• Ohana Kauai Ohana Kauai Today’s Ohana Kauai property tax dispute boils down to an age-old theme interwoven throughout the fabric of history. It’s a repeat of David facing up to Goliath, of the “shot fired and heard around the
• Ohana Kauai
Ohana Kauai
Today’s Ohana Kauai property tax dispute boils down to an age-old theme interwoven throughout the fabric of history. It’s a repeat of David facing up to Goliath, of the “shot fired and heard around the world” in Lexington in 1775, and of a “line drawn” in a parched patch of Texas sand in 1836 in a place in history called the Alamo.
Kaua‘i’s property-tax dispute is just another example of “we the people” standing up to abuse and misrepresentation. Of the little guy and gal standing up to Hawai‘i’s new lunas and fighting overwhelming odds and superior forces in terms of numbers and resources and winning. Unfortunately, “we the people’s” opponents, the “new lunas,” are not honorably admitting to defeat nor willing to accept peace and there lies our problem. A problem that can be resolved very easily and at no further cost to “we, the taxpayer”.
The primary concern of our present mayor and council is repeatedly declared to be the legality of the Ohana Kauai charter amendment as to whether the voters have the right to vote on issues concerning taxation policies. It’s not really about the fact that the council did not think about this solution before “we the people” did nor is it really about a $1.5 million dollars shortfall in revenues. Heck, revenue shortfalls are never mentioned when similar plans are initiated and passed through the regular, “good ole” approved, channels by the above mentioned parties. This issue is a matter of legality!
To end this bickering over the legality of the issue, first the present Mayor and Council members must realize that “we the people” have spoken with our votes. 624574270f the voters want the Ohana Kaua‘i charter amendment adopted. I say, make it legal by simply introducing an ordinance, worded exactly like the amendment, on opening day of our new County Council in December. Adopt it upon second reading and make it law. Then it will be legal and all the attorneys can go home and the taxpayers will not be spending their own tax money on suing themselves. All it takes is courage and leadership.
John Hoff
Lawa‘i
