• Ka Leo not a waste • Kilauea traffic taxing • Gratitude for Wailua Golf Course • Tree haters profit over humanity • Lack of facilities at Kekaha Beach Ka Leo not a waste Calling the Ka Leo program a
• Ka Leo not a waste
• Kilauea traffic taxing
• Gratitude for Wailua Golf Course
• Tree haters profit over humanity
• Lack of facilities at Kekaha Beach
Ka Leo not a waste
Calling the Ka Leo program a waste of money is hardly accurate. It doesn’t address the core issues behind the perception that the program wastes money.
Since becoming a part of the Guardian Angels, I’ve attended the Ka Leo meetings in Waimea, Hanapepe, and Kekaha and found the following:
These meetings are valued by those community members who bother to attend. I say it that way because I notice that those who attend are the “core” people who are always there to help out.
It seems to be the one way that community members can find out what is happening and what is available from the county government, without having to subject themselves to going to council meetings or spend a lot of time on the phone asking questions that get few helpful answers.
It is perhaps the most efficient and helpful way to find out what the real concerns of the people are, and get it communicated to those who can do something about it.
Lt. Danillo Abadilla (Westside supervisor of KPD) has been at every meeting and has been very forthcoming and open to input. This helps a great deal in that even if KPD doesn’t have enough officers to do everything, they do care.
Whether the information, needs, or concerns expressed at Ka Leo are acted upon by the mayor’s office and/or the council is not a shortcoming of Ka Leo. If more responsiveness was perceived by the public, perhaps attendance would increase.
Breaking up the administration of “community outreach” over several departments will only accomplish one thing … to make sure communication is once again fragmented, unfocused and less effective. Keep it the way it is, with one person responsible for the Westside and one person responsible for the Eastside and listen to what the people are saying and asking.
Got a gripe, or a Kudo? Go to the meeting for your area and participate in a positive way. Be a part of a solution. Elaine Albertson
Waimea
Kilauea traffic taxing
I was absolutely stunned when it took me at least 45 minutes to get through traffic from the North Shore Pharmacy to Kuhio Highway Thursday afternoon.
I was certain that it was due to the severe rain squall or some horrific accident and shocked to find that it was simply due to the number of cars trying to turn south out of Kilauea unassisted.
What a waste of energy with our already ridiculous gas prices to have cars idling for that period of time. Wouldn’t it make sense to have traffic direction help supplied by the company working on the bridge in Kilauea or by the county or someone at these crucial times of day?
This is a situation that is a problem in the here-and-now that someone will hopefully step up to the plate and address.
Petrina Satori-Britt
Princeville
Gratitude for Wailua Golf Course
It seems that the media are inundated with things that certain people think is wrong with the county. The Wailua Golf Course is something the county provides that is outstanding.
The courtesy of the starters and other workers compounded by the excellent playing conditions makes Wailua a real treat.
There are many individuals who make the Wailua experience outstanding. The short list of hardworking, courteous and service-minded people who deserve recognition are Ed Okamoto, Susan Honjiyo, Baron Nakamatsu, Dave Toyama, Ross Shimonishi, Ms. Iida, June Araki, Craig Carney, Glenn Tamagawa, Junior Adriano, Dave Woodward and many others who toil silently and provide the great conditions and atmosphere.
Ed MacDowell
Kapa‘a
Tree haters profit over humanity
I am saddened and ashamed by Kaua‘i residents who don’t care about trees.
Nature lost forever and paved over cheats future generations of priceless heirlooms planted for them by our forefathers.
How cold-blooded and ignorant you are not to care. Po‘ipu was beautiful coastline. Now it is covered with timeshare condos and parking lots. It looks like any other overdeveloped tourist area.
Do you Baldwins and Brookstones make big money exploiting Kaua‘i? This is clearly a case of “profit over humanity.”
Shame on you.
You should move to some concrete jungle with no trees and only asphalt and concrete. You don’t deserve trees. Trees provide shade, bird habitats, gathering places for people and keiki to play. Trees turn our car exhaust into pure oxygen.
Please, all the people who love this ‘aina, plant a tree and cry for Kaua‘i lost as developers (not even from here) destroy and raze the resources that make Kaua‘i beautiful, unique and special.
Celeste Harvel
Hanalei
Lack of facilities at Kekaha Beach
Since were on Kaua‘i’s Westside about a month ago for our annual stay and did not take advantage of the opportunity to say something about the lack of restroom facilities at Kekaha Beach, I am addressing that now.
The times we were at this beautiful beach, the one portable toilet near the lifeguard station was in a deplorable condition — almost to overflowing. This is a health and sanitation issue. Also, since the tourist dollar is a big part of Kaua‘i revenue, it would seem a condition that definitely should be fixed.
There are convenient, adequate restroom provisions at Salt Pond Park, so why not Kekaha Beach? It cannot be that there are not enough people using that area. There are many more residents and visitors visible there now than when we started staying on the Westside about 10 years ago.
Kaua‘i is such a beautiful island, I would hope that the powers-that-be would not let that quality be marred by this ugly Kekaha beach sanitation situation.
Jacqui Walker
Yakima, Wash.
