• The truth about Koke‘e • Shop was missed during evacuation sweep • Thanks for giving both sides of story The truth about Koke‘e The recent Garden Island article “Koke‘e cabin owners fighting back” reported that many Koke‘e leaseholders have
• The truth about Koke‘e
• Shop was missed during evacuation sweep
• Thanks for giving
both sides of story
The truth about Koke‘e
The recent Garden Island article “Koke‘e cabin owners fighting back” reported that many Koke‘e leaseholders have applied for permits to remove or demolish their cabins. For many of us, this is a last-ditch effort to save a historic cultural landscape from certain destruction.
A few of the cabins in Koke‘e have been handed down over several generations; many others, including my own, were purchased; a few were built more recently on vacant lots. The current cabin owners each feel a close, personal connection to their cabin, which have required not only considerable financial investment but also time, energy, passion and commitment.
When the current leases expire, the State plans to take all of our cabins, saying that the leases contain a ‘surrender’ clause. Not only is this action illegal, it’s simply wrong. I bought my cabin; I have title to it. I fixed it up, from a ‘tear-down’ to a comfy little cabin. If the State wants to assume ownership of my cabin, they should at least pay me a fair price for it. If you were in my position, wouldn’t you feel the same?
That is why we have applied for these permits — to prevent the State from taking our private property without paying for it. At the State’s proposed auction, if I am not the high bidder, sadly, I must be prepared to remove my cabin, unless I receive a fair price for it.
Longtime Kaua‘i residents still remember with anger the 1985 auction — the first ever for Koke‘e leases. What happened then was wrong, and horribly divisive; more than 50 families lost their beloved cabins, and at least 15 cabins were demolished or removed. One burned down.
This wonderful, unique historic mountain community is on the verge of being destroyed forever by poor, short-sighted planning decisions. Is that what our State leadership wants as its legacy? Those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat it.
There are always cabins available in Koke‘e. There have been over 80 changes in ownership since 1985 n that’s an average of one every 3 months. There are also dozens of identified buildable vacant lots as well as many already-state-owned cabins. Therefore, the current leases should be re-negotiated, the cabins should remain in private ownership, and the auction reserved for all the vacant properties. Increase access and opportunity, be fair to the current cabin owners, and let the free market operate.
Taking private property and selling Koke‘e off to the highest bidder must be stopped. The solution should be one of vision and partnership, working with and for the people of Kaua‘i, to assure that current local families, and generations to come, can enjoy Koke‘e, as their grandparents did.
The people of Kaua‘i need to take a stand. If you agree, please contact your local legislator, or better yet e-mail the DLNR Chairman directly: PeterYoung@hawaii.gov. And tell a friend.
- Erik Coopersmith,
Koke‘e leaseholder
and cabin owner, Lot 29
Undersigned by Mike and Joann Givens, Koke‘e leaseholders and cabin owners, Lot No. 10; Peter Beckerman, Koke‘e leaseholder and cabin owners, Lot No. 30; Paullie Purdy, Kaua’i resident; Allen Rundbaken, Kaua’i resident; Dr. Harold and Alice Furst, California resident and frequent visitor to Kaua‘i; David and Lolita Halper, California resident and visitor to Kaua‘i; Paul and Karen Honeywell, Lake Tahoe, CA resident and visitor to Kaua’i.
Shop was missed during evacuation sweep
Last weekend they closed the Lihu‘e Industrial Park II due to leakage of a chemical. The police evacuated the entire place because of this. They let every businesses know and closed every one except my shop.
Nobody came to my shop and let me know what was going on. I was in the shop working until my husband came and argued with the police officer to let him in because I was still inside the shop working.
How could they miss our shop right by the curve of the entrance and my shop door was wide open.The police said it was their procedure to evacuate the entire place. Yes they did, except me. Next time they do that they have to be sure everyone is out of that place. The police failed to do this. Even it was a small disaster, what if had been worse?
Thanks for giving both sides of story
Congratulations to Lester Chang for giving both sides of the “Council: Sanction Venneman” story The Garden Island 5/27/06.
We read the Hearing Officer’s report and the Kauai Board of Ethics’ conclusions but we also got to read officer Venneman’s testimony along with certain undeniable facts that his attorney, John Murphy points out.
One of the most positive statements that Murphy made was that, “there was no evidence presented by Kaua‘i County that Deputy Chief Venneman’s action disrupted and thwarted the efficiency of the KPD nor did Venneman forfeit the first amendment protection against governmental abridgment of freedom of speech by circulating the letter of support both privately and publicly.”
In other words for any person to choose to petition on behalf of their belief — in this case to support a candidate who Venneman felt was the best qualified for the job — was his or her constitutional right under the first amendment. And, let us look further into this “plot,” “conspiracy” or whatever you want to call it and check out the huge double standard going on.
On the one hand we have the mayor sending two official letters, one to his KPD employees in their pay envelopes and one to the Police Commission, who he appoints, soliciting their help to remove K.C. Lum from his position as Chief. How unethical can anything be to use his position of power to further his own agenda?
Then we have a veteran police officer with credentials that are unparalleled on Kaua‘i being sanctioned for doing exactly what our mayor did!!! Only this officer doesn’t have one-tenth the power that the mayor does. And, Mike Ching was forced to resign because of these same double standards. How out of line is our system??
Remember that the only ones who are saying that this conspiracy theory is wrong are those running our government. The people see through this facade and, as Jean Holmes said, the people and their letters are the pulse of this Island. If any elected or appointed official wants to be on the side of the people — the right side — then let them stand up and say that what is being done is wrong.
Thanks again, Lester, for letting the people see both sides of this story
