•Bluegill feed bass •Accountability, the missing element •Grateful for the help Bluegill feed bass In contrast to Carl Berg, I would like to thank the DLNR for teaching fish stocking techniques to children. (“Native ecosystems lost,” Letters, April 15) I
•Bluegill feed bass
•Accountability, the missing element
•Grateful for the help
Bluegill feed bass
In contrast to Carl Berg, I would like to thank the DLNR for teaching fish stocking techniques to children. (“Native ecosystems lost,” Letters, April 15)
I myself gained appreciation for native ecology first through an interest in fishing, which led to an interest in hunting, and then to an interest in native forest ecosystems. There are many routes to the same goal; sustainably managing our natural resources, both native and non-native.
The ‘o‘opu populations have been in bad shape for a long time due to overfishing, watershed degradation, dams, and introduction of our now beloved game fish such as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, tucanare, channel catfish, and bluegill. I’m all for restoration where feasible, but sadly, I do not believe it is feasible over much of Kaua‘i, particularly the Eastside.
On a brighter note, healthier populations of ‘o‘opu, hihiwai, and ‘opae do exist from Hanalei to Kalalau. Any stream restoration projects would be more successful if done there first. And in the meantime, enjoy what you got. Bluegill will feed bass and bass are good eating.
Perhaps those same children gaining an interest via bluegill will someday come back to champion reestablishment of native species. You never know. Bluegill was one thing, but come on DLNR. Carl Berg was right — from now on let’s see more Hawaiian stream restoration!
Nicolai Barca, Kilauea
Accountability, the missing element
The sound and fury connected with Planning Director Ian Costa’s appearance at the Council’s budget hearings (“Council questions Planning Dept.’s planning progress,” The Garden Island, April 14) is the latest reminder that complaining and blaming substitutes for accountability and efficiency in county government.
The Planning Commission hires and fires the Planning Director. The Mayor appoints commission members of his choosing and the Council rubber stamps — that is, officially approves — them (how many appointees has the Council ever rejected?). This process sets the stage for minimal accountability and hit-or-miss efficiency.
What gets overlooked in the process is that every board and commission exists to exercise certain powers that the voters are unwilling to entrust to elected politicians, but in this politically-driven framework the Mayor and Council can defeat the purpose by the way they select and approve appointees and fail to equip them for carrying out their mandated duties.
Anyone who doubts the politicizing of boards/commissions needs only to review what happened to Mike Ching, Carol Furtado, and K.C. Lum, each of whom dared to challenge the political powers. In the ensuing spectacle, the Police Commission sat on the sidelines giving tacit approval as the politicians usurped their powers and the Board of Ethics served as the tool for attorneys hired to direct the campaign against the three “rebels.”
If proof of another kind is needed, one might study the process in which then-Deputy Planning Director Ian Costa was illegally transferred to Public Works by the Mayor and later was appointed as Planning Director by the Planning Commission without the position being advertised (for details see Page 9 of the Oct. 26, 2005 minutes of the Charter Commission).
Would the county be better served by adopting a county manager form of administration? This much can be said: In such a system, departments are accountable to the manager who is hired on the basis of training and experience, the manager is accountable to the Council who hires and fires, the Council is accountable to the voters for the performance of the manager and the administration, and the likelihood of boards/commissions being politicized is greatly reduced.
To me, that looks like increased accountability and efficiency.
Horace Stoessel, Kapa’a
Grateful for the help
Two weeks ago I broke my ankle on Nounou Mountain (“Visitor Airlifted from ‘The Sleeping Giant,’” The Garden Island, April 8).
As an experienced hiker and frequent vacation visitor to Kaua‘i, I never expected to need the help of so many caring and dedicated medical personnel. The polite 911 operator, the helicopter rescue team (Ken and Aaron), the ground rescuers from the Kaua‘i County Fire Department (John, Frank and Micah), and the ambulance team.
The many nice folks at Wilcox Memorial Hospital: the admittance clerk, ER nurse Juli, the two ER doctors, the surgical team of Dr. David Rovinksy and anesthesiologist Dr. Matthew Ruel, the X-ray tech, the post-surgery team, nurses Roxanne and Rosy, therapists Jaime and John, nurse practitioner Jennifer.
A grateful aloha to Gloria for her special help in Room 403. I remember all of your caring smiles, although not all your names. Kaua‘i has an incredible emergency support team and I’m so grateful to all of you.
Mahalo.
Karen Lee, Aliso Viejo, Calif.
