• A lesson learned • KIUC can help • Self-indulgence a plague A lesson learned This is in response to the letter written by Richard Spacer of Kapa‘a (“Bad Behavior must change,” Letters, Jan. 2). I am in support of
• A lesson learned
• KIUC can help
• Self-indulgence a plague
A lesson learned
This is in response to the letter written by Richard Spacer of Kapa‘a (“Bad Behavior must change,” Letters, Jan. 2).
I am in support of much of Mr. Spacer’s opinion/complaint on the two men not taking responsibility for their dog’s action. However, Mr. Spacer, adding the judgment call of accusing father and son as being blood relatives to a separate experience is not taking responsibility for your own “behavioral change.”
We are now entering a new “way of being” like never before so apparent to the human consciousness. So our new awareness of someone else’s bad behavior, is a way for us to examine and tune-up that same awareness of ourselves. There is much to be said for witnessing an action and not reacting.
I am speaking from experience after being verbally accosted by a lifeguard near the “middles bathrooms” at Hanalei Bay. He was very upset that I parked so close to his truck and made quite a scene. I moved my van farther away. I would have left it at that and the lifeguard would have been left with his bad behavior echoing in the heads of everyone that witnessed his ridiculous outburst.
I know my van very well and I am an excellent driver/parker. I purposely parked with just enough space to fully open my doors, which are larger than a normal car, and leave space for other cars to park. I am always struggling with drivers taking up more than their space to park, not considering anyone else that is in need of parking as well.
To get to the point, I didn’t leave the lifeguard with his bad behavior. I reacted with matching his behavior times 10. Yeah, I called him an “a—hole” and shot him the “bird” and let him know that I didn’t appreciate his attitude. I really gave it to him. And for some reason, I let his behavior ruin my walk on the beach by carrying my behavior echoing in my head and my friend’s who was trying to enjoy the walk with me.
It didn’t end there either. Later, after I got back home a friend called and asked if I had a flat tire. He had seen the whole confrontation from inside his car where he was watching the waves. He said he saw the lifeguard bend down at the back of my van after I walked down the beach. Puzzled, I went outside and found my back tire flat. I got out my air-compressor, fuming further about the lifeguard’s behavior and found that he had placed a small pebble inside the cap of the air valve, causing the tire to leak air slowly. A very mean trick, but it woke me right up.
I had to ask myself, “Why did I have to react the way I did?” It was a simple choice. I could just have easily chosen to be satisfied with moving my van to make him more comfortable. I was parked as close as I was comfortable with. What is four more inches in the big picture? I learned a great lesson. My tire was not damaged but the humility I experienced taught me about the instant freedom in “non-reaction.”
As for Mr. Spacer, it is not for me to say what could have made his experience any different … only to suggest that to live as a witness to others is to allow for ourselves to become better people for others to experience themselves.
• Marja Goodwin, Hanalei
KIUC can help
A letter in The Garden Island’s last Sunday Forum may have confused some readers about KIUC rates.
KIUC’s residential rates never vary based on where you live on the island. North, South, East, West, near a hotel not near a hotel — KIUC residential rates remain the same for all residential users.
KIUC residential rate per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity (how much you use) are the same whether you use a little electricity or a lot of electricity — KIUC does not charge more or less per kWh for small residential users or large residential users.
KIUC also charges the same per kWh whether you use the electricity in the morning, afternoon or night. KIUC (and its predecessor KE) have never charged different rates based on when during the day you use electricity. (KIUC is currently analyzing the possibility of rates based on when during the day you use electricity, called time-of-use rates. But the meters installed at your homes now can’t bill this way and would all have to be replaced to implement time-of-use rates.)
These rates, called tariffs, are monitored and enforced by the state of Hawai‘i’s Public Utilities Commission.
The only thing that does change your per kWh charge is the energy adjustment (the fluctuating cost of fuel). You and your neighbor may see different combined per kWh charges when KIUC’s cost of fuel is going up or down rapidly and your bills are mailed on different days during the month (your billing cycle). When your bill comes to you a week later or earlier then your neighbor’s bill, your price will reflect a different 30 days and therefore have a different energy adjustment.
KIUC encourages everyone to use electricity efficiently and hopes your will conserve it. Every kWh of electricity you conserve will always result in a lower bill.
For an average user on Kaua’i, heating your hot water uses more kWh than anything else — close to 50 percent of your bill in many cases. Call us at 246-4300 for information on several programs available to use the sun to heat your water.
Second is your refrigerator. Call us at 246-4300 to learn how KIUC will help you replace refrigerators and other major appliances. And if you’re not sure what to do, call us at 246-4300 to make an appointment for us to come visit you in your home, and we’ll help you learn what you can do to lower your bill.
Complete information about what you’re charged every month is available online at www.kiuc.coop or in our office. Just ask at the front desk and we’ll help you.
• Randy Hee, KIUC President & CEO
Self-indulgence a plague
No doubt about it, self indulgence is a plague.
We see it in politicians, federal and local. We see it in corporate managements. We see it in bratty kids with useless parents. We see it in worthless hotel managements who are afraid to protect their own turf from such people.
Will it never end?
There, I’ve said it. This is one nice thing about being 83. Enjoy.
• Dick Schulz, Princeville
