Letters for Tuesday, January 2, 2006

• Ka Loko: Lessons learned

• Online poll: A vote for Lum

• Prioritizing

• Morality over economics

Ka Loko: Lessons learned

Having just left Thailand, I am currently in Cambodia with my family and a group of Kaua‘i residents on a goodwill/service journey termed “The Aurora Project,” in support of orphans for which my late daughter Aurora had so much concern. The need is great, the smiles heartwarming, and the rewards immeasurable. We again give thanks to those on Kaua‘i who stepped forward to support the project through their donations to the Kauai Dam Victim’s Memorial Fund at the Amicus Foundation, with their support of our fund-raiser, and by helping to sew the 85 cotton flannel blankets which were presented to each and every orphan at the Children of the Forest orphanage and school at Sangklaburi in Western Thailand.

It has been healing to remember our lost family members and friends in this way, rather than doing a remembrance amidst an attempt at joyous holiday celebrations back on Kaua‘i.

I participated in your survey of the biggest story of 2006. For me, of course, and apparently for most other respondents, the obvious choice was the Ka Loko dam breach disaster. Lost to the island’s residents were seven lovely young people and an unborn child, as well as a great measure of ecological well-being in the Wailapa Stream corridor, the Kilauea Stream Estuary and the ocean reefs from Pila‘a to ‘Anini. Property owners along Wailapa Stream lost property, top soil, trees, buildings, infrastructure, privacy and the quiet, peaceful enjoyment of their properties. Also lost was community trust that local and state governments would fulfill their mandate to appropriately protect public well-being.

Gained was a wariness that a private property owner could and would endanger others and other’s properties by looking to enhance their own personal lifestyle or property values. Former government officials must have difficulty looking me in the eye knowing what I know about how they may have contributed to the events of that fateful day.

No one has yet been charged with a crime in relation to the dam breach. No public official or employee has yet been censured, disciplined, demoted or dismissed. The closest we have come to an acceptance of responsibility was DLNR head Peter Young’s admission that no bi-annual inspections of Ka Loko dam had ever taken place in spite of a legal mandate for the state to do so.

The cloud of Ka Loko hangs over Kaua‘i, and will do so until the day that the truth is fully uncovered, that responsibility is placed, and that those found responsible are held accountable for their errors of commission and omission.

If governmental and private investigations are pursued in a thorough and diligent manner, you may find that the Ka Loko dam breach is not only the biggest story of 2006, but of 2007 as well.

Yours in the hopes that lessons learned will help to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Kilauea

Online poll: A vote for Lum

In the 11 categories to vote on I chose K.C. Lum’s resignation.

Having been with this Lum debacle from the beginning, I firmly believe that it has been and will end up being one of the biggest stories to hit Kaua‘i. It is far from being over and once all the facts come out and the judicial system makes their decision, I believe that the story will get even bigger.

Obviously the sensational Ka Loko dam break was the public’s top story of the year, but in all fairness, I really think that the Lum story will surpass that when it is done.

Kapa‘a

Prioritizing

In response to “This land is our land” (Letters, Dec. 30), I wanted point out that I know federal funds for the bike/walk path cannot be used for the highways; the county still has to come up with their share, which is still $13 million-plus, no matter how you cut it.

I agree with you: There are a lot of people who don’t golf, and some do walk and bike around the various communities, but isn’t it true that there is a bigger majority that travel on our highways? Now I ask you, who is going to be responsible when a walker/bicyclist gets hit by a golf ball?

In response to “Do cyclists have a death wish?” (Letters, Dec. 30): Mr. Mann, if you go onto Kuhio Highway between Kapule to the Wailua Bridge, you will see signage, (legally put up by the state highways division) that clearly shows that the shoulder is a “bicycle route.” The signage is green like any other official signs along the highways.

You stated that a bike path will encourage people to not use their cars for all trips. Well, do you think people are going to use their bicycles to go picnicking, or to the movies, or shopping? Get real!

Like I’ve stated before, priority first! Spend time and effort fixing the traffic congestion on the Eastside and Westside. There are a lot more people who need to traverse the highways, that’s the majority!

Kapa‘a

Morality over economics

I have no idea what Mr. Weir is talking about (“Real force,” Letters, Dec. 29). Is he honestly arguing that there should be competition in government — that we should have multiple governments that constantly compete for our tax dollars? This comparison with government is a red-herring, and Mr. Weir shows himself to be the confused one with statements like “When was the last time any of you was threatened for not shopping at Wal-Mart, or any other business for that matter?”

The competition that Wal-Mart engages in is not fair not because of any affront committed against the buying public (well, other than its treatment of its own employees). Because of their sheer size, they are able to strong-arm their suppliers to get the goods for their stores dirt cheap — usually by cutting into their supplier’s profits. Their single-minded zealotry for “everything cheaper” has a ripple effect through the economy — forcing many of their suppliers to cut jobs here and outsource more and more of their business to cheaper overseas markets.

This has an adverse affect on the very fabric of society. It’s a vicious cycle — you want ever cheaper prices, but to get them, you have to put more and more people out of work or closer to poverty, which necessitates even cheaper prices. People are so caught up in “living for the moment” that they aren’t thinking clearly about the effect this has long-term.

So, the question you should ask yourself, Mr. Weir, is whether that effect on society is worth it for you to save a few dollars. For me, it is not. This is an issue about morality more than economics.

‘Ele‘ele