Letters for Saturday, February 17, 2007

• What passes for wisdom

• O brother, here I am

• Please, somebody help

• Lawyers are millionaires

• We’re in the 21st Century

• Journalism program will suffer

What passes for wisdom

On one of the wettest spots on earth, they say, “No” to bottling water. On one of the most traffic congested areas on our island, they say, “Yes” to build more resorts. With the Superferry waiting to destroy, resort developers chewing up what’s left of Kaua‘i. You folks think the water bottling company was going to hurt the ‘aina?

Get your heads out of the sand, breathe in some fresh air and let’s all of us drink pure Kaua‘i water. I was also appalled at the behavior of some of the folks who oppose Kaua‘i Spring Water heckling in the crowd.

Shame on you.

Kilauea

O brother, here I am

It was with much fanfare that some months ago the developers of the “new” Coco Palms introduced that the “old” manager of the property will be returning to his prestigious position. It makes one wonder. The manager of the past, being brought back to the future, just happens to be the older brother of the head of the Planning Department. It shall be with much interest that all of Kaua‘i shall watch how much of the sacred grounds on the property will be buried under 16 feet of brotherly love.

Wailua Homesteads

Please, somebody help

My name is Bill Murphy. I have lived the past four years on Po‘ipu Road in Koloa. I am retired, 67 years old after 40 years on the job. Living on my Social Security and a pension for three years at my present address I have had a very peaceful existence. Since four months ago I have been under a constant construction noise which has become unbearable. I hear a huge jack hammer breaking rock all plus a machine that rumbles the whole neighborhood and every type of back up horn on trucks known to man. I have been to the company to get help (Goodfellows or Merrill group) they assure they are trying to be good neighbors.

Here on the island (lip service) they turn my complaint over to a group in O‘ahu (more lip service ) they inform me the noise will go on for eight months to a year, computed to Hawai‘i time, I figure that’s two years.

Developers tell you they want to be part of the community. Real-estate people tell you they want to be part of the community.

They say they are into responsible development, but what they are into is the money, sales of lots and Real estate commissions. The peoples life they disrupt means nothing to them .

Koloa

Lawyers are millionaires

Well folks, here we are in 2006, 35 years after the Alaska Native Claims Act was signed into law or we could say an act of extermination, social inequality, social injustice, social experiment or better yet an economic stimulation bill for the state of Alaska. Now the lawyers are millionaires. As well, some of the past and present officers of the corporations are well compensated. These Native corps are above and beyond the banking and security law in the state. Where else does a corporation give you twenty five dollars for your vote. After three decades of loss we give big bonus packages to all involved. You don’t have to perform and get a good return on any investment. Twelve percent on any quarter would be a good promise.

Our timber, we heard, was sold at times for a nickel a board foot. Just imagine if the timber did not keep this corporate entity afloat. We also have a permanent fund, that at one time reported to be over $100 million dollars, it was raided to keep the corporation solvent and the payroll bank big and fat.

Now we have a new voting system in place, at any meeting of the shareholders, anything that will be voted on and passed will take a majority of the shares present at the meeting, not the 50 percent plus one as was on the old books. This advantage to the board will let anything fly. Let’s have a meeting in Florida and invite the shareholders that are present or can’t travel to the state. Get the idea?

Another item is the new left outs, that can be included in the corporation. Issued 100 shares of stock, no book value, zero stock options and no opting out. Anyone have some Enron stocks I could trade for? What will happen as we give stocks to the left outs, is our shares will be watered down to an unknown value. Who can tell me how much our stocks are worth? At present time, I, as a fisherman, can make more on a blackcod boat in two seasons than the corporations have paid in over three decades, go figure.

There are CEOs and board members who have led to the demise of certain corporations. It is amazing how money and power corrupts the individual. The corps will never change until we have all new board members and new officers. Until then you’re all fired.

Haines, Alaska

We’re in the 21st Century

Yo, Horoshko-san, in reponse to your letter: “We been had again,” that ran Feb. 12.

You are probably the same guy that protested the car in favor of the horse buggy, protested airplanes because if man was meant to fly God would had given him wings, protested flush toilets in favor of outhouses, candles in favor of electricity, radio in favor of television, campfires in favor of stoves, pigeons in favor of the telephone, pencils in favor of computers, VCRs in favor of DVDs, this list could go on forever.

The point is we live on an island, there are cruiseships and barges that are much larger than the Superferry that bring thousands of cars and people year round.

It’s 2007 not 1900, if you are concerned with global warming, quit driving your car, if you are offended by tourism you are living in the wrong place.

The technology of ferry boats is long overdue for this Island community. You say, “Greed is bad for the environment, without it there would be no Superferry.”

What greed, a private enterprise wanting to provide a much needed and overdue service, staking their own financial risk to help bring an alternative to flying and keep interisland travel prices competitive.

We live in the 21st century.

Kapa‘a

Journalism program will suffer

Dave Boynton was key to the success of an annual environmental journalism program hosted by the National Tropical Botanical Garden. His knowledge and stories added immeasurably to the experience on island for reporters who come from all over the globe. As a founder and organizer of the fellowship course for the past decade, I cannot imagine Kaua‘i without his gentle presence. Dave was a true Kaua‘i treasure. He will be missed and always remembered.

Salt Lake City, Utah