Fewer, not more, barriers needed to operate TVRs
Aloha Kauai residents, I’m not sure you had a chance to watch coverage of the council meeting held on Dec. 4 or aware of the proposed bill that was placed on the agenda for this week just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Ensuring life in the garden, and beyond
Danger! Roaring sounds begin. Great wheels — then blades — begin turning, chopping. Run! Crawl! Hop, if you can! Scurry into fern clumps, between ti leaf stalks. Dive into underbrush, burrow into flowerpots and beds, in crevices below roots. Fly, if blessed with wings, into high boughs. Yeow… the roar ends, but now a whine of whacking as a killing stalk whirrs close and closer into the borders where some cranny of safety might be found.
Kauai must reduce use of plastic products
The Honolulu City Council has passed a historic revision of its plastic-bag ban ordinance that extends prohibitions on single-use items to include disposable eating utensils, plastic plates and bowls and other food-related things contributing to the plastic pollution epidemic worldwide.
Grateful for community’s aloha
Thank your for the article on the Kapaa community (TGI, Monday, Dec. 2).
Lowering the cost of living, supporting agriculture — a twofer
Politicians and lawmakers often lay the blame for their perceived impotence on the nature of dealing with “complex issues and intractable challenges.”
Understanding the impeachment process
The House of Representatives has opened an impeachment inquiry concerning President Donald Trump. Impeachment in the House is the first of two steps in removing a president for cause; the second step is trial in the Senate.
Editor should stop promoting Christianity
In the time frame since our current editor has been at TGI, we have been subjected to various religious articles in our island newspaper, several taking up the front page.
Mahalo for support of wounded veterans
Many of you may not know this, but the Kauai Veterans Council and many caring Kauai businesses and community leaders and members support Vacations for Warriors, a program created by Robert (Bob) DeMonbrun, a Colorado resident, to send men and women wounded in war on vacations to the Hawaiian Islands.
Begin now to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
We have passed Halloween. Some people say “thank God,” and others wish it would last all year. And we approach the holiday season quickly. The stores are already filled with Christmas ornaments and trees arrive soon. And people were thinking about their Thanksgiving feast preparations, and family, of course.
A non-political Thanksgiving message
Believe it or not, a non-political Thanksgiving message is indeed possible and especially needed today and in these times.
Studies offer revealing look at pesticides
Canadian lawyers just launched a $500 million class-action lawsuit against Roundup makers and 42,000 plaintiffs “Sue Bayer over Glyphosate,” reports Sustainable Pulse, Nov. 22, 2019. “Lawsuits against Bayer are on the rise over claims that the company’s weedkiller causes cancer. The legal cases have taken a toll on Bayer’s share price and reputation.”
We must act now on climate change
The debate over what Big Oil knew about climate change — and when — has very real ties to our local fossil-fuel industry. Shell, Texaco and BP are local fossil-fuel providers that helped to fund the climate-denial “science” that has derailed efforts over the last 30 years to show fossil fuels to be the primary cause of climate change.
Planning Commission upholds public trust
The fundamental premise establishing the protection of ground water as a public trust resource under the Hawaii Constitution is based on the recognition that water is the source of all life in Hawaii that no one — not even ali’i — could own. The duty to uphold and protect the public trust is thrust upon all state and county agencies, and in this case, the Planning Commission.
‘Matilda’ leaves mark on and off the stage
I write to encourage our community to enjoy the magnificent production of “Matilda,” presented at the convention hall by Hawaii Children’s Theatre.
Food/farm policy, Hawaii style
According to numerous reports Hawaii imports about 90% of its food and exports approximately $3 billion a year paying for it.
Hawaiian proverb: The stars are the spies of heaven
• Editor’s note: Following is the English synopsis of a letter written to The Garden Island by Kapaa resident Sally Jo Keahi Manea, followed by the Hawaiian language version.
Kauai needs farmers now more than ever
I came to Kauai around 16 years ago and somehow managed to get myself involved with the Kauai County Farm Bureau. I had an extensive marketing background and had this idea about creating a program called “Grow Kauai.”
Former Kauai mayor endorses Kahele
For 10 years, it was my honor to serve as your mayor. Prior to that, I served in public service for the County of Kauai for 25 years, first as a civil servant in the Department of Parks & Recreation then with the County Agency on Elderly Affairs and then under Mayor Baptiste as the director of Parks & Recreation.
The County Council and the ‘Pareto Principle’
People often ask, what exactly do the seven Kauai councilmembers actually do? How many hours per week do they work? What do they get paid?
East Kauai Irrigation System to revert to DLNR
In 2001, the East Kauai Water Users Cooperative was formed to take over management of the state-owned irrigation system in our area previously operated by Lihue Plantation.