• Breezed through KCC financial-aid process • More college financial-aid nightmares • Superferry could open ‘Pandora’s Box’ • Keep Kekaha tower in place Breezed through KCC financial-aid process Aloha Garden Island newspaper. I am a Native Hawaiian Kaua‘i resident, and
• Breezed through KCC financial-aid process • More college financial-aid nightmares • Superferry could open ‘Pandora’s Box’ • Keep Kekaha tower in place
Breezed through KCC financial-aid process
Aloha Garden Island newspaper. I am a Native Hawaiian Kaua‘i resident, and just recently have been given the opportunity to pursue my college career through being accepted as a Wai‘ale‘ale Project Scholarship recipient. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, for I have never thought I would have been able to go back to school to attain a higher education because of financial reasons.
I have been able to successfully enroll and receive my scholarship refund monies in time to start this fall 2010 semester as a first-year student at Kaua‘i Community College. The Wai‘ale‘ale Project staff and KCC staff of the One Stop Center has made the enrollment process a breeze, being able to do everything required all in the same building. I have had nothing but positive encounters with the Financial Aid Office, and that is the reason I am writing to The Garden Island newspaper.
I simply want to shed some light on the situation, that it’s not all negative feelings out here. I have and I’m sure a multitude of other KCC students have had a positive encounter with the Financial Aid Office and all other departments within the One Stop Center. I would like to say to the staff of KCC that you simply can’t please everyone so keep up the great work. Mahalo nui loa to the KCC and Wai‘ale‘ale Project staff for giving me the tools, financial aid, and support I needed to kick off my college career! A hui hou!
Kawika Cummings, Kapa‘a
More college financial-aid nightmares
Mr. Parubrub’s Forum letter (“KCC students left hanging,” Aug. 13) identifies a similar situation and concern for our, or possibly your, college student, who is also experiencing FA misrepresentations.
Garnering any scholarship/grants is like winning the lottery; none successful so far, inability to secure reference letters, worse than pulling teeth.
Subsequent contacts with KCC after high school graduation in 2009, we initially fell through the e-mail cracks, although several months into first semester 1st year, an apology and offer to be interviewed response from FA. Student confusion, due to his then dependency, FAFSA change updates requiring FA intervention, which would qualify this student for hardship support never happened. So, I directed student for 2010-11 semester, to make FA appointment. At the appointed time we arrived at the KCC FA window and were told by an apologetic young student, who indicated the meeting “would not be happening today and we should return the following day same time.” Similarly, the next day, another unfamiliar FA face, another apology that we would not be seen, until AFTER classes begin. Thus far, this student has not secured monies for fees associated. I am so frustrated and tired of the shibai bureaucracies, falling through the cracks with everything that needs to be accomplished, no one seemingly doing their job descriptions as they are outlined, in this case, a disregard of the student, the unsuspecting that still requires parental assistance to persevere, which is hard to do when that other entity has little to no integrity in properly executed UH protocol.
Debra Kekaualua, Kapa‘a
Superferry could open ‘Pandora’s Box’
On the matter of the return of the Super Ferry to Hawai‘i, the following types of concerns MUST be addressed: 1) How will the problem of invasive species which may come through vehicles accessing our Neighbor Islands be monitored and enforced? 2) How will the beaches and parks of our Neighbor Islands be protected from a possible overflow of vehicles used as “living quarters” by the homeless? 3) What enforcement capabilities does each county have in place to deal with such impacts and changes that will come with the Super Ferry?
A recent nationwide report on the infestation of bedbugs from New York to California demonstrates the ways in which problems may proliferate because of easy access in transporting problems from one place to another. Might having the Super Ferry expedite these kinds of problems, as well? We need to carefully think about these things before allowing ourselves such conveniences without realizing what “opening Pandora’s Box” might lead us into…..one unexpected consequence after another!
Jose Bulatao Jr., Kekaha
Keep Kekaha tower in place
Lifeguard tower 7 at Intersections is slated to be relocated.
Without community support tower 7 will be moved to MacArthur Park. The new location is in a shoaling area of the beach which generates strong rip currents and long shore currents, that is, by our own state ocean authorities, deemed very dangerous for beach activities. The current location is in a zone that is protected from such currents due to a natural break in the reef, which has also created a very popular surf spot, “Intersections.” This surf spot cannot be monitored safely from the proposed location, prior to tower 7 people lost their lives during heavy surf. Safety aside the park-like setting of the tower is an oasis in a sea of summer Westside dust lovingly maintained by local residents and their own resources for all to enjoy. It would be a waste of resource to guard a beach that people don’t utilize. This is a FEDERAL GOVERNMENT proposal not even a state one, they probably don’t even know where Kekaha is.
There will be a community meeting at the Kekaha Neighborhood Center to address this issue on Sept. 1st, 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.
Please help us keep Kekaha’s surf/swim beach safe. Mahalo.
Alix Barker, Kekaha
