• Please save Hanalei ridge • Answers about KPNHA meeting • More research on smart meters Please save Hanalei ridge Thanks to TGI for its ongoing coverage of the Omidyar Hanalei ridge development plans (Dec. 12). The meeting last November
• Please save Hanalei ridge • Answers about KPNHA meeting • More research on smart meters
Please save Hanalei ridge
Thanks to TGI for its ongoing coverage of the Omidyar Hanalei ridge development plans (Dec. 12). The meeting last November at Hanalei school showed strong community opposition to homes proposed along the Hanalei ridge that are part of this project. It is important that our community groups now double the efforts to protect the beauty and integrity of Hanalei. Given the tremendous amounts of money involved in this venture there are two things to be very aware of. First, Ohana Hanalei LLC is a very slick and well-funded group. Omidyar has huge amounts of money available to him. For example, according to an article in Rolling Stone (Dec. 2013) he has invested $250 million in an investigative journalism group including Glenn Greenwald, who is a main media outlet for Edward Snowden’s NSA leaks.
Therefore, Ohana Hanalei LLC can engage in very expensive PR, they have plenty of lawyer money, and no matter how wonderful any of it seems, the local Hanalei ridge groups must ask the tough questions and keep up the pressure using lawyers and legal means of resistance and accountability. This requires money and volunteers.
Second, the visual renderings from Ohana LLC of the proposed Hanalei ridge development cannot be believed — ever. Actual architectural drawings submitted for county approval must be given to a third party hired by the Hanalei ridge groups to provide alternative visual renderings. I say this because there have been multiple experiences in California where developers presented renderings and publicly pledged to residents that ridgeline developments there would not affect views or degrade the natural beauty. I know firsthand that these drawings and pledges were false and misleading, and the subsequent housing developments in San Diego dramatically altered the landscape and visual beauty of the land. Once again, this means that the local groups need money and volunteers if this kind of tragedy is to be avoided on the Hanalei ridge. It takes constant vigilance, and sadly we must assume that we will be lied to by seemingly kind individuals who will look us in the eye while doing it. With this kind of money and profit on the line, the will of the people is seen as a nuisance. If you are concerned, please join and donate what you can to the local efforts to save Hanalei ridge.
John Brekke, Haena
Answers about KPNHA meeting
As spokesperson for the Kilauea Point Natural History Association (KPNHA), I want to answer questions about the recent election of directors (Laura McConnell, Dec. 11, “Questions on meeting”).
1. Did the membership receive notification of the meeting? As required by the bylaws, a letter was sent 30 days in advance of the meeting to all members at that time. The meeting format was the same as has been used for many years. The notice did not included a procedure for proxy or absentee voting. A member can submit a written proxy on their own, which would be accepted. The bylaws do not specifically address proxy voting in the election of directors. A quick scan of Robert’s Rules of Order did not find any rules on proxies for elections.
Many feel that those who cannot attend a meeting in person should still have a vote. A resolution is being submitted at the January board meeting to establish clear procedures for proxy voting, including a form to be returned to the board or brought to the meeting. This will strengthen the voting process in the future, making it easier for all members to participate.
2. Was a quorum present for the meeting? KPNHA bylaws require seven members in good standing to be present in person or by proxy for a quorum. Thirty-seven members voted in the election. No proxy votes were submitted. There was a legal quorum for the meeting.
3. Were all of the voters “members in good standing?” According to the bylaws, anyone paying dues is a member in good standing. At every membership meeting, people can sign up and pay dues at the beginning of the meeting. Those signing up at the meeting have voting privileges. At the time of voting, ballots are accepted only after checking the updated membership list, including those joining that day. Therefore, all voters in this election were verified to be members in good standing, as defined in the bylaws.
All election documents (ballots, membership check list for verifying ballots, and tally sheets) are available for inspection by any KPNHA member at our office during regular business hours. Please call 828-0384 to arrange a time to view the records.
We agree with the writer’s statement “stand up and be counted.” Anyone concerned about the KPNHA election can discuss the issues by sending an email to the Treasurer Bob Waid (bobwaid@earthlink.net) for distribution to the entire board. Or call the office number above and I will get back to you.
Bob Waid, Spokesman for KPNHA Treasurer, Princeville
More research on smart meters
I would like to hear more about the effects of the smart meter frequency that people have been noticing on their health. Many of us are concerned about radiation exposure and educate our children to use their cell phones, tablets and laptops in manners which reduce the effects of radiation as much as possible, such as avoiding placing laptops directly on the lap and sleeping a safe distance from devices which are turned on. I have seen the readings of the smart meters, which can be up to 450 times a cell phone.
I saw the research that showed the way the blood cells change, becoming irregular and flat when standing near a smart meter, when the same person standing 500 feet away from smart meters had normal, round blood cells. This person couldn’t feel any symptoms but the blood showed a problem which shows a negative effect on health even for people who can’t notice any effects from the meter.
I know people whose smart meter sits on the other side of the wall from their bed and I have seen the readings of the smart meters which can be up to 450 times a cell phone. I have a smart meter on the outside wall of my home office where I spend a majority of my day and am concerned what impact it has on both my family’s health and my ability to work effectively in an optimal environment. It concerns me to think that there could be an invisible electromagnetic undercurrent impacting my physical energy or mental clarity.
Remember that everyday in the U.S. people are diagnosed with cancer that didn’t know they had it, so not being aware of the effects from smart meters is not an indication of safety. I have heard of many people who began experiencing health problems for the first time in their lives at the time that the smart meters were put in their neighborhood, even though they opted out for themselves and kept their non-radiating analog meter. I would love to see more in-depth articles in The Garden Island on the smart meters, both sides of the story, arguments, counter arguments and research cited form a broad variety of sources including our local community. Such articles I believe would be of tremendous interest to the Kauai public.
I read and enjoyed your article on privacy, and that information alone is enough to eliminate smart meters altogether, but the radiation effects on the human body of the powerful smart meter frequency need to be further studied before subjecting all of us on the island to live with results of a potentially dangerous decision to have these smart meters on all of our houses.
My hope is that our community utility cooperative is conscientious of its members health without incurring an added cost to the member, even if that means that we need to go back to our safe analog meters until such time broadband research absolutely proves that the radiating meters are safe.
Limor Farber, Princeville
