In this holiday season, best wishes to Mayor Kusaka and her hardworking office staff. In the spirit of full disclosure, my wife and I have come to know Mayor Kusaka in her official capacity rather than socially. We first met
In this holiday season, best wishes to Mayor Kusaka and her hardworking office
staff.
In the spirit of full disclosure, my wife and I have come to know
Mayor Kusaka in her official capacity rather than socially. We first met her at
public functions like Navy League meetings, PMRF change of command, etc.
Later I got interested in the plasma arc process mentioned in TGI. I offered
informal help reviewing and critiquing the draft RFP Steve Oliver prepared
before resigning as County Engineer. More recently I’ve served as a volunteer
on the Solid Waste Task Force and on the Cost Control Commission.
I have
been troubled by recent letters to TGI which included personal attacks on Mayor
Kusaka. Anyone who knows the Mayor knows how deeply she cares about Kaua’i and
all of our people.
They also know how hard she works, trying to improve
conditions here.
This is not to say that all’s right with County
government. We all know that there is plenty of room for improvement, though
sometimes one person’s “improvement” is seen as a threat to others.
Those
who know Mayor Kusaka know how hard she tries to balance the often competing
interests within our small island community. Yes, she promotes tourism. She
appears to favor development. She puts high priority on improving our parks in
spite of serious budget constraints. She also tries to encourage small
business.
She works tirelessly behind the scenes to get higher bond
ratings for Kaua’i, resulting in lower debt service costs.
Mayor Kusaka
knows well that when I write to her, or call, or ask to meet with her, it is
usually to criticize County operations and to offer suggestions for
improvement. That said, she is unfailingly gracious and listens carefully.
I am impressed by her detailed knowledge of operations, budget, labor
relations, etc. She has at times acted promptly on our recommendations. At
others she has explained her need to focus on higher priority problems, like
getting more lifeguards on County beaches, and I’ve never disagreed with her
priorities.
Is the Mayor perfect? Am I? Are you? My take is that we are
very fortunate to have this dedicated lady as our mayor. Particularly in the
holiday season, I urge those of you with complaints to attack the problem, not
the person.
John Love
Kapa’a
Daniel Tumbaga
Daniel Farenas
Tumbaga of Kekaha died at Kauai Veterans Memorial Hospital on Jan. 3, 2000, at
the age of 85.
A retired irrigation crew chief with Kekaha Sugar Company,
he was born Dec. 1, 1914, in Sinait, Ilocos Sur, PhilippineIslands.
He is
survived by his wife: Maria Tumbaga of Kekaha; three sons: Oseas (Aurora)
Tumbaga of Dallas, Tex., Job (Myrna) Tumbaga of Kekaha and Samuel (Mary)
Tumbaga; two daughters; Carlina (Mariano) Vea of Kekaha and Romula Peaks of
White Plains, New York; one hanai daughter: Margaret Lacro of Waimea; 16
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother: Pablo Tumbaga of Honolulu,
O’ahu; numerou s nieces, nephews, cousins.
Friends may visit with the
family on Tuesday, Jan. 11, at the West Kaua’i United Methodist Church in
Kekaha between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. Funeral service officiated by Pastora
Flora Obayashi will begin at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at the Kekaha public
cemetery.
Casual attire. Arrangements are being handled by Garden Island
Mortuary.
