Letters for Wednesday, January 3, 2007

• Letter to the Planning Commission

• O‘ahu? Oh, no!

• Life in the bike lane

• Bravo, Kiyabu

• Amen to Bruddah Waltah

Letter to the Planning Commission

Dear Mr. Nishimura:

I am writing to express my support for Mayor Baptiste’s and the County Council’s bills to restrict the size of big box stores on Kaua‘i.

I am 52 years old and was born and raised in Waimea. I graduated from Waimea High School and the University of Hawai‘i. I went to school on the Mainland for three years, but always knew that I would come back to live and work on Kaua‘i.

While growing up in Waimea, Big Save and Ishihara Market were the local stores serving the Westside. I am concerned that allowing more huge stores on Kaua‘i will adversely affect our rural lifestyle and economy. Allowing the big box stores may cause some of our local businesses like Ishihara Market, Big Save, Kukuiula Store, Sueoka Store and Kojima’s to close. These businesses are locally owned and contribute to our economy. They also support and contribute to our schools and nonprofit organizations. These local businesses serve the local community. If they are forced to close, shoppers in Kekaha, Waimea and other communities outside of Lihu‘e will be forced to drive into Lihu‘e to shop for their groceries and other items. This would be a huge inconvenience for the residents outside of Lihu‘e, especially those who cannot drive or who do not own cars, like our senior citizens.

Each of our locally owned businesses offers something unique to the community which would be lost if they are forced to close. I enjoy going to Ishihara Market when I am on the Westside to experience their excellent pupus. Big Save has their cookies and Kojima Store, Sueoka Store and Kukuiula Store have their own unique products.

We should carefully guard and protect our rural lifestyle and scrutinize additional development on our island. I believe that there is enough development on the island. More development will only strain our existing roads and infrastructure. I am fortunate to have grown up on Kaua‘i. I have many happy and fond memories of life in the 1960s through the present. Let’s retain our rural atmosphere and community for the benefit of our children.

Yours very truly,

Lihu‘e

O‘ahu? Oh, no!

I don’t want to see Kaua‘i turned into another O‘ahu. I want to live here in peace and tranquility, without all the unnecessary development that can ruin our island character. That is why I support limiting the size of big boxes on Kaua‘i.

We have plenty of shops here now to visit. Wal-Mart and Costco are already here. They don’t need to keep on building bigger and bigger places that add way more traffic then we need and hurt our natural resources.

It’s time to say enough is enough.

Lihu‘e

Life in the bike lane

In response to Michael Kiyabu’s letter (“Prioritizing,” Letters, Jan. 2): “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!”

Yes, this is exactly what many of us use our bicycles for. I enjoy cycling and have a rack on the back of my bike that can easily hold a bag of groceries or a picnic lunch.

Unfortunately, as Michael Mann pointed out, the so-called bike lanes on this island are very unsafe, and motorists here have little regard for cyclists who are brave enough to try and use them. You may not feel the bike path is of any personal use to you, but there are benefits that extend beyond giving a few cyclists a place to ride. A long bike path such as this is a very attractive feature for eco-tourists. The eco-tourists will spend money which creates more tax revenues for fixing the highways, with the added benefit that a bicycle does not pollute the environment in the same way ATVs, helicopters, or motor boats do.

You make it seem as if we have to choose between a bike path and better highways, but as you admitted, the federal funds for the bike path cannot be spent to improve county roads. So why continue to harp on this point? A nice bike path will be an eco-friendly, attractive feature of Kaua‘i for many years to come, and we welcome it with open arms.

Kapa‘a

Bravo, Kiyabu

Regarding the letter to the Forum (“Fore!” Letters, Dec. 28) from M. Kiyabu, I can only say, Bravo, Bravo, Bravo!! Having fought this path from its inception I can only hope that more people like M. Kiyabu will voice their opposition to this multi-million dollar white elephant.

A short time ago, a concerned citizen came before the council with a petition of 300 signatures all opposing a bike path going through the golf course. In fact, in response to a councilmember’s question, this citizen said that she didn’t want this path at all. And obviously, from the countless obstacles that continue to arise as this path is being shoved down the people’s throats, it becomes more apparent that this $45 million-plus project should be terminated.

As M. Kiyabu so wisely said, “…trying to please the few instead of trying to please the majority who are stuck in traffic gridlock every day — somebody better get their head straight.”

Fortunately we have two members on the council, Mel Rapozo and Shaylene Iseri-Carvalho, who are doing all they can to represent the majority of the people by questioning the huge number of problems — land acquisition, pavilions, routes, funding, maintenance, potential taxpayer refunds to the federal government for federal rules being violated and on and on — that this path will create.

Yes, M. Kiyabu, a bike lane was built around this island next to the highway many years ago but, as state inspector Joe Rosa has testified many times, it was seldom used, so why are we proposing to build a new one for millions of dollars? As you said, if this lane is not being used for bikes, then make it into another lane to ease traffic congestion.

Or open our cane haul roads as they did with the Kapa‘a bypass (no EIS or EA since it was an existing road) and it was done from start to finish in nine months!

You people who need and want your vehicle (not a bike!), voice your opinions to Mel and Shaylene and they will hear you.

Kapa‘a

Amen to Bruddah Waltah

Amen to P. Beall’s letter about Braddah Waltah (“Walter Pomroy remembered,” Letters, Dec. 27). He was the best. I knew his cheerful spirit from his delivering mail for many years when I worked at Waipouli Variety Store. He was loved by all who knew him.

Aloha, Braddah Waltah. We love you!

Kapa‘a