Letters for Sunday — August 01, 2004

• Aloha spirit?

Aloha spirit?

Question regarding July 25 article by Paul Curtis and Sue Kanoho and the disgruntled tourists, Christine Tamm and family. (The ups and downs of Kaua‘i’s “aloha spirit”) Aloha Spirit stock fell a couple points?

They say we were called “scum” and assaulted. Seemingly, they mean “verbal” assault?

Since there’s two sides to a story, was it provoked? What was the tourists’ part that might have brought this on? Did they expect Automatic Aloha as part of their travel package? This state is always fast to convict locals when it affects the dollars.

Then Mrs. Tamm states that Hawai‘i belongs to the United States. Yes it does — but illegally — the U.S. Congress apologized and confessed to the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. People need to start acknowledging the Public Law 103-150.

Sue Kanoho, (Kaua‘i Visitors Bureau) leaped for the bait in defense of the tourists, followed by platitudes of how residents and island life are stressed out and visitor industry “leaders such as herself” will look at the problem “holistically” and now sees her role as “caretaker of the island!” What does that mean?

A lot of disingenuous words…if she and her other cohorts in numbers and profits wanted to do something effective, they’d become vocal and active in stopping the free lunch from rubber-stamping every tacky development that comes before the Planning Commission and County Council; and the state giving away land that doesn’t belong to them. That’s the root of the problem!

I believe Aloha is a spiritual phenomenon from the People of Hawai‘i that’s given / received mutually and unconditionally – not a commodity and not on demand.

Ms. Kanoho, please start putting the money where the mouth is and get sincere. People here and outer islands are sick of the game. Believe it or not, many tourists too.

Elaine Dunbar

Lihu‘e