get the EPA to focus on the Coco Palms mess and have it “fined” or torn down.

David L. Kundysek

Dallas, Texas

Hanalei needs to stay a ‘Garden of Eden’

The founder of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, has badly misjudged the mood of Hanaleians, as shown by the record turnout at Tuesday’s meeting. Scenic Hanalei is a sacred place, and it is not like a commodity to be traded on the Internet. Mr. Omidyar has a commendable philanthropic record. Why then didn’t his representatives consult the community before making this purchase?

Is Hanalei supposed to be a sacrificial lamb to provide profit for his other charitable ventures? Neighboring islands, such as Moloka‘i, would welcome such development” with open arms.

Mr. Omidyar: People visit Hanalei to rejoice in green, pristine beauty, not to see more concrete. There are enough “developments” in Princeville which are already shabby and half empty.

There is a line in the sand and that is Hanalei Ridge.

Hanalei is a very special place, and we are resolved to keep it that way for the benefit of future generations. It is not going to become a mere overflow of concrete Princeville.

We are going to look at our children and grandchildren with pride when we tell them that we stopped it happening, and that Hanalei will always remain a pristine Garden of Eden on the Garden Island.

Philip Stevens

Hanalei

In favor of restoration not development

Tuesday night we heard a presentation from the development team which plans to build a large project on the ridge and lands above Hanalei Bay. The land is owned by billionaire eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. In hoping to win the support of local residents, the company has laid out plans to restore an historic fish pond, rebuild an ancient wall, remove invasive species, add native plants and remove the detritus of concrete and trash left by the old developments. In addition to a hotel and other visitor amenities, the company plans 34 luxury homes on Hanalei Ridge.

The company representatives explained that Mr. Omidyar is not involved directly in proposed developments, but concentrates his attention on his philanthropic endeavors. With a net worth of some 6 billion dollars, that is probably a good idea. But it occurred to us as we experienced the huge crowd of local residents attending the presentation: What a hero this very wealthy man could be to Kaua‘i, to Hanalei and Hawai‘i if he would put the land in trust to the county, do the restoration that the area needs, including the fish pond, and walk away. We are quite sure he can afford it.

That would be a wonderful gift to the islands; and it would be the pono thing on his part.

Nancy and Joe Norelli

Princeville

1% not hurt by economic depression

Well, not even a week after winning his second term, President Obama has thrown those who voted for him under the bus.

Obama is guaranteeing corporate executives that Medicare and Medicaid are on the table in exchange for a very minor tax increase on their ungodly salaries, bonuses and benefits.

The “rest of us” are supposed to be happy about this because then the country won’t go off the “fiscal cliff.” Another fake crisis, like when the Republicans failed to raise the debt ceiling and nearly caused the U.S. to default on that debt for the first time in history.

Who is going to be hurt most by that fiscal cliff? Those same 1% who caused the 2008 economic depression.

Yes, “the rest of us” are going to feel it, but at what point do we decide to stand up for ourselves?

Are we going to give in on this and then give in again when the 1% steals our Social Security?

Maybe we should just turn all our wages and property over to the Hawaiian Public Lands Development Corporation (another part of the war on “the rest of us”) and walk into the ocean.

The only good thing about Obama’s election is that it wasn’t Romney.

John Zwiebel

Kalaheo

Repeal Act 55 for us and future generations

A potential land grab is taking place on Kaua‘i. As The Garden Island recently reported (Nov. 9, 2012, “Carvalho does not support repeal of Act 55”):

“On May 20, 2011, Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Act 55, which created the Public Land Development Corporation. The PLDC is comprised of five board members, none from Kaua‘i, who have broad powers to allow commercial development on public lands — including 1.8 million acres of ceded lands — while circumventing county zoning laws.”

While most of us were distracted by the election, the public has been shut out, the environmental, planning and building codes bypassed — all to assist private enterprise development of public and ceded lands for corporate interests.

What it is ain’t exactly clear …

Who benefits? There will be some construction jobs, but will they go to locals? In the past, big projects went to big construction companies — who brought in their own equipment and their own crews — workers from O‘ahu or the Mainland. But the increased road traffic and disruption will be local. The loss of agricultural and ceded lands will be local. The impact on an already strained infrastructure will surely be local. In the meantime, our general plan, local zoning laws, density and height limits, special treatments — all the laws enacted locally to maintain the character and culture of Kaua’i — can be bypassed or ignored by the PLDC projects.

Somehow I doubt the profits will stay local.

Repeal 55 and disband the Public Land Development Corporation. It is the wrong tool for the wrong job.

Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. has stated he does not support a repeal of Act 55. Gov. Abercrombie has indicated he will veto any attempt to repeal Act 55.

Mayor Carvalho and Gov. Abercrombie, we have supported you in the past, but no more!

As long as you support Act 55 and the PLDC, you will not have our support, our contributions, or our votes.

Stop children! What’s that sound?

Everybody look what’s goin’ down!

William Peterson

Kapa’a

Honesty or perjury?

We will be visiting Kaua‘i again, for over the 20th time this January. It is sad to read that Myles Emura will not be on duty at Po‘ipu Beach. His inviting demeanor and willingness to assist visitors truly demonstrates the meaning of aloha. It will not be the same.

It is a sad commentary for the Kaua‘i government to allow anyone in management to retaliate against an employee. Especially when the employee is required to testify and chooses to be honest and not commit perjury.

If the union could not solve this issue immediately for the employee, what is their purpose? Respect for their member seems to not be evident, but rather to take the politically easy path.

Bob Snell

Davis, Calif.

They weren’t there for me

I’m writing regarding the letter from Lori J. Miller of Kaua‘i Hospice “Kaua‘i hospice wants to help” (printed Nov. 14). In April my wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. Kaua‘i Hospice was highly recommended as a source of help and support for the coming difficulties. I contacted Kaua‘i Hospice and a representative came to my home and signed us up.

Then several hospice people came to introduce themselves to us over several days. They were using up my time keeping me from caring for my very ill wife. The last one that came to introduce herself was a social worker. I was just too busy feeding my livestock to talk to her so while I was doing my chores she followed me around introducing herself.

The only hospice person that gave us any help was a nurses aid that I asked to show me how to bathe my wife in bed. She did that and later after my wife passed she came over and bathed and dressed her.

I called Kaua‘i Hospice several times during my wife’s illness asking them for help staying with my wife while I went to the store for an hour for groceries. No one was available. Finally I had to get some straws so my wife could drink water. I left her and went to Longs and got the straws. Upon returning after about an hour round trip I found my wife on the floor having fallen while trying to reach the bathroom. Her knees were injured, but hospice had given me some pain pills for her.

Kaua‘i Hospice billed Medicare hundreds of dollars for the useless introductions and almost nonexistent expert nursing care (they listened to her heart twice).

Ms. Miller’s last sentence, “We are here for you.”

BS!

David Biederman

Kapa‘a