• Music for Military Appreciation Month • Keep up the good work • Embrace biotechnology • Not surprised Music for Military Appreciation Month May is Military Appreciation Month in America. American patriots, including anyone who is serving The United States
• Music for Military Appreciation Month
• Keep up the good work
• Embrace biotechnology
• Not surprised
Music for Military Appreciation Month
May is Military Appreciation Month in America. American patriots, including anyone who is serving The United States in uniform and American veterans will love this opportunity. Five stirring patriotic songs are available for free download at www.hawaiiansong.com
Two of the five songs are narrated by U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye. Senator Inouye is himself a winner of The Congressional Medal of Honor.
The senator, who has served 50 years in Congress, narrates “Whisper ‘Semper Fi,’ The Ballad of the Leatherneck,” and “Yes, We Remember,” that recalls the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Another song salutes all those buried in our National Memorial Cemeteries.
One can download the music, the words and even the CD cover art, all free, as gifts from the songwriter, Keith Haugen. Keith is a U.S. Army veteran and a singer and songwriter. Keith still does special projects but he has retired from regular performances, after 35 years of performing in Waikiki, including 17 years at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, with his lovely and talented wife, Carmen.
John Chimoskey, Kapa‘a
Keep up the good work
In the last election, Rolf Bieber was an energetic mayoral candidate with a vision for a new and better Kaua‘i. It was neither surprising that he ended up on the Board of Ethics nor out of character for him to file the complaints against three county officials for ethical misconduct.
Consistent with his message to the voters last year, this type of “business as usual” in Kaua‘i has to end if we are to have honesty in government and a level playing field for all of us who have business with our county officials.
Accountability in the business world was radically changed following the Worldcom and Enron scandals of a few years ago and for us to think that we do not have to accommodate the “new” ethics is absurd.
To use an example, the new client of my litigation support firm was dismissed from a large corporation in Hawai‘i for a seemingly small decision from which she in no way benefited financially but, under the new ethics, she was guilty of the “appearance of impropriety.” This is the new ethical standard in the business world and, from the facts in the article (“Bieber files complaint against Ethics colleagues,” The Garden Island, May 12), all three of the county officials failed miserably.
Moreover, it is truly arrogant to claim, as did Mark Hubbard, that “the Board of Ethics person wasn’t around” when he was appearing before the County Council as a different person, the treasurer of KPAA. As a friend of mine comically added, there are medications one can be given if one sees oneself as two different people.
But one cannot compartmentalize one’s professional life in this manner anymore since it results in an appearance of impropriety. Did KPAA receive an additional $14,500 because Mark Hubbard is a good treasurer or because of his other position? It has the appearance of impropriety and that is all we will ever know.
There are many talented people living in Kaua‘i who are retired from the business world or who do not do business with the county government or have businesses that receive direct infusions of taxpayer funds. These people are valuable assets for us and can enhance the operation of our government by serving on these boards and commissions. Let’s start finding new talent and not have to continually round up the usual suspects.
Keep up the good work, Rolf!
Paul McDonald, Princeville
Embrace biotechnology
I’m not sure how long Ms. DiPietro has been in Hawai‘i or how she came to be such an expert on the agricultural industry, but following the collapse of sugar and pineapple, agriculture workers in Hawai‘i have been struggling (“Chemicals on crops threaten our soil, lives,” Letters, May 4).
One bright hope has been the growth of the seed industry, providing much needed jobs and tax dollars to our state coffers, while also keeping ag lands in ag use. They generate $144 million of economic activity annually which translates to over 2,000 jobs and $53 million in annual labor income. Clearly, these companies are not being “subsidized by our tax dollars.”
To continue to suggest that these crops are dangerous to humans, animals and the environment is nothing more than fear mongering. She fails to quote one study or cite any reputable expert. All commercial biotech crops have been thoroughly assessed for human and animal health and environmental safety according to well-established, internationally accepted, scientific standards and guidelines by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and, where the plant provides protection from pests, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. From the American Medical Association to the World Health Organization, biotech crops have been deemed safe.
Ms. DiPietro’s comment that “People here may feel this technology is fine, but we have seen no reports that conclude safety,” insults the intelligence of people that accept and embrace biotechnology. She is out of touch with local farmers and allows her ideology to supersede science and fact.
Alicia Maluafiti,
Executive director Hawai‘i Crop Improvement Association
Not surprised
I told my girlfriend the Planning Commission and an attorney worries the alternative energy resource could be a hazard for endangered birds and bats. She replied, “I’m not surprised,” and we laughed (“Birds present obstacles for wind turbine permits at Kilauea farm,” The Garden Island, May 12).
Incompetence. Can we please elect some people who will stop wasting our time and money? Let’s get some people in government that treat our sustainability as a business. Every day should be productive and profitable.
We should be reaching short-term goals. Think outside of the box, the cubicle, your office. You work for us, take responsibility. If you can’t get the job done effectively, then ask for help or let someone else take the lead.
These wind turbines and other alternative energy options have been done on other islands and around the world. Have an “anything is possible” attitude. Don’t let fear get in your way. Most of the island will praise you for taking a chance on improving our lives and protecting our island.
Just keep this question on your mind, “Is it in the best interest of the island?”
Everyone vote next time. Vote for real change. Do not be afraid of change, if it improves our lives, sustains and protects our island. Vote for yourself, your family, your neighbors and the island.
Enough already. With all of the propaganda and chest pounding from the Planning Commission and KIUC, just get it done.
Ken Posney, Koloa
