Open letter to Barbara Bennett:This letter is in response to your article Nov. 8 entitled “Boating shutdown hurt people, business.” Reading it, a storm of anger rose in me, knowing that as a prominent figure in the Kaua’ti community, you
Open letter to Barbara Bennett:This letter is in response to your article
Nov. 8 entitled “Boating shutdown hurt people, business.”
Reading it, a
storm of anger rose in me, knowing that as a prominent figure in the Kaua’ti
community, you can express such shameless ignorance to the value of our island
of Kaua’ti. Somehow relating the higher incidence of drowning on our island to
the closing of a harmful boating industry to the lack of lifeguards on our
secluded beaches, proves that you are completely removed from the spirit and
purpose of this island.
And who are you? The publisher of This Week or
something? It’s in your interest to promote unsustainable, environmentally
damaging activities.
When was the last time you enjoyed a day at one of
our remote beaches? When was the last time you got on a kayak, explored sea
caves and spent some time in Kalalau? When was the last time you connected with
our island’ts soul? I believe, Barbara, that it has been a very long time for
you.
I have explored those sea caves. I have spent endless days in Kalalau.
I have snorkeled the waters of Na Pali. The decision to end the Hanalei boating
industry was the right one, for the community and the delicate ecology of our
unique island system.
The problems with drowning have nothing to do with
the lack of boats out there. You need to spend only one day in Kalalau to watch
the plethora of boats go by. Beginning at 8 a.m. until sunset, there are plenty
of boats on the waters surrounding our island. The fishermen still take their
vessels out – it’ts not illegal for them.
The boating industry was shut
down because of its harmful environmental impact and the voice of the majority.
You are the minority, Barbara. You represent the people of this island who sell
off our natural resources to pay for your nice car and nice home.
You are
calling for lifeguards on our state beaches? I don’t blame the state for not
wanting liability. The ocean is unpredictable. Not even a lifeguard can save
some of those people who have lost their lives. Our residents and visitors are
given a choice. If they feel the need for a lifeguard, the free will is there
to go to a guarded beach.
A practical measure to the problem would be to
ensure that every single person leaves their airplane with a beach safety guide
in their hand. That’s all it takes for any person to know where to go for a
guarded beach. Maybe you can use your influence at This Week to put beach
safety information on the first page of your publication. Or is no one paying
you to do that?
Prevention begins with adequate education and
communication, and really, it’s that simple. Please take the time to reconnect
with this island. There is no sense in living here if you are blind to Kauai’s
spirit.
Stephanie Krieger
Kapa’a
