• More of the same • Tax-sponsored foot race? • Where the sidewalks end • Just a little more •Protecting whom? • KIUC’s commitment • Include chimneys in ban More of the same The recent OHA meeting was like most
• More of the same • Tax-sponsored foot race? • Where the sidewalks end • Just a little more •Protecting whom? • KIUC’s commitment • Include chimneys in ban
More of the same
The recent OHA meeting was like most other meetings. The trustees looked worn-out and tired from the earlier activities saving the Westside poi mill. There were many eloguent speakers and folks who presented to the cafeteria. After speaking a short piece about a KPD application for a Kapa‘a substation on ceded lands, I realized I was asking the wrong entity to stop this activity. OHA is a state-supported agency and thus has no jurisdiction on this or any ceded land properties. We are a fake state and illegally occupied by feds and military. This is a fact, yet most of the populace continues to support that which has never been pono and continues to assert their leverage with every issue that is brought forward.
There are so many that believe in the plans to recover that which was stolen, but I’m afraid that this is too big a prize to recover, as these days it is ever more impossible to fight City Hall. Hawaiians are needing divine intervention if their plight is to be realized.
Debra Kekaualua, Wailua
Tax-sponsored foot race?
To council members Mel Rapozo and KipuKai Kuali‘i, watchdogs Glenn Mickens and Ken Taylor: Mahalo for efforts to protect our precious taxes against the latest scam to transform the Kaua‘i Marathon into a county social program (see “Marathon officials get leg up from county,” May 17 TGI).
Conversely, other council members and administrator advocates supporting ever-expanding government and special interest tax-sponsored foot races, I challenge you to re-examine your role and oath of office.
However, if you find this impossible, please contact me.
I’ve got a golden-goose, “win-win” sporting event in need of $600,000 with guaranteed returns that supports locals and promises to bring in the tourists big-time. We can build a strong legacy together and “keep Kaua‘i on the map.” I require no salary or finder’s fee. Easy payments can be made in installments.
Please make our taxpayer funded check out to the name below ASAP.
Rolf Bieber, Kapa‘a
Where the sidewalks end
I’m not against a new bike path on the North Shore, but before spending millions on that, how about meeting a more basic pedestrian need first: sidewalks. Koloa sure could use some on Weliweli and Waikomo roads and down Po‘ipu road connecting Koloa and Po‘ipu. Getting pedestrians and bicyclists off the busy paved roads is a safety issue. I’m sure other residents feel their communities are lacking sidewalks too.
Roger Barques, Koloa
Just a little more
I had the pleasure of taking the free tour that the county provides called, “The Road to Recycling.” It was an amazing experience to see how private individuals, government and private industry are all working together toward the goal of a more sustainable island. I encourage everyone to get more information because of this insight: It doesn’t necessarily take monumental effort by a few to reach more sustainability; it just takes all of us a little more knowledge and better use of the resources we already have. In the era of government scandal and right vs. left and soundbites, I think it is time to give our Kaua‘i government a round of applause for their efforts to communicate with the public and make the recycling efforts more expansive and available. Kudos also to Nadine Nakamura who was “on the ground” with us, taking the time to learn about these important issues from the bottom up.
Again reminded that we do live in Paradise.
Jason Blake, Lihu‘e
Protecting whom?
Only under a United States of America government would a Kanaka Maoli on Kaua‘i be convicted for the crime of planting kalo in Kalalau Valley. Congratulations to the American state government, police, prosecutors and their court system for preserving public safety and defending truth, justice and freedom for Americans at the minimal cost of Native Hawaiian human rights.
Gerald Markel, Kilauea
KIUC’s commitment
In response to KIUC’s “Our commitment is to your safety” ad dated May 20 referring to its employees:
One must ask oneself, “might the employees’ feelings about our safety be in conflict with keeping a roof over their ‘ohana’s heads and food in their ‘ohana’s stomachs? This is a classic conflict of interest.
Concerning the “They (smart meters) send out signals for less than 90 seconds a day” comment … I have seen and heard data authored by highly credentialed experts that prove otherwise. I have yet to see or hear of authors with like credentials dispute this data.
What I see is yet another desperate and shameful public relations attempt on the part of KIUC to secure positive public opinion for the smart meters in a way that underestimates the intelligence of we, the people of Kaua‘i.
“Our commitment is to your safety” … The tobacco industry, at one time, said the same thing about cigarettes.
Chris Schaefer, Kapa‘a
Include chimneys in ban
This letter is regarding the ban on backyard burning and cigarette smoking within so many feet of public areas. Per The Garden Island newspaper on April 10, it states “Open burning creates an unnecessary nuisance and possible health risk due to the smoke and air pollution it produces. The practice also creates a significant fire hazard.” This was stated by the state Department of Health’s Clean Air Branch and prohibits backyard burning on all the state’s islands. We think that wood-burning chimneys be included in this ban. The ban on outside burning is in effect; what’s the difference between smoke coming out of the backyard or smoke coming out of a chimney? It is still air pollution to our beautiful island, plus health risks.
Lori MacDonald, Kapa‘a
