• North Shore becoming elitist • Local economy can rise above the recession • If the Superferry were here today North Shore becoming elitist I was recently visiting family on Kaua‘i. I am a former resident of Kaua‘i, having lived
• North Shore becoming elitist
• Local economy can rise above the recession
• If the Superferry were here today
North Shore becoming elitist
I was recently visiting family on Kaua‘i. I am a former resident of Kaua‘i, having lived there for 11 years. Presently, I live on the Hamakua coast of the Big Island.
The last time on Kaua‘i, we went to Kauapea Beach, also known as Secrets Beach. The public trail was dangerous and inaccessible for children. We drove around to Kauapea Road and entered a subdivision with a cement road that led us down to the beach.
Apparently this was a private road with a couple of large lots for sale. As we approached the end of the sidewalk to enter Kauapea Beach, a self-appointed security guard told us to use the public access.
He explained that the public access was what we should use, safe or not. Yet I have seen this same man wave his friends by via the “private road.”
Once again, this brings us to the issue of public access to the beach. Is it not Hawai‘i state law that all beaches should be accessible to the public?
Yet, if we as public citizens go to improve the path down to Secrets, we will be in violation of county law. So where do the tourist taxes go to if it is not into the infrastructure?
More importantly, the kind of real estate going on the North Shore of Kaua‘i should in fact contribute to a more sustainable infrastructure by means of taxes. If these folks can afford to have two and three homes, why can’t they pay into the community?
If a subdivision goes up on the Mainland, quite often the homeowner has to contribute to bike lanes, parks and schools. Beach access too!
Do I resent rich people? No. I just believe that they should contribute to their community.
Be careful, Kaua‘i. Before you know it, Kuhio Highway will have a security gate with a password that only the elite will have access to. Where will the working class live and recreate then?
• Monica Arnett, Papa‘aloa
Local economy can rise above the recession
I recently wrote a letter to Sue Kanoho, Director of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau to share my thoughts of an idea to help boost tourist arrivals to our island.
I had heard that the governor and lt. governor had gone separate directions with their entourages to market and spread the word about our islands (“Lingle, Aiona Asia-bound to spur state tourism,” The Garden Island, Nov. 10).
I remember several times our mayors would do the same thing. I’m sure that results of these trips have been positive for bigger visitor arrivals.
I often wonder, with the way the economy is today, high airfares, the high fuel prices just a few months ago, and the daily action of increasing unemployment lines, what is the governor saying that is going to bring an immediate influx of potencial arrivals to our island?
In a different direction, I see a positive realistic view. There are millions of people everywhere who will continue to be fortunate enough to keep their jobs. They will take vacations every year as they always have. In today’s economy, they will be more selective on where they vacation.
The promotion of Kaua‘i as the best vacation destination must clearly stand above all the competition. Since we are so dependent on tourist arrivals, it only makes sense we find alternate means of getting them here sooner.
I feel the tourist authority and the private sector of business needs to be more creative with our resources in getting more arrivals to Kaua‘i.
I think we should work with the airlines on airfares. What would a round trip ticket from a select mainland location cost if the airline did not have to pay for the fuel? Take the transient tax collected and buy, or at least subsidize to some degree, the fuel cost of the flight.
The flights would be a special promotion to Kaua‘i only. Set up the flights in key areas and advertise special vacations to Kaua‘i in their local papers. The key here is to fill up as many jets as possible with a great price to get here.
There would be a seven- to 10-day minimum stay in order to make an impact on local accommodations and related businesses. With this idea, I see increased visitor arrivals.
All of the new tax across the board will help pay back the transient tax money for the jet fuel. This would reduce the unemployment rate as well as giving a boost to all relative businesses.
My idea is just a foundation to work off of. There is plenty of things I could add to this. and there are plenty of people with ideas in other directions as well.
What’s important here is that our economy can rise above a “recession attitude” if we are willing to work at it with a more creative attitude.
If we build, it they will come!
• Steven Martin, Kapa’a
If the Superferry were here today
This is a response to the letter written by János Samu (“Educational justification?” Letters, Dec.). I quote your last sentence, “Until then, please try harder. We are not yet convinced.”
We meaning who? I can only think of “we” in your sentence as paranoid people who think everything bad will happen if the Superferry returns to Kaua‘i. “We” is the people suicidal enough to sit in the water on surfboards in front of a giant watercraft.
You are right about the fact that the multiple incidents that happened on the airplane and at the airlines could happen on the Superferry. In fact, it could happen anywhere.
However, it saddens me that at this time of the year, there is no other alternatives to travel inter-island to spend time with our ohanas because of a handful of people who oppose the ferry and seem to have their way.
If the Superferry were here, a lot of us could travel inter-island to shop and spend time with our ohanas without paying for extra baggage fees and car rentals.
I’d like to thank all the grinches who stole Christmas by stopping the Superferry from coming to Kaua‘i. Because of you people, we can not celebrate with our ohanas on the other islands and can not exchange our gifts.
• Howard Tolbe. ‘Ele‘ele
