•Easier said than done •Seed corn companies are good for the economy •Don’t criticize it Easier said than done Ken Posney recently offered his opinion in a letter to the editor accusing KIUC, the County of Kaua‘i, and federal regulators
•Easier said than done
•Seed corn companies are good for the economy
•Don’t criticize it
Easier said than done
Ken Posney recently offered his opinion in a letter to the editor accusing KIUC, the County of Kaua‘i, and federal regulators of incompetence and bureaucratic delay in developing wind power. (“Not surprised,” Letters, May 14)
It’s not as easy as it may seem. Everybody wants sustainable energy. They also want to protect the environment, including endangered species. Rightly so.
Because Kaua‘i is home to two species of seabirds (the Newell’s shearwater and the Hawaiian petrel) which are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act and under Hawai‘i law, Kaua‘i’s responsibility is magnified, and wind turbine installation remains a challenge.
In March 2007, the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the U.S. Department of Justice notified KIUC that it was the target of an investigation into the taking of protected seabirds. This investigation is still being conducted. The cooperative takes this investigation seriously and is working with the DOJ to address their concerns, and answer their questions.
As residents and businesses on Kaua‘i know, KIUC is fully committed to preserving and protecting seabird populations on Kaua‘i, as evidenced by its funding and implementation of the Save Our Shearwater program during each of the last several years
KIUC continues its work with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources to develop a Habitat Conservation Plan that will minimize and mitigate impacts of KIUC’s facilities and structures on Kaua‘i’s seabird population.
This, coupled with the challenge of finding a site, limits KIUC’s wind potential.
The problems are more difficult to solve than Mr. Posney suggests. Perhaps that is why he offered no specific solutions beyond “think outside the box,” “have an anything is possible attitude,” and “be sure to vote.”
If that’s all it took, it would be done by now.
Phil Tacbian, KIUC Chairman of the Board
Randall J. Hee, KIUC President and CEO
Seed corn companies are good for the economy
I applaud The Garden Island newspaper for the story, “New seed operation set for Westside,” on the expansion of the company’s seed corn facilities, to now include the island of Kaua‘i. (TGI, April 29)
The Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Dow AgroSciences, a well-established company that has been providing innovative solutions through its products to Hawai‘i’s agricultural industry for more than 50 years, to our island.
In fact, this is another important piece of good news our community can build upon, adding to other newly opened businesses on Kaua‘i and the pending opening of the Kukui‘ula Village Shopping Center in Po‘ipu this summer.
What I am especially pleased about, having grown up on the Westside, and as a current resident of West Kaua‘i, is that I can look forward to enjoying the green and rural landscape, which Kaua‘i is well known for.
Even more gratifying is that as Gay and Robinson changes its business model, many employees will continue their work in agriculture here on Kaua‘i. As a community, we need to support businesses such as Dow AgroSciences, for they will positively contribute to Kaua‘i’s economic and workforce development for many years to come.
The culture we must continue to perpetuate on Kaua‘i is one of openness to economic opportunities and one that takes care of our current business landscape.
Randy Francisco, President, Kaua‘i Chamber of Commerce
Don’t criticize it
Helicopter harassment and the tyranny of arresting and prosecuting adult personal cultivations of up to 24 cannabis plants could soon be a thing of the past in Hawai‘i County because we approved a lowest law enforcement priority of cannabis ordinance last election day.
First, Mayor Kenoi announced recently that Hawai‘i County has ended its involvement in the “marijuana eradication program” after 30-plus years.
Second, the federal government’s newly confirmed “drug czar” was Seattle’s Chief of Police for the last eight years and oversaw the resounding success of their lowest law enforcement priority of cannabis ordinance.
The final straw might be when the general public becomes aware of the safe, effective, inexpensive cancer curing ability of cannabis and the government’s own patent on the plant.
The “war on marijuana” will finally be over and organic growers of the natural herbal medicine will be rightfully honored.
May the last marijuana trial in Hawai’i history be yesterday. Amen.
Roger Christie, Hilo
