• Disturbing news • Thanksgiving everyday • FDR and New Deal Disturbing news Mayor Carvalho has decided to move forward with the plan to construct the bike/pedestrian path along the Wailua Beach. (“Mayor bucks OHA recommendation,” The Garden Island, Nov.
• Disturbing news
• Thanksgiving everyday
• FDR and New Deal
Disturbing news
Mayor Carvalho has decided to move forward with the plan to construct the bike/pedestrian path along the Wailua Beach. (“Mayor bucks OHA recommendation,” The Garden Island, Nov. 24)
This is disturbing because Wailua Beach is a sacred Hawaiian burial ground. This is an undisputed disputed fact. This is common knowledge. It seems quite unreasonable to move forward.
The route through Wailua Beach is simply disrespectful. Many people may not see the cultural significance of this issue, but I believe that the majority of Kaua‘i residents do. Kaua‘i is different. We are unique. I could go on and on about how we differ from the rest of the Hawaiian Islands, but I won’t. If you don’t know that by now, something is definitely wrong.
Being different is not a bad thing. We have survived many disasters because we are different. We have maintained a somewhat traditional lifestyle because we are different. We continue to enjoy many cultural traditions because we are different. For this, we should be thankful. For this, we should be grateful. For this, we should display the ultimate show of respect to the host culture. We owe this to the ancestors of this very unique place.
Many native Hawaiians have spoken out. Many non-Hawaiians have spoken out. Our leaders have not listened. For those that continue the push to desecrate the Hawaiian burial grounds at Wailua Beach, shame on you.
We are only temporary visitors of this sacred place called Kaua‘i. We are only passing by. While we are here, we must honor the host culture. We must respect the past and the present. We must not allow our personal agendas to get in the way of this wonderful culture.
The Hawaiian culture is so very special. Please honor them. Please do not disturb those that have left us. Building a recreational path over known, sacred burial grounds is unacceptable. It is not pono. It is disrespectful. It is not the Kaua‘i way.
Mel Rapozo, Lihu‘e
Thanksgiving everyday
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It’s not a Christian holiday, Hawaiian holiday, Jewish holiday or a Muslim holiday. It’s an American holiday that’s all of the above and more, of which everyone of all religions and nationalities can celebrate.
People feel compelled to invite friends and relatives and many times even casual acquaintances over for a festive meal of “dakine with dakine” and to talk story.
Many nonprofits will also have free food for the homeless and the less fortunate and those without families.
Thanksgiving; thanks and giving, what a great concept! Why not make Thanksgiving an everyday thing? Imagine the world without wars, hunger and prejudice!
I have a motion to make everyday Thanksgiving! All in favor say “aye.”
James “Kimo” Rosen, Kapa‘a
FDR and New Deal
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected President of the United States in 1932 at the height of the great depression. The programs for recovery that he initiated were known as the New Deal.
Among them was the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Jobs created under the WPA ranged from public works to education, and theater and the arts. The CCC put young Americans in the woods, revitalizing the country’s forests. These young people, who were in excellent physical condition, became our soldiers in WW2, often called the greatest generation.
It’s time for President Obama to institute a new New Deal. Private industry at this time cannot possibly provide enough jobs to solve our tremendous unemployment problem.
I was a depression kid. I know firsthand what I am talking about. My father had a small meat and grocery store in St. Paul, Minnesota. I used to see the young WPA workers come into our store and cash their 65-dollar paychecks to buy food for their families.
Older people brought in their government provided relief orders to exchange for food. The whole system was called Welfare, and it helped to sustain the nation until the dollar an hour war plant jobs came on line in the early 1940s.
We don’t have to reinvent the Wheel.. With the present greening of America and the tremendous need for repair and maintenance of our dilapidated infrastructure, public employment can take up the slack and revitalize our economy.
Let’s get our government out of nation building elsewhere and start the rebuilding of our own nation.
Harry Boranian, Lihu‘e
