• Are nurses being replaced? • What message are you sending our keiki? • Impressed by Richman • Remember the name, Rodney Haraga • Big issues, little change • Support the nurses Are nurses being replaced? I am confused by
• Are nurses being replaced?
• What message are you sending our keiki?
• Impressed by Richman
• Remember the name,
Rodney Haraga
• Big issues, little change
• Support the nurses
Are nurses being replaced?
I am confused by the hospital’s statement: “Yukimura said the extended contract did not imply that nurses would be replaced.”
Then why did the recruiter state that “This is not a strike anymore and the hospital is looking to replace those nurses” in his ad? There were 81 positions posted! When contacted by a former Wilcox nurse, he replied, “A hospital representative told me that according to the hospital a strike is over as far as they are concerned and therefore needs nurses.” It sure sounds to me like they want to replace the striking Kaua‘i nurses.
What message are you sending our keiki?
We are spending a great deal of time, money and lives to combat drugs and alcohol use among children and what do you do? You print on the front page a picture of two local icons swigging it down! This is such a shame in light of what these two wonderful guys are doing on behalf of children with autism. Do you mean to tell me there weren’t any other photos you could’ve used? Did you forget you have a newspaper-in-the-schools program? Just last week, I wrote in appreciation of the contributions Dennis Fujimoto has made to our community and this week, I find myself chastising The Garden Island for this faux pas. Will The Garden Island be part of our community or will it tear our community apart?
- Suzanne Kashiwaeda
Kalaheo
Impressed by Richman
I just saw an interview between D.Q. Jackson and Dr. Monroe Richman last night. I had come away from this past primary sorely disappointed that (and not unexpected) the majority of Kaua‘i wants the same people to do the same job and to take us in the same direction. As I watched the program I became enthusiastic and hopeful again. Dr. Richman is a man with conviction, passion and drive to do the right thing. His off-the-cuff responses were genuine, unrehearsed and truly believable. Here is an individual that has dedicated the majority of his life to care for others. Now he is asking Kaua‘i to allow him to serve us as a member of council. Dr. Richman’s efforts to bring soaring property taxes in line so that all of Kaua‘i would benefit is a monumental task which he continues today. I find his common-sense approach to Kaua‘i’s more complex issues to be refreshing to say the least. I believe Dr. Monroe Richman deserves the opportunity to serve on the County Council and to help Kaua‘i redefine the path our beloved homeland should take. I have heard that the chances of his success are limited by his ethnic background and because he wasn’t born here. This opportunity should be based on his vision for OUR future, not the color of his skin or of the town from which he hails.
Remember the name, Rodney Haraga
Rodney Haraga is the Director of Transportation for the State of Hawai‘i. Yesterday he took time out to write a lengthy guest editorial to The Garden Island in support of the Superferry. Why? This man certainly does spend a great deal of his taxpayer-paid salary helping out a private firm. Isn’t his job to oversee the harbors and other transportation in a neutral way? I have seen many newspapers over the years, and read many editorials, but in all my years I don’t recall seeing a state official write a guest editorial in support of a private company. Would it be appropriate for Gov. Lingle to officially endorse go! Airlines as a great way to get around? Mr. Haraga is also the same state official that gave a long pro-Superferry presentation at a “community meeting” held last month in Lihu‘e. He smugly told the crowd that the Superferry was “a done deal.” Fine then, Mr. Haraga, since this is coming, I think that the entire island community should remember YOUR name, Rodney Haraga, as soon as homeless people begin coming to Kaua‘i and camping on our beaches.
I will remember your name when I have to explain to my kids why a whale was killed by the ferry, or why men in white suits are spraying acid to kill coqui frogs. I have read letters from many people who think the Superferry won’t cause any problems, and maybe that’s true; no one knows at this point. Whatever the changes are, remember the name Rodney Haraga — he brought them here.
Big issues, little change
It seems like it’s all politics on the island. I’m very disappointed on what’s going on here on the Garden Isle. It seems we have a lot of BIG issues, that many are not being taken care of. We put our trust in the people who hold office and now it seems like they’re the ones who are to blame for what’s going on around the island. The Superferry, the drug center, the Hanalei situation — what’s going on?
I’m so opposed to all three of those problems. One of my biggest gripes is with the placement of the drug center. My main concern is the drainage from the site, and on to the ancient salt pans. Also the sewer; we already are facing possible damage from the sewer system down at Salt Pond. Why did they do that to Salt Pond? My family has made salt for years, generation after generation, and to see it in possible danger, it kills me. There is so much in the construction of the site that the public is not aware of. Simply because we weren’t made aware of all the things that are in the contract and not public knowledge unless you have the contract. There are a lot of unanswered questions, in the contract itself, and things that were supposed to be done that haven’t been done yet, and there was a groundbreaking?
What’s up with that?
Please, people, wake up and see what’s happening. It’s not too late. However, we need to take a step back and look around, at the beauty of the island as it is now. We might not see this island in a couple of years. Please help and get involved. After all, it is your home also.
- Bernadette Kali Vea
‘Ele‘ele
Support the nurses
Oh please, people, support our nurses. They are getting so little support from our populace and the politicos are all too busy working on their own campaigns. Remember that when we get sick or have an accident, as our family had last year, it is this group of incredible, caring people that makes us whole again.
The doctors cannot do this without them, and we are losing great doctors as this strike goes way past day 100.
Please support our nurses. Write to this and other papers. Let your friends know what’s happening, and contact the people in charge at Wilcox. These are our lives and those of family and friends we are talking about. Thanks.
