• They can’t ‘take’ your land • Try harder as parents • While the iron is hot • Can’t let letter go unanswered They can’t ‘take’ your land In response to Michael Kiyabu’s letter (“The path is coming,” Letters, Sept.
• They can’t ‘take’ your land
• Try harder as parents
• While the iron is hot
• Can’t let letter go unanswered
They can’t ‘take’ your land
In response to Michael Kiyabu’s letter (“The path is coming,” Letters, Sept. 26).
To Michael and the other path hatemongers out there: The county cannot just take your land from you to put in the path. They would have to buy it from you, if you even choose to sell it to them. That is a fact.
You should do a little more research before putting out falsehoods like that.
All you are doing is scaring people into believing the path is a bad thing and that people should be against it. But maybe that’s your intent — you don’t want the path, so you throw out untruths to get people on “your side.” I’m so sure your ancestors (who were probably Hawaiians) would much rather have more cars, more traffic, and more pollution than to have a safe place for all people to walk and ride bikes, right?
Rusty Baker
Lihu‘e
Try harder as parents
Born and raised on Kaua‘i, and thanks to The Garden Island online — www.kauaiworld.com — I can stay connected to Kaua‘i news.
It saddens me to read about the many drug arrests and the spreading “ice” epidemic.
I am blessed to have great kids; not perfect, but kind, intelligent and moral human beings.
Maybe as parents we should try harder to be better role models? By volunteering in their school, giving back to our community, and saying “No” to expensive shoes, name brand clothes, top of the line cell phones, new car … whatever. Parents selling drugs “to make ends meet,” excessive drinking, spousal abuse, constant use of bad language, and being over-critical is not ideal parenting.
Just food for thought…
JoAnn Howard
Ojai, Calif.
While the iron is hot
In 2005, the state Legislature instructed the Environmental Council to study the environmental justice issue in Hawai‘i, and to provide assurance that environmental justice is being addressed in the environmental review process. Two years later, we have a state consultant and a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency justice coordinator taking “virtual reality” tours, soliciting public input, validating citizen’s concerns, ensuring people that they have a voice, and promising to return to gather more information, the official witnesses to the injustice that is present on Kaua‘i.
The Kaua‘i people’s “cry for justice” has been officially acknowledged. Their civil rights have been violated. The new investigations into the environmental injustice happening all over Kaua‘i should issue a “report card” to all those responsible for monitoring the progress of state, county, and federal agencies. The state and county are the accepting authorities on all public projects. The Environmental Council, being the office linking community at large, should have designated a “public liaison” to hear public comments on environmental issues, and to stimulate recommendations to developers and government agencies. All stakeholders in “land resources management” at all levels should be held accountable.
“Koloa-lites” should re-visit and scrutinize their 1989 EIS, get hold of and inspect the Supplemental EIS approval to update applicable changes that have taken place since then (i.e. construction of the major infrastructure, mass grading operations, traffic, and socio-economic conditions). Was the duration of the Special Permit specified? Was the request for expansion activities on approximately 22,000 acres approved? Are there any Brownfields that have had an “official letter of completion”? Shouldn’t real estate planners and developers provide “integrity” as part of their services? Under the current law, likely impacts of a project must be completely disclosed.
“Kekaha-ians” will have their opportunity to expose the problems that come with the bacteria and contamination in their surrounding waters, Koke‘e streams, landfill wells, farm irrigation ditches, and inundating town floods. We can no longer ignore the poor people and their problems. Profits and jobs come from solving problems. Many of our problems that lead to poverty and anguish find their roots in unjust social and economic structures. That’s pure negligence. Who is paying attention? We cannot fully function and be protected unless our “right to know” is fully enforced.
Get it while the iron is hot.
Genara Buza Campos
Kapolei, O‘ahu
Can’t let letter go unanswered
I submit this letter because I have a sense of responsibility to myself first, to my family and to my friends and neighbors. I am not saying that I speak in their behalf, but have a sense of responsibility to not let a particular letter go by without a response by me (“Yukimura not pandering,” Letters, Sept. 25).
I’m a resident of Kaua‘i for most of my life. I only left Kaua‘i to serve in the U.S. military and to attend secondary schooling to further my life career. I have called Kaua‘i my home and even served the county government for more than 25 years.
I am in particular disagreement with the letter by Andy Bushnell, where he referred to JoAnn Yukimura thusly: “She ran for mayor three times in the 1980s on a slow-growth platform, losing twice to pro-development candidates (now deceased) whose policies are largely responsible for the developments that are still being built-out with more to come.”
I can say many things about Yukimura, but it is not the proper arena for it. I am not one to “talk stink” about others in the newspaper, but attempt to voice my opinions when I feel it necessary. As a matter of fact, this is the first letter to the editor voicing my displeasure in matters dealing with Kaua‘i County. My other letter was a letter of thanks to those who gave their labor of love.
I served two of those mayors during my tenure with the county of Kaua‘i. Former Mayor Tony Kunimura sponsored the bill to pass limiting the height of buildings on Kaua‘i (no higher then the coconut trees) where today we enjoy his foresightedness. Moreover, he was the mayor on record when recovery efforts were made after Hurricane Iwa. In my opinion, he did a terrific job in recovery efforts then.
Mayor Eduardo Malapit did a good job in our response to that hurricane. He had the foresight to ensure that benefits for the people would get fair treatment from the insurance industry.
For Mr. Andy Bushnell’s information, I am a resident of Kaua‘i, born and raised here for most of my life. I am hopeful that you won’t demean me my opinion on matters that I am familiar with. I hope that you don’t feel that I lack the knowledge to know Kaua‘i’s politics.
Cayetano Sonny Gerardo
Lihu‘e
