• Ho‘ike gets cable money • Harrowing travel • Ease of travel for Maui? • Easily suspect • License to child Ho‘ike gets cable money Regarding televising the next budget process (“Public weighs in on 2009 budget,” A1, May 9):
• Ho‘ike gets cable money
• Harrowing travel
• Ease of travel for Maui?
• Easily suspect
• License to child
Ho‘ike gets cable money
Regarding televising the next budget process (“Public weighs in on 2009 budget,” A1, May 9):
Kaua‘i residents should be aware that the taxpayer money spent by the county to televise government meetings is insignificant when compared to the hundreds of thousands of dollars paid to Ho‘ike by cable TV subscribers on Kaua‘i.
The money paid to Ho‘ike by cable subscribers is mandated by state law as a condition of receiving cable TV in the state of Hawai‘i (check your cable bill). With proper management this cable subscriber money is more than enough to cover the currently televised government meetings, the budget process and the Charter Review Commission with no need for additional funding by Kaua‘i taxpayers.
Ed Coll
Puhi
Harrowing travel
Usually I agree with John Love on his letters but saying that his grandfather would have had a more comfortable trip on the Superferry is quite questionable (“Ease of travel,” Letters, May 9).
Crossing the Kauai Channel can be a harrowing experience. Rolling waves and broken rudders are the proof of that.
His grandfather would have used several barf bags on the trip.
There has been no outreach to the citizens of Kaua‘i as to if they want the superferry to come here. Some 6,000 people signed a petition against it with a very small effort to get signatures. Nothing has changed except the getting rid of the Superferry’s devious chief executive officer, who bought his way past the Legislature by making large contributions to their campaign coffers to stop an Environmental Impact Statement from being completed.
Will someone please get the hint. The majority of the people on Kaua‘i do not want the Superferry and until a proper vote is taken and a proper EIS is completed the ferry should stay away.
Robert Nesti
Princeville
Ease of travel for Maui?
Regarding the letter “Ease of Travel” May 9:
This letter puts forward the same pitch of “Oh the Superferry would be great to shuttle elderly back and forth to O‘ahu in their wheelchairs.”
Others write it would be great for shopping.
I ask for a reality check that’s sorely missing in a public relations letter for Superferry’s agenda: What’s the current percentage use of Hawaii Superferry by wheelchair bound elderly on the Maui runs? Currently they only are running about an eighth full. How many of that eighth are wheelchair elderly do you think? Do a very few people’s small comfort adjustment possibly suggest a balance to generations of irreparable harm or added crime that would rob said tutus in their Kaua‘i homes?
If people remember the news coverage of HSF passengers vomiting left and right on their winter ocean voyages, tossing and turning motion, that’s the last place a loving family would want for their elderly relative.
Readers, you are seeing propaganda letters being coyly placed for Superferry. Reality checks instead, bring the truth forward.
On that note, last fall at least one if not more radio testimonial ads were scripted to support how great Superferry would be — funny thing the “testimonial” wasn’t drafted by the resident himself, but by guess who? Ask my landlord, he demanded the ad pulled in shame.
Notice the propaganda being dealt you and weigh the true benefits and risks and things come clear.
John Tyler
Anahola
Easily suspect
I would like to respond to the letter, “Ease of travel,” Letters, May 9, by John Love:
A few points that the writer mentioned need to be addressed.
First Love states that he thinks his 80-year-old grandfather would be much more comfortable sitting in his wheelchair on a fast moving ship that could encounter rough seas for up three hours, than to fly on an interisland plane for 25 minutes.
Really?
Love states that airport security was a nightmare for his 80-year-old grandfather.
He states: “They made him stand while they carefully inspected his wheelchair and while they wanded him and patted him down.”
That is completely false. A TSO officer cannot make someone do something they are incapable of doing on their own.
Love then states that his grandfather’s “pain continued once he got to the aircraft door. He had to use seatbacks as handholds and my shoulder for support as he made his way past the first class rows.”
Again, false. The airlines have a special wheelchair that fits between the rows of the plane so that the person does not have to get out of a wheelchair.
Gee, now that makes sense doesn’t it?
It is these kinds of falsehoods and “truths” that make all of us so leery of those people who support unlawful acts like allowing a large corporation to steamroll over Hawai‘i state law, and make those in charge of the Superferry so suspect.
Superferry Corporation took out Girabaldi and put in a retired admiral.
What is he planning? Who is he asking favors from? Who owes him? Who will he owe one day?
Show your character people, every time you support something, every time you say something.
Show us who you really are.
Dennis Chaquette
Kapa‘a
License to child
In response to Kimo Rosen’s opinion for children out of control (“What’s wrong with the youth today?” Letters, May 5):
I do not believe Kimo is pointing the finger at the kids here on the island but any child that has parents that neglect their parental duties. I work retail and have experienced parents that come into the store and let their children run wild with no respect for other customers and the exspensive, breakable items we sell. It is sad that we, the employees/owners, have to be the ones to take control of other people’s unruly children by telling the parents that their child’s behavior is unacceptable. In doing so, some parents think that we are the ones at fault … excuse me? One customer who experienced a child running wild took me aside and told me this: “You need a license to own a dog, drive a car or catch a fish but anyone can have a kid.” He was local.
Alice Monaghan
Princeville
