• Ohana Kauai lawsuit • Vance Pascua — My Hero • Gated communities • Care from Kauai Hospice Ohana Kauai lawsuit The letter in the August 2 issue of The Garden Island quotes an astounding statement from the Kaua‘i County
• Ohana Kauai lawsuit
• Vance Pascua — My Hero
• Gated communities
• Care from Kauai Hospice
Ohana Kauai lawsuit
The letter in the August 2 issue of The Garden Island quotes an astounding statement from the Kaua‘i County Council: “A lawsuit initiated by a citizens group to wrest property taxing power away from the County”!
These elected officials seem to have forgotten that the people put them there; and the people, under the U.S. Constitution and the Kaua‘i County Charter, can remove them!
The Kaua‘i County Charter provides power to the citizens of this county to amend the Charter, without any restrictions as to what the citizens wish to change. The Council, on the other hand, keeps confusing the issue by referring to the Initiative Process (which is not a Charter Amendment) which cannot be applied to any of the financial functions of the county government.
What 13,000 voters voted on last November was a Charter Amendment, not an Initiative! If our legal staff in the office of the CountyAttorney was so ignorant as to confuse a Charter Amendment with an Initiative, the remedy for that is quite simple — get some better lawyers!
Instead, the Council is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars out of its deep pocket filled with millions extracted from the citizens of this county by means of the County Government’s manipulation of the Tax Code. (Incidentally, have you noticed that this county has never had any problem balancing the budget, as other counties have and as Honolulu is struggling with right now? Our budget is always balanced, and forever rising!)
As with the fancy orthopedic chairs in the Council Chambers and the Mayor’s office, our elected officials go first class — no country lawyers from Kaua‘i, but only the biggest law firm in the state.
It is time our elected officials understand that the people who put them there can, indeed, wrest not just the “taxing power” from them; but can wrest those orthopedic chairs from under them as well!
Vance Pascua — My Hero
When ranking great accomplishments in a man’s life, there are few acts that weigh more than the feat of saving another man’s life.
On Saturday, July 30, on the occasion of the Koloa Plantation Days parade, in the post-parade entertainment tent at Koloa park, a man who only seconds earlier was enjoying his plate-lunch, was literally choking to death on food lodged in his throat.
Mr. Vance Pascua, recognizing the possible fatal circumstance, jumped over two rows of benches to masterfully perform the Heimlich Maneuver, successfully dislodging the piece of meat that was choking the man. Saving that man’s life was heroic.
To all who knows Vance, please fly him a shaka when you see him. He is my hero!
As an aside Vance is from an old, well known, Koloa Plantation family.
Gated communities
There was a brand new issue on the agenda for the July 26 Planning Commission meeting. For the first time, the Commission officially took up the Mayor’s proposal to restrict gated subdivisions on Kaua‘i.
As expected, the “pro-gate” troops came out in force, because they don’t want “outsiders” venturing into their subdivisions (forgetting that at some point, they themselves were allowed by the host culture to venture unrestricted onto the island!).
Among them was David Callies, a University of Hawai‘i law professor, who said he was there “as counsel” but did not name the client or clients who paid him to appear. The fact that he is a law professor does not automatically mean that he is unbiased.
Callies referred to the Land Use Research Foundation, a lofty-sounding organization. He did not disclose that it is really a lobbying entity formed by several big landowners and developers in the state and that it is headed by Dean Uchida, a registered lobbyist who works on behalf of developers. A simple Internet search reveals their true motives.
Think about this, people. This is such an issue to the big developers that they would retain a Honolulu professor and invoke their own lobbying organization to make an appearance at a regular Planning Commission meeting.
After this very first public hearing, in lightning speed, the hearing was closed!
What a dizzying rush to close out this important issue! Now, let’s guess who wins this one!
Care from Kauai Hospice
I am writing on behalf of my beloved husband Antonio Lima, known to family and friends as Tony. Tony died on July 8 in his own home, surrounded by his family, comfortable and most of all with his dignity.
Tony was a proud man. He was a hard worker, fun-loving, and deeply devoted to his family. Five years ago, Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and seizures. At first his progression was slow and his care manageable, but then his needs began to escalate and I knew I needed support.
On a visit to our doctor, I shared my needs and concerns. He recommended Kauai Hospice. At first I was resistant. Just the thought of Tony dying brought tears to my eyes, yet I knew I needed help.
After a thorough explanation of the services Kauai Hospice provided, I decided to try them on for one month. By the second week, I realized that Kauai Hospice was more than just help; they were angels.
A wonderful team offered a variety of support to both my husband, myself and our nine year old daughter. Our home was filled with love, laughter and most of all, life. Tony was treated with respect, caring and compassion. I was given not one, but two special volunteers that provide respite so I could spend quality time with our daughter, going to church or running errands. special support was given just to our daughter. Their care was focused around our family and life, not about death.
When Tony died, he died with both my hands and his nurse’s hands caring for him. Most of all, he died in the presence of those who loved him most.
I encourage anyone caring for a loved one with a life-limiting diagnosis to consider Kauai Hospice. When cure is no longer an option but comfort and dignity is, then Kauai Hospice is the perfect choice. Talk to your family, talk to your doctor, or call Kauai Hospice on your own. Try them like I did and you will see, the support of my angels are just a phone call away.
