• Commendable letter Commendable letter I would like to commend 16-year-old Emily DeVille for her eloquent letter. Despite claims to the contrary in a subsequent response letter, nowhere in her letter did Miss DeVille say that tourists should not be
• Commendable letter
Commendable letter
I would like to commend 16-year-old Emily DeVille for her eloquent letter.
Despite claims to the contrary in a subsequent response letter, nowhere in her letter did Miss DeVille say that tourists should not be allowed on Kaua‘i.
She did complain about extreme over development, and she rightly pointed out that there has been “irresponsible promotion” of Kaua‘i by certain parties. She has seen firsthand how her own neighborhood has changed for the worse. She has observed how some people come here, not to blend in unobtrusively with the island lifestyle, but to change the very character of the island. And she wants vacation rentals restricted to areas especially zoned for them.
Let me give just one example: on their Web site, a couple who admit that they “recently” moved to Kaua‘i are advertising a four-bedroom house that “sleeps 12” and can be split into two separate vacation rentals, as well as another “home” they have “just completed” on the same piece of land that contains three other “suites” as vacation rentals. Together, the rental income for all their units is over $5,000 per week, over $257,000 per year, with a total capacity of 22 “guests.” Do we really believe this couple moved here to enjoy the aloha and to fit in with their neighbors? No wonder the locals resent such an “invasion!”
If only our planners and other leaders could see the damage being done as clearly as has this articulate young lady!
When Miss DeVille is old enough to run for office, I will be happy to support her!
