• Baby boomer math •If justice prevails • County and state laws • Unclog Kaua‘i • PMRF benefits Baby boomer math As a long time resident of our precious island I am very aware of the changes affecting our lives,
• Baby boomer math
•If justice prevails
• County and state laws
• Unclog Kaua‘i
• PMRF benefits
Baby boomer math
As a long time resident of our precious island I am very aware of the changes affecting our lives, our ‘ohana, our familia.
But these changes and the means behind them reflect the process of cultural change. First, we are as far from Iraq as you can get. Second, all the “baby boomers” are all partied out. They constituted the largest section of our society in numbers and wealth. The “good old boys” used to go to Waikiki or Maui and played hard. Now that most are hitting 60, a party for them is a nap. Can you think of a better place to take a nap and unwind? Big money is seeking tranquility. Kaua‘i will survive and we who call such a gift our home will bend like the coconut tree in the hurricane of such changes, content with the knowledge that our roots are deep and secure in the ‘aina.
People are fed up with the madness across the oceans. They are looking for an out. They seek the mythical “Shangri-la.” I recall a conversation with my dear friend Elsie Texeira when at age 95 I was honored to listen as she described her youth and the golden age of Kaua‘i. A trip from Koloa to Hanalei could take six hours. The church Pastor visited homes on horseback. She was convinced that Kaua‘i was now lost to “change.” That conversation took place in 1996.
So sit back and tighten up your seat belts, mi amigos, because the surge of baby boomers is just beginning. Mathematics is an absolute.
Eduardo Valenciana
Lihu`e
If justice prevails
Congratulations to Amanda Gregg for her fine article about former Kaua‘i Police Chief K.C. Lum (“Use of slur not a violation,” A1, Nov. 26).
It appears that K.C. has lost his first battle in the Federal District Court but once all the dots are connected and the facts are presented to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, I believe that he will win the war.
In my opinion the overwhelming evidence will show that he was:
• Properly appointed to be our Police Chief
• Forced to retire by manipulated evidence
• Falsely accused of forging a document that was never forged — his lawyer’s firm is on record as saying that it was a fax error and they took full blame for the error
• Had his home and vehicle broken into and his personal property illegally seized
Hopefully justice will prevail and this fine, dedicated man can move on with his life.
Glenn Mickens
Kapa`a
County and state laws
In reply to Larie G. Acob’s letter (“Comments on the Superferry saga,” Letters, Nov. 25) describing the “minority of Kaua‘i and Maui” being against the Hawaii Superferry.
The letter states: “Just remember, Hawai‘i is a whole state, not each island as a separate state.”
Actually, each of the islands in the state of Hawai‘i have environmental laws on the books as does the entire state of Hawai‘i. Each island’s environmental laws consist of state and county (Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i, O‘ahu) laws.
Laws … with unique laws pertaining to unique county situations.
Jane Taylor
Kapa`a
Unclog Kaua‘i
My family visits Kaua‘i annually and we are very concerned about the Superferry’s potential impact on the islands.
Even without the Superferry, we have been considering other tropical locales in which to vacation, mainly due to the traffic in Kapa‘a and Lihu‘e. We look forward to our escape from busy Los Angeles each year; the fact that we must coordinate our travel times around the island in order to avoid traffic defeats the purpose of coming to Kaua‘i to “get away from it all.”
From our home on the North Shore, we love to watch the albatross and shorebirds perform their aerial acrobatics — it is a daily ritual for our family. The absence of mongooses on Kaua‘i are among the reasons these wonderful birds still exist here. We have watched feral cat and chicken populations explode over the years. Kaua‘i can’t seem to control these already present invasive pests, so how will Kaua‘i handle the inevitable introduction of others?
The Superferry’s impact on whales, which we also take great joy in watching from our Hawaiian home, hasn’t been fully studied. Then there is the issue of drugs and other contraband — with relatively cursory Superferry inspections as compared to airport security, Hawai‘i’s drug problem will surely worsen, driving away tourists.
Superferry proponents claim that it will boost Hawai‘i’s economy. But we believe it will do exactly the opposite, by compromising the uniqueness of each individual island that tourists like us spend thousands of dollars a year to experience.
Should Kaua‘i become further clogged with traffic, drugs, people, and invasive wildlife, we will, unfortunately, have to take our money elsewhere.
A full environmental and social impact assessment of the Superferry needs to be undertaken, without interference from the federal government or their deep-pocketed allies in the private sector.
Jennifer Grant
Los Angeles, Calif.
PMRF benefits
In response to the letter “We are target,” Letters, Nov. 26:
To the person who wrote this letter, “Paranoid, are we?”
Do you realize how much money would be lost if PMRF base closes? These contractors and military spend a lot of money on Kaua‘i. Also, are you willing to support all 600 employees there at PMRF base? I think not.
So, if I was you, I’d think what I say. The (missile) testing is for you and everyone in America.
If you don’t enjoy your freedom, move elsewhere other than our great country.
Howard Tolbe
‘Ele‘ele
