LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County Council members scolded a Kapa‘a resident during a meeting Thursday while they discussed a Kalaheo businessman’s proposal to donate 100 pairs of gloves for use by prison inmates who beautify roads near Lihu‘e Airport. During the
LIHU‘E — Kaua‘i County Council members scolded a Kapa‘a resident during a meeting Thursday while they discussed a Kalaheo businessman’s proposal to donate 100 pairs of gloves for use by prison inmates who beautify roads near Lihu‘e Airport.
During the council meeting at the historic County Building here, Kapa‘a resident Richard Stauber apparently raised a question on the propriety of using county employees and inmates from the Kauai Community Correctional Center in Wailua for the Lihu‘e Gateway beautification project.
For nearly two years, volunteers, using their own equipment, have maintained grass, flowers, bushes, hedges and trees that line parts of Kapule Highway and Ahukini Road.
Councilman Daryl Kaneshiro said the council agenda item focused solely on the donation of the gloves by Kalaheo businessman and West Kaua‘i community leader Saburo “Sab” Yoshioka.
Kaneshiro said Stauber was out of line for speaking about his concerns when the agenda related only to the donation.
“It gets me a little bit excited when people speak like that,” Kaneshiro said.
Kaneshiro added that he felt the line of questioning by Stauber was a criticism of the landscaping project, and none was needed. The project is eye-pleasing, and is a nice way to say “aloha” to arriving and departing visitors, Kaneshiro said.
Councilman Joe Munechika said he spoke with KCCC inmates about other community projects they participate in, and emphasized that conversations with them showed to him there was no inappropriate use of convicts for the Gateway project.
Kaneshiro also said Council Chair Kaipo Asing extended a gracious gesture by allowing Stauber to speak on his particular concern, separate from the discussion on the donation of gloves.
If it had been him, Kaneshiro said, he never would have allowed Stauber to continue with his point.
Asing thanked Stauber for his comments, but with eyes wide open and looking at Stauber, asked why the Kapa‘a resident didn’t think the project was a good one.
“It is a good project,” said Asing, who along with council Vice Chair James Tokioka and other councilmembers thanked Eddie Sarita, convention hall manager, who coordinates the maintenance of the Gateway project, and volunteers who have kept the project going.
The volunteers will not have to do the job indefinitely, as plans call for a state agency or state agencies to maintain the entire landscaping project in the future, Asing said.
Staff Writer Lester Chang may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net.
