• Fight the proposed ban on pitbulls • Hemp in Hawai‘i is a possibility • Just drop the AJA debate • Coconuts projects would produce traffic gridlock • Run, member, run Fight the proposed ban on pitbulls This letter is
• Fight the proposed ban on pitbulls
• Hemp in Hawai‘i is a possibility
• Just drop the AJA debate
• Coconuts projects would produce traffic gridlock
• Run, member, run
Fight the proposed ban on pitbulls
This letter is regarding proposed bill SB 79 banning pitbulls. I really think that if you are going to ban pitbulls you should also ban cars and bicycles (yes, bicycles).
More people die from these things than a dog. Check out www.nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/HawaiiStats.asp.
To all of us out their willing to fight for this cause and for the rights of our animals, please sign a petition at www.petitiononline.com/Sb79/petition.html
• Rhondalin Vidinha, Kalaheo
Hemp in Hawai‘i is a possibility
House Bill 305 has been introduced by Maui Reps. Joe Bertram, Angus McKelvey and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran as well as long-time hemp advocate Rep. Cynthia Thielen.
The bill is currently in three committees.
On Friday, the Agriculture Committee will have a hearing. Testimony can be given on the state government’s Web site by going to www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony/ and entering in HB 305.
All hemp supporters should make their feeling known. The government is for the people, by the people.
Hemp, hemp hooray!
• Anthony Simmons, Pa‘ia, Maui
Just drop the AJA debate
Mr. Mickens, I have been reading the back-and-forth nonsense regarding the AJA ever since my mother, Mrs. Miyazaki, responded to you. I want to ask you, have you tried out for AJA and been denied access because of your culture?
I’m just wondering because you sure are putting a lot of time and effort into something that maybe doesn’t even apply to you.
As far as Mr. Tolbe’s last line about “other leagues,” it’s true. I happen to have a lot of friends, cousins and another brother who play mountain ball every year.
You say that the Kaua‘i AJA is barring young men from their dream of playing baseball at a college level. Huh? Who are you referring to?
The names that you listed in your earlier letter went straight from high school to college to pro. My brothers are classmates and or friends with the men that you listed and we never heard an argument from them, just you.
All I have to say is we (the Japanese culture) are not doing anything wrong. This league has been operating for years. It’s not going to change, it’s never going to change, so I suggest you drop it and except it.
(Please do not respond. Just keep your thoughts in your head),
• Tammy Puu, Lawai
Coconuts projects would produce traffic gridlock
Travel difficulties and time delays along the Kapa‘a-Wailua corridor are ruining the character and serenity of our island — the Eastside in particular.
Many visitors are disgusted with the experience of 30- to 45-minute transit times from the north end of Kapa‘a to Coco Palms and that is without the proposed developments coming online. Adding 1,000 cars to this corridor would create total gridlock, though some would argue that it already exists.
The area was approved for development decades ago. There are many letters from visitors complaining about being stuck in traffic, expressing the negative feelings that this engenders in them and how it affects their desire to visit the island again.
Though unfortunate, we do depend on tourism to drive the economy and we must be mindful of killing the goose which lays our proverbial golden egg. We must be mindful of our citizens and the impact this sort of unbridled development has on their day-to-day lives. Above all, we must malama the ‘aina and allowing this project without mitigating some of its impact is wrong.
The ideal solution for all involved who care about Kaua‘i is to stop the project cold. Kaua‘i does not need another timeshare, hotel, condo, whatever — at least not at this point in time. This would make everyone happy -— our community, our repeat visitors who love the unique beauty and peacefulness of Kaua‘i, and most important we would feel a sigh of relief from the ‘aina. The only sore head would be the developers who don’t really care about Kaua‘i, but only about their profits.
Short of killing the project altogether we should not relieve the developers of the two Coconuts projects of their obligation to fulfill the conditions that are an integral part of their permit application.
At the very least, they need to be required to add acceleration/deceleration lanes and a left turn lane to help relieve the traffic congestion that would be created by the two projects at Waipouli. Some 400 units and 900 parking spaces and the traffic in and out of the area could add more than 1,000 cars along the Kapa‘a-Wailua corridor and would have a significant impact on the driving between Kapa‘a, Wailua and Lihu‘e.
This our last chance to avoid unbearable traffic gridlock.
• Chris Broussard, Kapa‘a
Run, member, run
You still have a few days to get your petition signed and submitted if you are willing to run for one of three open seats on the KIUC Board.
Several familiar names, including Ben Sullivan (whom I vigorously support), have already thrown their hat in the ring, and I encourage anyone with a passion for public service and energy sustainability to do the same.
FYI, I will not be a KIUC Board candidate this year, as I am committing to a larger sustainability initiative that will be unfolding in the months ahead.
Our electric utility coop is still feeling its way in complex and changing times, and a broad spectrum of views and skills can only make it stronger.
If you simply want to contribute to our island conversation about these energy challenges, you might plug-in to a new ‘social networking’ site at Kenergy.ning.com, where the county’s preparation of a sustainability plan for energy and transport will be a major focus.
Either way, this looks to be a year of action on island sustainability, and I hope every Kauaian will commit to help make it happen.
• Ken Stokes, Kapa‘a
