• Void FFP contract • Keep our beaches clean • Hairy is out Void FFP contract Is it legal for Free Flow Power to seize hundreds of preliminary permits in many regions under FERC, then extract contracts with local utility
• Void FFP contract • Keep our beaches
clean • Hairy is out
Void FFP contract
Is it legal for Free Flow Power to seize hundreds of preliminary permits in many regions under FERC, then extract contracts with local utility companies to hire them as consultants, under threat that the local utility will lose control of the projects to a competitor?
It seems like unfair methods of competition, monopolization and racketeering because FFP has left KIUC with no reasonable alternative.
Therefore, maybe the contract is voidable. The community has substantial interest in this and should be allowed to view the MOA; David Bissell said it is confidential. He would not admit who approached who first, to make this deal. The guessing game has to stop. Bissell ought to stop acting like he owns KIUC Coop.
KIUC has a fiduciary responsibility to its ratepayers and a responsibility not to impact community stakeholders. Addressing the Native Hawaiian concerns is a mandatory priority but that went on a back burner.
KIUC should admit their errors because it’s already getting very expensive as they needlessly continue with FFP. The sooner KIUC board members acknowledge this and investigate KIUC’s legal alternatives the contentiousness can end.
Without this scrutiny, moving forward is dangerous; realizing a stranglehold for decades in paid studies that may thwart meaningful hydro projects and make rates go up is insultingly dismissive to many.
FFP will not ditch the FERC process: FFP cannot monopolize permits without it. Fleecing KIUC of millions in consulting fees appears to be FFP’s sole motive, not building hydro.
Recently FFP pulled out of Ohio River projects even though there was FERC jurisdiction. Was it because the utility company in that region refused to have FFP attached like a parasite to their hydro projects?
The Wailua River is not navigable. Henry Ecton of FERC says, “All they can do without receiving a license or exemption is conduct studies — no construction.” Section 3(8) of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. p. 796(8), navigable waters of the United States.
Elaine Dunbar, Lihu‘e
Keep our beaches clean
An Associated Press front page release in The Garden Island titled “Hawai‘i beach water quality ranked 4th — Kaua‘i most contaminated” on June 30 should be an embarrassing wake up call for those who run this Island.
Make no mistake about it, Kaua‘i is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, best places to live on this earth. And the crown jewels of this island are its beaches, which we have more of than any of the other Hawaiian Islands.
The article states that, “The Hawai‘i beaches with the highest rates of water contamination were on Lumahai Beach (29 percent) (our famous South Pacific Beach), Kalihiwai Bay (27 percent), and Waimea Recreation Pier State Park (24 percent). Kaua‘i County had the highest contamination rate at 8 percent …”
The article doesn’t even mention the cleanliness of the sands on our beaches, but my guess is that we would also rank near the bottom, if that factor were considered.
Beaches like those in Southern California and even on Waikiki have cleaning machines that keep the sands immaculate for the people’s use.
We do have such a machine here on Kaua‘i with a service that would use it, pick up the debris and haul it away on an as-needed basis. But even under the prodding of citizens to use it, no one in the leadership role has stepped forward to make it happen.
We spend millions of dollars enticing tourists to come to our paradise where our oceans and sands are its major attraction. But how counter productive is it to have a national AP story telling millions of people that Kaua‘i has the most contaminated water in Hawai‘i?
Morgan’s pond at Lydgate Park is one of the finest, safest swimming and snorkeling areas on Kaua‘i. But how much nicer it would be if the sands there were machined cleaned when needed. Hopefully, the higher rock wall surrounding the pond will keep logs and debris out of it during heavy up river rains and leave the pond usable all the time.
This is The Garden Island but those in power who have the responsibility of keeping it truly beautiful are not doing their jobs.
Glenn Mickens, Kapa‘a
Hairy is out
Hairy chests are no longer in style. My sisters used to marvel at men with hairy chests. My father had a hairy chest and when I was a child, I couldn’t wait to have hair on my chest some day.
Fast forward to the 21st century, men now shave their chests, legs and private parts. Hairless is the new sexy and hairy is out.
Watch any movie with leading men and when they are shirtless, they are hairless. Why the infatuation with no hair?
Even in the men’s locker room at the local gym, many men shave their private parts — not that I’m looking or anything — but you just can’t avoid it.
I always considered myself a hip guy, thinking that a hairy body was sexy?
I guess it’s time to buy that special razor and pray I do not give myself a self-inflicted circumcision.
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
