• The battle of Kauai • Proud aquapatriots • Black-plastic ‘hedges’ • Dose of compassion • Coco Palms museum? David Martin Waipouli The battle of Kauai The battle is really within the idea that some people feel the need to
• The battle of Kauai
• Proud aquapatriots
• Black-plastic ‘hedges’
• Dose of compassion
• Coco Palms museum?
David Martin
Waipouli
The battle of Kauai
The battle is really within the idea that some people feel the need to own some things that should never be owned.
I visit Hawai‘i on the average of once a year for the past seven years and center my attention and affection on the beautiful Garden Island of Kaua‘i. As a visitor, I must say that I am appalled by the development of this and all the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. For a brief time I will go to the island to see the natural wonders, to swim in the clean warm waters, to escape my life and envy the locals. O‘ahu looks and feels like downtown Los Angeles or a scaled down Manhattan. My wife and I did not even recognize it from the honeymoon spot we knew 23 years ago, and were disgusted by the volume of the destructive development of the islands. Kaua‘i is now undergoing massive development in the O‘ahu model, which has scarred her beauty and angered her people.
The Hawaiian Islands should be treated as a precious natural resource. A Hawaiian state park if you will. I know some Hawaiians would cringe at the sound of that. Unfortunately the world is a small place and people want to visit and that is the key phrase, “To visit.”
As a visitor it’s not my home, I don’t own it, I just wish to absorb her beauty, go home and take nothing from her.
If we are not careful Hawai‘i, as we know it, will not exist anymore. The beauty that the islands are known for will be extinct; it will be an outpost of concrete in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Can’t we leave it alone and not turn the islands into a capitalistic endeavor? For once we should do the right thing and scale down the development and allow the islands to stay as they are, beautiful tropical islands.
Joe Campitiello
Whittier, Calif.
Proud aquapatriots
When Kaua‘i’s proud aquapatriots again go to Nawiliwili to defend the last portions of peace and tranquility left to this island they will deserve an audience large enough to fill all the roads in and out of Nawiliwili. Such supporters of Hawai‘i law may be advised to bring food, water and cameras and the skills they use every day in the traffic jams. Power to the people of Kaua‘i
Harry Hyashi
Kapa‘a
Black-plastic ‘hedges’
My wife and I are just finishing our fifth vacation stay on this beautiful island, our favorite. We’ve been coming here for the last 20 years and stay in the Po‘ipu area which we love.
Imagine our shock when we arrived last week to find that a new kind of ‘hedge’ has sprouted up down here. The supremely ugly, black-plastic fence … not just in one spot, but seemingly everywhere. When we asked why so much at once, we were told that contractors have been holding back on their permits and now everyone has decided to build at the same time. We can’t imagine what Po‘ipu will look like in a few years when we return. The traffic alone may begin to rival the gridlock Maui is experiencing. Even today the traffic going toward Lihu‘e at midday has become a 5-mile crawl.
Progress is inevitable, but some management of quantity and schedule is necessary to avoid getting into situations you can’t easily back away from. Perhaps you can still create some sense of control and responsible growth for the future by passing legislation to limit the amount of units constructed to a reasonable number per year. Hopefully you have also not allowed, nor will allow in the future, the 10-plus story, view blocking, un-Hawaiian, concrete block condos that line the beaches in Honolulu and Kaanapali.
We love Kaua‘i because it is tranquil and (nearly) unspoiled by commercialization. Please don’t let it become just another crowded Maui, or worse yet, a Mainland city sprawl like O‘ahu.
Michael Harmuth
Pleasanton, Calif.
Dose of compassion
It was such a relief to read that Rusty Baker has decided not to have children (“Don’t have kids if you can’t afford them,” Letters, Oct. 8). Perhaps this will contribute to the attrition of people whose notion of a civil society is one ruled by selfishness and arrogance.
I wonder if folks like Baker believe that all social services should be provided on a pay-as-you-go basis. Hey, if you can’t afford to use the sewer system — stop eating. Drowning, but can’t afford lifeguard services? Get a job.
I’m sure most would dismiss such a system out-of-hand. Yet, somehow it is acceptable to blame people with children for being unable to afford to take them to the doctor when they are ill. There are many reasons why families face economic hardship, and Baker would be well-advised to apply a healthy dose of compassion to his amateur sociological musings.
Katy Rose
Hanalei
Coco Palms museum?
As a long time resident of Kaua‘i, I’ve witnessed many things. One thing I know for sure is this: Not many pay attention to those of us who do live here and know every angle of Kaua‘i.
That’s why I’m writing in regards to Coco Palms as it should be immortalized for all of it’s memorabilia, not as another hotel.
We have too many already on this island. Why don’t we keep the memories of the stars and the important people that stayed here and worked here. Remember all the great movies and stories that went with the making of them, even during a hurricane, one of our strongest ones.
Why not make the hotel into a memorial Queen’s Pond and the lobby into truly beautiful Hawaiiana style. And keep the restaurant with the blowing of the conch shell and the cabanas for memorabilia.
Let Larry Rivera continue to do his beautiful weddings here as well. My son and daughter-in-law were married here. If it turned into a resort or hotel there would be no more Coco Palms weddings.
Whoever you are out there, the new investor, consider what a wonderful, educational museum this would be.
Anita Perry
Kapa‘a
