• People should know about KIUC • Know the facts • The back supports the rest People should know about KIUC I read the editorial by KIUC boardmember Derek Kawakami requesting support for his fellow friends on the board (“Let’s
• People should know about KIUC
• Know the facts
• The back supports the rest
People should know about KIUC
I read the editorial by KIUC boardmember Derek Kawakami requesting support for his fellow friends on the board (“Let’s re-elect KIUC incumbents,” Guest Viewpoint, Feb. 25).
Although I don’t doubt the incumbents are nice people, action does speak louder than words and I have some concerns.
Derek states that “what most people don’t know is that Dennis heavily opposed the inclusion of coal as a possible fuel source for the generation of electricity.”
Well, why don’t people know? The voice I heard loudest opposing coal was that of Ben Sullivan, founder of Apollo Kaua‘i. He circulated a petition and made sure the newspaper was informed about the issue. That is the kind of commitment and open communication that we need at KIUC.
Furthermore, I am concerned about the new Strategic Plan (synopsis in February 2008 Currents) that calls for 50 percent of electricity to be renewable within 15 years. How will we reach this goal? The article goes on to rate windmills, photovoltaic systems, hydroelectric plants and wave power systems as “interruptive sources” which is a “significant issue” for power companies. The plan singles out liquid biofuels such as palm oil as “particularly attractive.”
This attitude worries me as bio-fuels take farmland, require burning and will increase in price with demand as oil prices rise. I hear about windmill farms and wave electricity on Maui and a solar farm on O‘ahu.
Where is the action on Kaua‘i? Where is the partnership with county government?
I believe that Ben Sullivan and fellow environmentalist Ken Stokes really “get it.”
We can’t wait years to make changes.
Linda Silva
Kalaheo
Know the facts
In relation to the letter written by Gordon LaBedz, I take exception to his criticism of candidate incumbents Dennis Esaki, Phi Tacbian and Peter Yukimura (“Why support KIUC status quo?” Letters, Feb. 26).
He says that these candidates are only using rhetoric.
All three are successful business people and my disagreement with his assessment is that “successful people are not just talkers but have a business plan and work at it for the business to become successful.”
Did he know that current negotiations are now ongoing?
In addition, alternate power generation includes harnessing the ocean and fresh water too.
Did LaBedz support the effort to have wood chips for fueling the power plants?
Does LaBedz have a small windmill power system for his own home?
I suggest that you know the facts before you begin to be critical of others.
Cayetano Sonny Gerardo
Lihue/Koloa
The back supports the rest
I would like to make a few positive comments on a meeting that I was fortunate enough to be able to attend. The meeting in question was the Eco-Roundtable, held on Feb. 27 at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
It was the icing on the cake after also being fortunate enough to have helped as a volunteer to register voters in the Democratic caucus. At the caucus I saw a landslide of public sentiment and over-riding determination to take back our island, and our country.
To my extreme delight and surprise, at the Eco-Roundtable caucus I saw at least several hundred people show up in a timely manner and the event was crisply timed and meticulously organized.
We listened to keynote speakers address the audience for a brief five minutes and each speaker was excellent.
We heard about the most major topics affecting our island from active and informed everyday citizens who have taken it upon their own shoulders to try and solve these vitally important issues and network with each other.
We got updates from community leaders who were knee-deep in the muck and mire of trying to work through all the red tape and create positive citizen action. The topics were the spraying of Waimea Canyon Middle School by pesticides from a nearby ag project. That talk was given by Dane Kealoha. The NCL “smokestack” issue, where a dedicated teacher has gone to bat for the health of the students, teachers and parents of Kaua‘i High School whose students are directly affected by the black, poisonous plumes of smoke. We heard about the trees in Koloa and what is being done legally in court. We heard a little about the KIUC elections and Councilmember Tim Bynum came to speak with us about the ag moratorium bill. We also heard about the shocking plans of the state Legislature with regards to Koke‘e and several bill proposals by Gary Hooser, Mina Morita, Jimmy Tokioka and Roland Sagum on that issue.
Then we had a breakout session where we organized ourselves into mini caucuses according to districts or issues. Afterwards we shared what our conclusions were and then we all went our separate ways for the evening.
I just want to say that I got such personal joy from attending this meeting. I saw that it’s not just about politicians but a caring, dedicated group of regular folks who are taking the reins of power back on our island. Back to the people where it belongs.
We are the kua‘aina, the maka ‘ainana. Without your back you cannot stand.
We the people are your back. Without a workforce your business will fail. Without housing you have no business.
Without decent jobs and housing people will leave. You can build anything you want. Go for it. But who will there be left to work for you? If you don’t take care of the back of the land you will break and you will fall.
That is what I feel and what I stated in my little breakout group. It gave me hope and made my life just a little bit happier.
Mahalo for giving me this opportunity to say “mahalo” to Andrea Brower, who facilitated brilliantly. I think this girl has a brilliant future and auntie is so proud of you. I also saw many, many young people at this meeting. I was so very proud of all of them.
Anne Punohu
Kalaheo
