• Election day plea • Agor has stood strong • Support Filipino candidates • Shame on the pet killers • We need some savings Election day plea At election time we hear a lot about how members of the Kaua‘i
• Election day plea
• Agor has stood strong
• Support Filipino candidates
• Shame on the pet killers
• We need some savings
Election day plea
At election time we hear a lot about how members of the Kaua‘i County Council want to solve the problems of traffic, housing, drugs, etc. Every current council member will spout the line that they want to preserve the island so their children can enjoy its beauty.
However, every time there is a recommendation from the planning commission they approve virtually every request for rezoning and approving plans for oversize developments. Did I just see in a recent The Garden Island where the council approved rezoning for 750 homes down by the Marriott? I am a relative newcomer to Kaua‘i, only 13 years. In that time I only remember one time when the council rejected a plan by a developer, the Koloa shopping development. Am I wrong in my perception that if you have big money you can get approval for just about anything you want?
The council has done absolutely nothing to help the traffic problem. They seem to think approving more big housing developments will solve our traffic problems. I need someone to explain that thinking to me. I have heard allegations that our county government is corrupt. I’ll leave that decison to someone else. I for one feel not one of the current county council members deserves my vote and will not get it on election day. I am not optimistic that enough people are unhappy with the current council. Perhaps by the time we have doubled our population and have absolute gridlock of our traffic, people will wake up.
I can hope.
Kalaheo
Agor has stood strong
Over the past months the Koke‘e Master Plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement has been discussed extensively in the media. There has been some misinformation and finger pointing about where the plan and the process went wrong. We feel that it is important to discredit one rumor that is currently swirling around.
When Gov. Linda Lingle appointed Ron Agor to the Land Board, many residents of Kaua‘i, and Koke‘e leaseholders, felt optimistic about the future of Waimea Canyon and Koke’e State Park for the first time in a long time. We finally had someone in that important position who had known Koke’e all of his life n who was concerned about access for Kaua‘i families n and who, when he returned to the island in 1986, saw the effects of a disastrous auction that tore our community apart.
Remember who lost in that auction? Kaua‘i families. Why? Because in 1985 DLNR appeared intent on getting hefty lease rents n with not a bit of respect for the people of Kaua‘i and our community.
However, Ron Agor has been instrumental in guiding DLNR to better decisions for Koke‘e. Ron helped guide DLNR away from what would have resulted in the establishment of Koke‘e as a private gated community. Ron has publicly declared that he respects and values the historic cultural community in Koke‘e, and that he is working on creative solutions to preserving that rich legacy. Before Ron Agor came aboard, the Kaua‘i community had no voice. Now we do.
We have been intimately engaged with the Legislature and the DLNR for over nine years. Our goal is to retain the Koke‘e that all Kaua‘i knows and loves. We have participated in the entire history of the development of the Master Plan and the draft EIS.
Most importantly as residents of Kaua’i, we appreciate all of Ron Agor’s efforts for Koke‘e. We also realize that Ron is the only one of the seven Land Board members, who must effectively represent their constituents as well as the state of Hawai‘i. Right now, the forces of development are at bay, but there is still much work to be done before Koke‘e is safe for Kaua‘i families.
- Canen Hookano, Paul Matsunaga, Donn “Curly” Carswell, Pammy Chock, Erick Coopersmith, Frank O. Hay
Support Filipino candidates
This is to gratefully acknowledge the wisdom of Gov. Linda Lingle in appointing talented people of Filipino ancestry to head five of her cabinet offices. Indeed, there are a lot of deserving people out there — only if we are willing to recognize, accept, and make them a part of our lives.
Lihu‘e
Shame on the pet killers
The men who killed “Kipu” and then attacked his owner put shame on all law-abiding hunters. They were not hunting, they were poaching, which is stealing, period. They should face the full wrath of the law for this despicable act. I personally know people who hunt to put food on the table and would never think about killing someone’ s pet to do so. This crime should outrage all pet owners. I hope Wendy and Kipu’s last owner can take comfort in knowing that they gave an innocent animal some happiness and comfort. My heart goes out to you. To the two charged with this crime, shame on you guys.
Kapa’ a
We need some savings
With regards to the KIUC decisions about the future of our “electric co-op” as outlined in Wednesday’s The Garden Island, it came to my attention recently through a reliable source close to KIUC that KIUC purchases its fuel to run our generators almost exclusively from Chevron Oil at a much higher price than necessary. If this is true, why not explore a less expensive alternative fuel source if possible and start the savings to KIUC customers right there?
It is a suggestion that has evidently been made to those who make the decisions at KIUC already, and if so, KIUC, is there any reason to continue purchasing higher-costing fuel oil? It wouldn’t answer all of my other questions about the “fuel surcharges,” but it could be a way to cut some costs. At 37 cents per kilowatt hour, about four times the national average for electricity, we can certainly use some savings.
Kapa‘a
